At one point, an alliance of at least two of my students captured my stapler. They vowed to return it to me only if I put a set amount of money in an unclaimed locker. I figured out who took my treasured teacher supply. Actually, I really didn't care about the stapler... even in my early years of teaching I had enough money to go out and buy a new one. I was just hoping not to have a Milton Waddams event on my hands.
I guess I deserved them taking the stapler. If I remember correctly, I was able to convince some from that, and perhaps another, graduating class that my name was actually 90.7nsxtfewtq (or something to that affect). I told them that my parents loved the local NPR station, were extreme hippies, and wanted me to have a unique name that was spelled non-phonetically with lots of silent letters.
A week or so after the stapler disappeared, it was back in my room somewhere (of course not on my desk... there were no teacher desks in those rooms - not allowed by the administration).
I was happy to have it back.
When it came back, it had a different look. No longer was it a simple beige and brown stapler.
Five or six years later and at a new school, I still have that stapler and it opens up conversations and reminds me of good laughs with former students - several of which are now on their way to becoming excellent teachers and coaches themselves.
This stapler has always brought a smile to my face.
Except when students smashed the eyes as they slam the top of the machine down on their papers or made the stapler jam to the point of no return.
Since the stapler has been nothing but a paperweight on my bookshelf for the past 2 1/2 years, today I did the unthinkable.
Today, I followed through with my plan to minimize my life.
Today, I threw away my most favorite stapler of all time.
Fortunately, I did not throw away all the memories and hopes for those great former-students!
#1 - I love that movie!! And Milton. "I believe you have my stapler" never fails to get my whole family laughing! : )
ReplyDelete#2 - this brought back memories for me of one of my fav HS English teachers. One of my best friends and I would prank her all the time - sneaking in after school and decorating her door or her desk. We even formed the Ms Anderson Fan Club. Of course we were the only two members and the officers. LOL She is the woman who taught me to actually enjoy having to diagram sentences. (Do they still do that in school? and yes- I am a freak!)
Thank you for sharing the stapler story with us, and for bringing back some good student/teacher memories of my own!
That Milton character is a classic!
DeleteI'm sure the teacher loved you and your friends pranks - probably still talked about it for years! I'm social studies, so I don't know if they diagram sentences, I would guess not as much as before since kids don't seem to be able to write sentences very well.
Thanks for sharing your memory!
Love this story. Ooooh you pitched it. I'm such a hoarder so I would have found it impossible but you are right, you have all the hopes and memories still.
ReplyDeleteFunny movie clip!
It did take me 5-6 years to pitch it... it's been a long time and a hard road coming. The eyes have been googly and missing for years, but I still held on to it. Minimizing my life is bigger than the eyes staring at me, though, so it had to go.
DeleteThat movies is awesome!
You, Miss 90.7nsxfewtq, are a teacher I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThanks!! I was reminded by one of the former students that I convinced them that it was pronounced 'Nancy'.
DeleteEven thogh you are getting rid of the stapler, the memories of it are etched in several minds with this blog post. I hope, the student who took it decorate it will also be reading...
ReplyDeleteThe memories are definitely going to be remembered! The main one has read the post. She had forgotten, but was the one to remind me that my numerical/letter name was pronounced 'Nancy'.
DeleteThanks for stopping in!
I'm with Bindhurani, you carry the memories with you, the stapler is just a thing--what wonderful memories!!
ReplyDeleteSo true! The memories are great and the former students are now grown into great teachers and coaches!
DeleteThat stapler was adorable! What a fun prank! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm a total Milton - to cheer myself up at my day job, I bought myself a gorgeous Swingline stapler in Rio Red. Aw, yeah, baby! :-)
Some Dark Romantic
It was really great and hilarious!
DeleteIt's amazing how proper desk supplies can really make our day, isn't it?
Loved the total new look they gave to the stapler. I couldn't believe you threw it away :-) I would have kept it forever :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was really great, wasn't it?
DeleteIt took me a lot of years to decide to throw it away. This year was the kicker since I finally got tired of the broken eye balls cutting into my skin and didn't want to use it as a paperweight anymore.
You are so brave. I can never bear to get rid of such special things. My memory is such a useless thing, it only works with promts and reminders!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was a hard decision, but at least I have the picture now to remember it - along with the memories which I hopefully won't forget.
Delete