As Ms. Emily Parker, 37, started the final lecture of the day, the hum of neon lights reverberated around the high school classroom. Recently hired, she taught history with a discipline built by a past considerably more intricate than that of her students. Some did not appreciate her, but most did.
A gang of boys from powerful households at the rear of the class liked to push her boundaries. The crisis worsened that afternoon. “She was hired just because of her background,” one of them grinned. Then there was a roar of laughing.
Emily didn’t panic. “We’re going to talk about reconstruction today,” she stated calmly. However, their tall, haughty commander, Carter Lang, attempted to make things even more embarrassing. “Describe the experience of picking cotton in the past.”
There was a thick quiet in the room. Emily gave a stern but non-yelling order, “Carter, sit down.”
However, he defiantly walked up to her and, in an attempt to unsettle her, held out his hand provocatively.
“What are your plans? Call the principal?”
As the muttering intensified, phones were raised to record the event. Emily fixed him with her unflinching gaze. She said, “Take your hand off,” in a quiet but unmistakable manner.
Emily had served in the U.S. special forces for twelve years prior to becoming a teacher. She had made it through extremely demanding missions in which her life was in jeopardy. The provocations of a few youngsters paled in comparison to that.
She closed the challenge with a stern look. The students sat still, astonished by the strength of her calm.
The room was filled with a heavy quiet as the seconds passed slowly. Still motionless, Carter could feel the stress building within of him, but he dared not move. The other students watched the scene, riveted to their chairs, while his pals remained still, their phones now forgotten. Emily hadn’t moved an inch and was remained composed.
“Did you really think I’d let that slide, Carter?” Her voice was low but sharp as she spoke.
His eyes dropped, suddenly unsure. None of his pals dared intercede, and the muttering began to diminish. Emily was certain that they wouldn’t comprehend with just a straightforward confrontation. She moved forward gently, coming to a halt right in front of Carter.
Without raising her voice, she said, “You should learn to respect others, and especially understand that authority isn’t earned through humiliation.”
She turned on her heels and left after that. Still in disbelief, the youngsters remained still. Emily knew in her heart that something had changed that day, but she continued the lesson as if nothing had happened. The manner they challenged her would never be the same.
