Words of Note

Taking notes has to be the world's oldest professional activity of a teacher. And students have been passing notes since clay tablets and Sanskrit. I could have stacks of notes over the years, and I've often thought that a bestseller would be to compile them into a book titled, What your children really think, in their own words.

What is acceptable in those notes changes from time to time, both with what is appropriate to communicate to the receiver of the note, and what is OK to put in writing. The following are a few samples of current letter writing from the student masses . . .

Interchanges:
"I should work."
"hahaha . . . I can work at home. :-) For now, I'm having fun."
"u have a class this is not fun time."
"Fun u can have at home."
NO! I wanna have fun right now. :-) I am doing my work now."
"good girl what u mean with fun?"
"I do anything to have fun! Doesn't matter what it is."
"ok . . ."
"Mostly drinking and partying :-) THAT'S FUN!"

"It's normal that a guy doesn't know what Midol is."
"Then what is it?"
"Theyre cramp pills. U know when ur in your per."

"Yeah a lot I listen 2 a lot of music every kind nearly, but I prefer Bob Marly"
"Oh yea, those are good singers. When I was listening to German music, I really like it. Sounds cool."

"U can't smash on my butt."
"Oh really, I think I can."
"No, I'm 2 hot 4 u"
"Oh FINE! MEANY. But yes you are hot."
"That's not mean, that's just the truth."

"Dear *
Yes, I remember the last note I gave you said that I wanted to * your brains out, but recently I've had a change of heart. I liked you ginuinly, but since yor going out with ------, I find it pointless for my feelings to exist any longer. . . . All past experiences with you will be remembered, but none will happen in the future. If you want to talk, call me after 4 pm.
Now without Love,
----------"

It's the notes that try to be poems that are really bathetic. I've spared you that. I respectfully have no further comment.