"Did I Miss Anything?"

In Maryland, another new school year began this week.  Some poor souls even had to begin last week.  We've only been back two days, and yet the same old questions have resumed:

"Is this for a grade?"

"Will this be on a test?"

"Are you collecting this?"

And my personal favorite...

"Did I miss anything yesterday?"

Yes, I did have students absent yesterday, the first day of school.  Someone needs to talk with them about the fine art of a first impression.

In honor of those teachers who have already answered that last question (or ever have or ever will), I'm sharing the poem that my students will analyze in class tomorrow.  Hopefully, the message will stick.

"Did I Miss Anything?" by Tom Wayman

Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours.

Everything.  I gave an exam worth
40 percent of the grade for this term
and assigned some reading due today
on which I’m about to hand out a quiz
worth 50 percent.

Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning.
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose.

Everything. A few minutes after we began last time
a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel
or other heavenly being appeared
and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
to attain divine wisdom in this life and
the hereafter.
This is the last time the class will meet
before we disperse to bring the good news to all people
on Earth.

Nothing. When you are not present,
how could something significant occur?

Everything. Contained in this classroom
is a microcosm of human experience,
assembled for you to query and examine and ponder.
This is not the only place such an opportunity has been
gathered,

but it was one place,

and you weren’t here.