‘Playtime Is Over’ New Teacher Gets Down To Business With 8th, 9th Graders

Should she call her new student Anthony or Tony, Lori Clark inquired of the young man. “Joel,” he answered. Clark, who graduated from Eastern Washington University last spring, noted the name and kept going. “Playtime is over,” she told her 9th graders. “Whatever you do from now on is part of your permanent record.” It was time to set goals and think about what they want to do after graduation. Then they went over the rules.

“This is, like, too much,” one student complained.

Which reminded Clark of another rule: no whining.

Six classes later she compared notes with the other Greenacres Junior High School teachers. They rubbed their scratchy throats, traded war stories and got ready to do it again the next day. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos

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The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Story and photos by Sandra Bancroft-Billings