║ seventy-fourth stanza ║ voice

[mumbled_truth]

You know, it's odd, but I have a strange feeling that my students may already be experiencing some reasonable levels of stress. It's that time of year, isn't it? The culmination of your studies, and your knowledge put to the test as your school year's work is laid out for you in sheets of neatly printed questions.

And I by no means intend to demerit any final examination; all pursuits of knowledge are of the utmost value, but there are certain types of learning which are less quantifiable than others.

So, to arrive at the point. Students in my poetry class are expected to arrive tomorrow prepared to think and express those thoughts. No studying will be required, no papers will be handed out, and there is no review session. If you have listened to - and I do mean listened to, not merely heard - anything that I have said over the course of this class, you are already prepared for your test.

I'll look forward to seeing you all tomorrow - and I implore you all again, do not worry about my final examination. That is truly the best assistance I can provide to ensure your success on it.

And good luck with all of your exams.


[ooc: Teaches poetry at Westerberg! Feel free to put your student character in his class. He's here on the tl;dr post. Responses may come from asyouwail]

Comments

[odds]

Can we turn in a paper instead of expressing our thoughts out loud?

[asyouwail]

[Todd, having come out of the childhood he has, is incredibly sympathetic to this question...]

Well. Ideally, I would like to see everyone contribute something verbal.

[odds]

[ In all honesty Arthur had been expecting an outright NO, so it takes him a bit to reply, both surprised and dare-he-believe-it, hopeful... ]

How much is 'something'?

[asyouwail]

There isn't a length requirement. It's entirely possible for a thousand words to be devoid of meaning, or for two to pierce a heart.

[Fine, maybe some more information would be fair.]

Instead of a test, we're having a discussion about the material we've covered.

[odds]

You're allowed to do that?

[ NOT that Arthur knows anything about teaching requirements anyway, he'd just always thought written tests were requirements stipulated in blood...it is nice to find out he is wrong about lots of some things... ]

[asyouwail]

I'm allowed to measure my students' mastery of the material in the way I find most suitable.

[And because he's going to throw you a bone.]

Afterward, I'll allow for anyone who'd like to complete a written work in addition - but I do want everyone to participate in the discussion.

[othersdie]

If we've listened without fully comprehending everything you've said, what are the odds of a decent grade?

[asyouwail]

Justin. Can you do me a favor?

[othersdie]

What favor?

[asyouwail]

I want you to think very, very hard about the grade you would like to receive. Focus on it. I want you to fully envision it - vividly, written on your report card, which you hold firmly in your hand.

[othersdie]

[This is just the reason this class makes no sense, but that's not the kind of thing you say to a teacher the day before finals your senior year.]

Okay. I'm... envisioning.

[asyouwail]

[He hopes that, someday, it'll make sense. He was in almost the same exact position as you not too many years ago, Justin.]

Okay, now keep envisioning this. You are holding your report card - A's in every class, no doubt - and suddenly, it bursts into flame. It's gone. You go to the school, and ask administration to reissue another copy, but they tell you your grades have been wiped from the system. They're gone - nobody will ever know what you have earned in your classes.

Now tell me something.

Do you know any less without your grades than you did with them in your hand?

[othersdie]

[He would doubt that. Strenuously. If things can be doubted strenuously.]

No. [It's a very reluctant answer.] It would make getting into college difficult.

[asyouwail]

Of course. Which is why I'm not actually destroying your grade records.

But. Grades don't carry any meaning without the knowledge behind them. Pursue knowledge with fervor - with a thirst for understanding rather than a craving for validation in the form of a GPA - and the grades follow naturally.

[othersdie]

What I learn in school isn't necessarily what I want to understand. How many students would graduate if they didn't have a high school diploma to validate their efforts?

[It's remarkable that Justin's teachers don't fail him out of spite sometimes. He clearly doesn't realize this.]

[asyouwail]

If you want the diploma, then you want the knowledge. I'm aware of reality - which is all the more reason I have a class that's centered on the thought of there being something more meaningful. Everything I've taught has centered on the notions of pursuing your passions and thinking for yourself.

[And not really a threat, though he's certainly not amused:]

And telling me how little you care isn't going to help you get the grade you want, you know.

[othersdie]

[He has a response ready... and then thinks better of sharing it.]

No, it--sorry. I'll just... before I-- [Well, there goes coherency. Justin backs out of the classroom.]

[asyouwail]

[That might have been a good call, but Todd's not happy to see him retreat.]

Justin.

[It's a reassuring tone; an effort to stop him, though Todd's dubious as to whether it will work.]

[othersdie]

[He stops--more because Todd is an authority figure and should, therefore, be listened to than anything else.]

