Mel Of Bacchus

The greatest teacher I ever had was a teacher named Mr Reid.

Mr Reid was the English teacher at Ferny Grove State High School when I attended there in year 10 in 2003.

I was 15 years old.

Mr Reid was not like any other teacher there at the time, he was a presence.

The only person I could relate him to would be Simon Cowell.

Walking into my first English class, late, as I did every class I ever attended he was straight onto me..

“Your late!”

“Well that’s obvious..” I replied

“Why are you late?” He Said

The class was loud, everyone was talking; upon looking around I could see that my new English class had at least two class clowns with ADD already pissing themselves laughing and saying cheeky things as to why I was late..

I ignored him and sat down beside a friend and stared fiddling with my pencil case.

“No, up you get, up here..” He responded, pointing at the desk right in front of his.

“Yeah-Nah I’ll pass..” I said

Then he stood up in front of the class and said “Anyone who doesn’t want to be here.. this is your permission to leave.”

Continuing he said “Too tired.. feeling sick.. have a headache.. don’t like writing.. hate English.. please.. head on out onto those seats under the tree out there..” pointing to the big gum tree out the window.

Everyone in class looked at each other and chairs started rolling back..

Almost half the class got up and left the room headed for the seats outside.

All of me wanted to go.. but something told me to stay..

I stayed.

Mr Reid got up to shut the door.

He turned to the class and said “See all those little turds out there? Wave.. Wave to them..” he started waving..

“They’re all failing my class”

“Those kids will be the dole bludges of society one day, not prepared to put in the work it takes to make something of their lives, just wasting everyone’s time. Wave again..” He waved again.

“I’m sure I’ll hear from their parents in a week or two with lame ass excuses as to why they deserve to be back in my class but they’ll have to talk to the coordinator now because they’ve already wasted enough of my time and yours.” He stated as he sat back down.

The way he’d given them permission to leave his class was as if he was genuinely concerned about them, that they might go to sick bay or he’d go out and speak to them later but nope..

“You – Here” He said pointing at me and directing me to the seat in front of him again.

I got up and reluctantly put my things on the desk in front of his desk as he asked.

“What’s your name?” He asked me

“Melissa” I stated

“Well Melissa, I don’t know about you yet, I haven’t made up my mind, but if you’re ever late again, the door will be shut on you too. Understand?”

“Yes Sir” I agreed.

The rest of the lesson was about the class rules, what we would be learning this term and Mr Reid promising that each of us would Pass English this year as long as we have good attendance.

He kept his promise, we all did pass and I was never late to his class again.

And for the next couple of classes we all occasionally waved to our class mates left out under that tree.