Life Lessons - Fifth Grade

Mrs. Gardner taught math class.  Naturally, I was doing quite well with my grades.  I felt like I could do this stuff in my sleep, so boredom started to creep in.  One day I decided that reading a Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine was a better use of my time than paying attention. I discreetly lifted up my math book and put the magazine behind it.  I know, how clever of me.  So the class progresses with no issues until Tim Claxton decides to tattle on me.  Now, I was generally a good kid who behaved himself in class, so I turned ghostly white at the thought of what potential trouble I was in.  Instead, what happened next was the deliverance of perhaps the single greatest line ever uttered by a teacher.  Sounding clearly annoyed that someone would interrupt her teaching for this, Mrs. Gardner addressed Tim, “If your grades were as good as his are, you could do that too.  Now pay attention and stop worrying about him.”  My jaw just dropped.  Not only was I home free, I was essentially given carte blanche to read what I saw fit during class.  I had to restrain the grin that started to grow on my face because she was basically advertising my brilliance to the rest of the class.  The icing on the cake was that my accuser was put in his place, called out for all the class to see.  Out of respect to Mrs. Gardner’s backing, I put the magazine away…until the next day.  This taught me that sometimes the ends do justify the means.  I wasn’t disturbing anyone else’s learning; I was doing the work and receiving high marks.  As long I produced the results, why should my methods be questioned?  I almost developed a false air of invincibility in the classroom after this.  Of course, I’d later get my comeuppance. (Did I just do some foreshadowing there?)  Oh yeah, I also learned that Mrs. Gardner was one extremely cool old lady.