...Yes, Mr. Anderson?

[asyouwail]

I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

[There's almost a sigh.]

It's a discussion. You're smart, you certainly have no issue sharing your opinions - I know you'll contribute to it.

[othersdie]

Thank you.

[As if not worrying about it is even an option.]

[totallyinaband]

[Stephen notices Todd sitting alone in the staff room and sidles up next to him.]

So how many bricks are your kids shitting over the exams tomorrow?

[asyouwail]

[Oh hey Stephen. Todd glances up with a slight smile.]

I don't think I've managed a precise count. I'm sure they're worrying more than they need to, though.

[totallyinaband]

Yeah, but they'll worry anyway. Got any plans once you're free?

[asyouwail]

Of course they will.

[He pauses there. Not like he can say much without dragging Neil into the answer.]

I think I might start by sleeping for a week or so, and figure it out from there.

[private text]

[to_live_deep]

i hear the third floor book closet is lovely this time of year.

[private text]

[asyouwail]

Is it really?

Clearly you read that in Subtlety Digest

[private text]

[to_live_deep]

you and i both generally end the semester with oral exams. who am i to interfere with tradition?

[private text]

[asyouwail]

[if this was not text, you might see the shy boy of old resurfacing in that blush]

How could I possibly pass that up?

[private text]

[to_live_deep]

[But you're cute when you blush, Mr. Anderson.]

I'll be waiting.

[private text]

[asyouwail]

You know we're going to get caught someday

[private text]

[to_live_deep]

Where's the fun without the danger? Carpe diem, Mister Anderson.

[private text]

[asyouwail]

I didn't think we generally had trouble having fun.

[private text]

[to_live_deep]

are you coming up here or not?

[action]

[asyouwail]

[You don't get an answer via text, because he's crept up to your chosen book closet, opened the door and slipped in.]

I can text and walk at the same time, you know.

[action]

[to_live_deep]

You'd walk faster if you didn't.

[He's not really chiding, though. He's already standing in Todd's personal space, hands settling on his waist.]

[action]

[asyouwail]

Maybe I just wanted to let the anticipation build.

[Todd seems perfectly fine with that intrusion into his personal space. The hand that reaches around to the small of Neil's back might be some indication of that.]

[action]

[to_live_deep]

I do love a dramatic entrance,

[he sighs, and leans in to kiss Todd's neck like he's been waiting a hundred years, not ten minutes.]

[action]

[asyouwail]

[The hand Todd holds on Neil's back pulls at him as he leans in, and, with a soft, pleased breath - a little murmur of sound - he arches his neck to accommodate the kiss. As he does, his other hand reaches up so he can bury his fingers in the hair at the nape of Neil's neck.]

You know, I think there is something to be said for the thrill of danger.

[action]

[to_live_deep]

[He laughs, half breathless, though Todd's the one who's been climbing stairs.]

Exactly.

[He's gentle but insistent, keeping their bodies pressed together as he pushes Todd's back up against the door (since it will at least buy them a moment to think of an excuse if someone tries to come in. His fingers are already trailing towards the front of the English teacher's pants; no reason to waste time, after all.]

[voice]

[seekingnormal]

Hey. Um. I'm Sam Winchester, and I'm kind of new.

[voice]

[asyouwail]

Well hi, Sam.

[Look, you already sound a bit like someone he used to know - or be, rather.]

I know that being new can be more than a bit daunting; How are you settling in so far? Are you keeping up all right?

[voice]

[seekingnormal]

I just mean, I haven't been there to listen to your class. So... I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to know. Or how to prepare.

[voice]

[asyouwail]

And they're having you take the exams?

[Oh, administration. You're Todd's least favorite thing ever.]

Well. The good news is, I'm not going to be testing your memorization skills or anything like that. The way my exam works is as a discussion, in a group. I'll bring up topics, and everyone will share their thoughts. Some of us what we'll talk about has been discussed in class, but I'm sure you'll still be able to contribute. It's all about sharing and contributing.

[voice]

[seekingnormal]

Oh.

[Different schools work different ways. Sam's not at all surprised he has to take exams. But he's a little surprised by this teacher's attitude.]

And you grade people on their thoughts?

[voice]

[asyouwail]

I grade people on their ability to share and express their thoughts, their conviction to them, and their willingness to listen to others' contributions. I can't say that I could really grade anyone on their thoughts themselves, since nobody should ever tell you that your thoughts are objectively good or bad.

[There's a slight pause; after all, he does need to put it in context.]

It all does have to do with poetry, but not as a means of testing your knowledge of any specific poem or poet. We'll discuss it as a concept, a form of expression. Have you read any poetry, Sam?