Talks Only With Permission

When I was in elementary school, we would get a report card every six weeks that tracked our progress in each subject. In addition, there were other categories off to the side that would track behavioral development. Things like “Follows Instructions” or “Excessively Tardy.”

I did okay with the grades, passing at least. But the reason my parents would always get pulled into a conference was due to behavioral issues. In the category of “Talks Only with Permission,” I always got a “Needs Improvement.” It wasn’t so much that I talked all the time, which I did. It was why I was talking. I would leave my chair and walk around the room, helping all of the other kids with their tests and assignments.

I guess even then I had a teacher inside me. And I also suspect the teacher was a little jealous because I was better at her job than she was!