Sticks and Stones

These are the various ways students have tried (without success) to demoralize and degrade me:

"Mr. F, you ain't nothin'"


"Mr. F, you're like the sixth man for music teaching"
(that's a basketball reference)

"You're not like a real teacher anyway"


"No offense, but it's 'cause this class ain't real!"


And my favorite, a conversation that I cannot go a week without having:
Student: "We don't have to listen to you!"
Mr. F: "Why is that?"
Student: "Cause you just a substitute!"
Mr. F: Then why I am here every day teaching you?"
Student: "No you not!"

At this point, I give up on trying to reason with the student(s).


I am, by the way.