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CARLA AND THE CHEWING GUM
RULE: NO GUMS IN THE CLASSROOM
At the beginning of every school year, I talk with my students.
We usually agree on the basic rules in the classroom.
One of those rules is:
Both the teacher and the students must toss the gums in the litter,
before entering the classroom.
Most students understand my point of view.
When we are talking in class, the gum hinders our speech.
It also makes us look sloppy.
Each day, two or three students forget our agreement.
It's 8:15, I come in the classroom.
I immediately spot the gums some of the students are chewing.
Some try to deny it, but everyone can see the gums.
- Tomás, the gum.
- Sorry, Teach. And the gum is tossed in the litter.
But, in no time, another gum appears.
In his mouth, or in someone else's.
They seem to appear by magic.
And they all end up in the litter.
Carla was my student for two years. She always followed the rules.
If she was chewing gum, she always tossed it in the litter.
Last year, I took my 11th graders to a meeting in another school.
Carla, now a former student, was there.
Carla presented the project she had worked on at our school.
She went up to the stage, but forgot to toss out the gum.
Carla tried to hide the gum.
But we couldn't understand a word she said.
Carla's usual assertiveness was hindered by her blurred speech.
- Teach! Wasn't she in your class? - Didn't she learn anything from you?
- Shh! Not now... we'll talk later.
- Teach! This is all wrong. - I can't understand a word she says.
- Quiet, kids. Pay attention. - We'll talk latter.
Carla finished her presentation.
All my students commented: - The gum spoiled everything!
Susana said:
- Now, I understand why we shouldn't chew gum when we speak in public.
- I lost all respect for the girl who was talking.
THE END