Events at the school where I work have brought back bad memories as colleagues have to rush home to care for loved ones in their final hours and after. This has me depressed so the only recourse right now is to make fun of my students.

Well, sort of.

What was my best first year class is now competing to see if it can be my worst. Despite that, I let them pick their own seats a few weeks ago to see if that changed the dynamic. It didn’t, but it puts the problems into one main area which makes it easier to isolate.

However, one student has decided he doesn’t like the place he chose and he’s now lobbying for a new chair. I asked him why and his answers were vague, but I suspect that because he chose a seat at the back near an odd corner, he’s limited in who he can talk/cause trouble with.

I told him I’d be happy to oblige the move, but that everyone would sit in seats I assigned. To help make the point, I had a seating chart drawn up and explained to everyone where they’d be sitting. By coincidence, the worst boys would be sitting up front near me in what one colleague calls a “wall of noise”.

After much students grumbling about the sample chart I put it to a vote and the one student was outvoted. Now the only grumbling is his.

They all may still end up moving, but there won’t be any votes when that happens.