I work with a collection of passionate, intelligent, and innovative teachers whom I regard with the utmost respect. But, I think I'm gonna need to keep an eye on a few of 'em. Especially the ones that are smarter than me, which happens to be most of the staff.
When surrounded by such accomplished co-workers-- a California Teacher of the Year recipient works at my school--one such as myself has to hold onto whatever talent she possesses in order to maintain her self-esteem.
I forward some of my posts on slang to my English fellows because they have the same appreciation for language as I. Maybe I'm not throwing down any new knowledge on them, but I am at least entertaining. When a colleague stops me in the halls to praise a post, I can't help but puff up with pride.
That will all end if one jacks my schtick. Right now, I have the advantage of having no kids, no husband, and no further educational goals to take up the majority of my free time so that I can sit down and write.
The other day, as I was cruising through the office, a colleague who teaches AP English stopped me with "I've got a new slang word for you."
I was a little nervous. As a vegetable, this teacher trumps me in intelligence. And writing. The fact that the word was "for me" and that my colleague has several children and teaches at the local college kept me from flying into a full-blown panic.
"Lay it on me."
"Farting," he said.
"I'm sorry?"
"Farding," he repeated.
"I'm sorry?"
"Farding," he repeated.
"Oh, okay. What does it mean?"
"To paint the face," he said. "On my syllabus, I will have 'ladies, no farding in class.'"
His eyebrows pump up and down a couple times. He giggles, his brightening at his own wit.
"Cute," I said.
Amateur.