Confessions of a High School Educator... or Baby-sitter

Third Period - April 20 - Industrialization to WWI Test Day

10:44 - student skips into class while hooting in a high pitched voice
10:45 - class begins

10:46 - students congregate at front of class room, completely in the way of everyone moving around, not moving out of the way and talking loudly about obnoxious matters.
10:47 - I hand test and answer sheet to Student D who takes the test in another classroom.  He says "WE HAVE A TEST TODAY?"  I glance at the board that has had the test date posted for two weeks and remember announcing the date of the test every day this week, including yesterday when we played a game to review for the test which we always do the very day before the test.

 I do not respond.

10:50 - students are told to put their bags at the front of the room to prepare for the test.
10:52 - I pass out answer sheets.  Five students get up to get pencils out of their bags - apparently it wasn't obvious that the 5th test they have taken from me would require a writing utensil (all of the tests are exactly the same in every way other than the questions asked!)

10:53 - I begin to give the exact same test directions I always give.  They interrupt me multiple times with the following questions, among others:
   "Do we need a pencil?"
   "Can we write on the test?"
   "How many questions are there?"
   "What's the date?"
   "Do we have to write in pencil?"
   "We can't write on the test?!"
   "Can I retake this if I fail it?"  (My response:  "Yes, you can, as can everyone on every test.  I said that the first day of class and its school policy."  A different student: "It is?!"
10:55 - test begins
10:55 - I tell student L to wake up and take his test and that he can sleep as long as he wants when he's finished

11:13 - Student K is seen manipulating something on the side of their desk.  I ask what she's doing, she informs me that she is trying to open a package.  I walk over and make her give me said package.  It's an Easter sucker in a plastic package.  During a TEST.  Sitting five feet from the sign that says "NO FOOD".
11:14 - I wake Student L up again.
11:25 - Student C intentionally sneezes loudly, then pounds his chest making a thumping noise.  When someone quietly says "Bless you," he loudly responds "Thank you!"  In the middle of the test.
11:27 - I wake up Student L...again.
11:30 - the bell rings for lunch

12:05 - As students re-enter the class, I remind them to keep quiet, put up their phones (because the rule is that if its on you during the test, you may be cheating, so make sure its in your bag), and get back to work.  I have to call out two different students who ignore my four repetitions of these instructions and make them put their phones in their bags.
12:18 - I give my general reminder to keep quiet as people begin to finish and turn in their tests.  This is followed almost immediately by whispering.  I rephrase exactly what I just said, and say it again.
12:22 - I give looks and shush two more students who start talking and glare at one student who is leaning back in his desk.
12:23 - one of the talking students whispers again.  I tell him to stop.  His defense "I was whispering."  My response "That's talking!  Don't do it!".  Other talking student asks if he can get on his phone.  I just point to the board.
12:30 - last student finishes test.  Students begin to talk and play on phones (which is fine after the test)

12:31 - I give warning about the volume of the class. "Please, don't loud."
12:40 - another volume warning
12:42 - Student L drops a curse word.  He does this on occasion, quietly, thinking I can't hear him.  Most recently, another student told him to start on the work he had been assigned while I happened to be standing right right behind him, to which he responded "Man, I don't give a shit!"  This time I tell him if I hear one more thing, he's going to the office.  Hopefully, he'll get ISS instead of 're-focus counseling'.
12:45 - another volume warning
12:48 - students start to stand up anticipating the end of class.  Since the first day of class, I always have made them sit down to wait on the bell.  I remind them, just like I do every day, to sit down before the bell rings.
12:50 - they leave.  I take a deep breath.

Test average is a 73.  Highest Grade: 104; Lowest Grade: 28.

I got paid today, so I paid bills, and have hardly any money left.  Then I have days like these, and it really makes you play with the idea of worth and value.  I'm actually a really good teacher, and my class discipline is generally fine.  This class beats the hell out of me every. single. day.  There are other classes that absolutely make the work worthwhile, but you get enough apathy, lack of support, and miserable days and that's when good teachers just go home.