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By Esmé Raji Codell

June 14, 1999 | January 12

Billy Williams is just out of control with the whining and tongue-clucking. "You always giving us homework, and you ain't never give us no free time in class! I hate you!"

"You can hate me all you want. That's your prerogative, your choice. But no matter how you feel about me, I will always love you." I mostly say this because I know it just drives them crazy.

Sure enough, this sends Billy into a tongue-clucking frenzy. He stands up behind his desk. "I hate you!" he roars.

"I'm sorry you're angry, but I still love you, and I won't allow you to fail."

"Dang! Dang! You always saying you love us. Well, your love mean nothing to me, woman!"

"Oooh, you breakin' her heart, Billy Williams," laughed Selena. We all laughed.

"You think it's so hard to be on your side of the desk," I told Billy, "but you sure make it hard from where I stand. I'm pretty sick of it. How about you see how hard you make it for me? You teach tomorrow." The class went up for grabs.

"Shiiiiiit! That your job! I ain't doing it!"

I put up a thumb for attention. All was quiet. "Here's the deal. Teach tomorrow or be suspended for swearing, arguing, and not doing your work. Take your pick. Or rather, pick which one your mother would prefer when I call her about your decision tonight."

Billy looked like he would kill me.

January 13

"Would Mr. Williams please pick up his students." I got ahold of the intercom. Ms. Coil was made privy to the disciplinary action. The morning bell had rung. The class waited outside, delighted, in a perfect line. Billy was hiding in the boy's room. I told his mom the night before not to let him say he was too sick to come to school today. I waited for him. Finally, he emerged.

Also Today Tough lessons An interview with firebrand educator Esmé Raji Codell.   Educating Esmé: Diary of a Teacher's First Year

"You really gonna make me do this?"

"Just for a day."

"All day? You crazy!"

"No, I'm Billy." I took off his jacket and headphones and put them on. He's as big as me, so they fit. I put one of my boyfriend Jim's ties around his neck. "Got any gum, brother-man?" He didn't think my imitation was funny.

The rest of the class did.

I handed him the Trouble Basket.

"I ain't doing this!"

"Then you'll have more troubles than this one basket can carry," I threatened. "Don't forget to say 'Good morning.'"

Billy tried to take attendance. "There's some boys still out in the coat room," I heard Selena point out. I was having fun, hanging out in there with B. B. and Kirk.

"Come out of there!" Billy stuck his head in. "How I'm 'posed to take attendance! Damn!" B. B. and Kirk, realizing the consequences that Billy would deliver after school should they not cooperate, reluctantly went to their seats. I moseyed.

"Come on! Or I'll give you five dictionary definitions to copy!" Billy warned me.

"Dang, man, don't have a baby! I'll git there when I git there, and if that ain't good enough for you, well, ain't that too bad!" I leered.

Billy maintained his character, looking slightly saddened, but ignored me. Some smart girls offered to help him with the lunch count. He got everybody lined up for art in the room across the hall. He let them enter, then proceeded himself.

"Where do you think you're going?" I stopped him. "Do you see me go to art? You have lesson plans to prepare. Lucky for you, it's a double period."

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