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birthday
    Terrible thing. Somebody stole the Columbus comic book. I said, “Whoever did it, just put it back,” but nobody did. So after school I took the whole library down and shoved it in the closet and locked it. The kids noticed right away the next morning.
    â€œI told you if you stole from me, I’d take it all back. I’m not a liar.”
    â€œThat’s not fair,” one girl complained. “We didn’t
all
steal the book!”
    â€œNo, I’ll tell you what’s not fair. My working Saturdays so that you can read real literature and then having the books stolen from under my nose. That’s
really
not fair. I only share with
friends
. I’m not going to leave my personal possessions out when I can’t trust the people I’m with. Would you?”
    Nobody answered. I passed out the reading textbooks. The children complained noisily. “You’re getting what the rest of the school gets,” I reminded them. “I don’t see what’s the problem.”
    The mood was grim for the rest of the day. I thought,
They have good taste. They know this is boring.
    But I’m worried. What if I never get the book back? Am I going to have to teach reading like this all year? I have to be consistent with my threat, or they will never believe me again. I’ll have no discipline. I won’t be able to teach anything.
    GOD, KID! GIVE ME BACK THE STUPID BOOK AND LET ME TEACH YOU THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW!
    I’m so disappointed. It was a struggle not to cry in front of them.
October 7
    Still no Columbus comic. I wore an ugly blue polyester suit, very cold and businesslike. We worked from textbooks all day. If they want a typical classroom experience, they’re going to get one!
    After school, Valerie’s mom came to see me in the office. “Valerie’s been depressed since you took the books down,” she said. “I’m going to insist you put them back up.”
    â€œI’m sorry she’s depressed,” I said. “Frankly, I’m pretty depressed myself. But you are not in a position to insist I put the books back. The books belong to me, not the school, and I’m not going to put them up until I feel the children can be trusted.”
    â€œAre you saying you don’t trust the children?” Her eyebrows raised.
    Her eyebrows really raised when I answered, “Absolutely not! They are ten years old! They are still learning right from wrong.”
    â€œWhy haven’t you taught them right from wrong?” she asked angrily.
    â€œI’ve imparted as much morality as I feel I have theauthority to impart, but seeing as it’s only been a month, I doubt if anyone’s ready to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.”
    â€œI take them to church. My baby doesn’t steal.”
    â€œI’m sure that’s wonderful,” I said. “I certainly don’t mean to imply that Valerie took the comic book, Mrs. Jackson. Please don’t take this personally. I’m delighted that Valerie has enjoyed the library, and nobody would be happier than I to return it. But it is my prerogative. If you would like to work every Saturday to create a library that may or may not disappear, piece by piece, I welcome you to do so. I choose not to. Until I am given a reason to change my mind, Valerie will get what the school has entitled her to, what all the other fifth graders get, and if you wish to supplement it, go to the public library.” I felt cold, but I was truly very angry. She insists that I put the books back! God, these parents don’t have a clue!
    Surprisingly, Valerie’s mom softened. “As long as you don’t think
she
took it.”
    â€œI can tell you really care about your daughter,” I remarked. “If everybody cared about their kids this way, maybe we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” I wasplacating her, but I didn’t want to fight anymore. Go away, feel better,