yearbook day

I bought a yearbook this year. I know, lame.

I figure, if I buy one every three years, I'll eventually have pictures of all of my students. So in ten years when I'm thinking, Who was that little sh*t in English 10? I can find his/her picture from back in 2008. Anyway - that is my reasoning for purchasing said memorabilia. (Plus I bought it with teacher money, so technically, it was free.)

Such is my justification, which is why I was baffled yesterday when I was talking to some fellow teachers who were excited to get their yearbooks signed by their students. Signed by students? Is that normal? I was weirded out last year when students wanted me to sign theirs... but for a teacher to collect sixteen-year-old signatures?? I don't know.

I have a sneaking suspicion that way too many teachers choose their careers just to relive their glory days of adolescence. (Or, just as likely, to be the "cool" teacher because they weren't so "cool" as a student.) Is hording yearbooks and yearbook signatures a symptom of this problem?

Of course, it is possible that I just may not love my students enough. Maybe if I cared about them, I'd want their "It was so fun getting to know you" and "Have a great summer" cliches in my yearbook too.

Or maybe, as a student, I was that "little sh*t in English 10" who never cared enough about my teachers to consider giving or receiving yearbook scribbles. Hmmm.

Comments

Laurel said…
HOLY CRAP - that is hysterical! And even if you weren't one of those sh*ts is high school (not that you were), you would still have to be a complete weirdo to feel the need to relive ANY adolescent yearbook day. Really, really lame.

And awesome all at the same time. :)
Alicia said…
I felt a little weird last year signing student yearbooks like we were "pals".
"English was so much fun!" "You rock!" "Stay cool this summer!"
"Never forget who you are!" (Seminary kids) "Next year is gonna rock cuz we will rule the school!"
Anonymous said…
You are hilarious! I always get a good laugh when reading your blog. I, personally, think that those teachers are wierd. But, then again, I never understood people at Disneyland that stand in line for 40 minutes to have Mickey Mouse sign their autograph book. Hmmm? Maybe it is just me and we live here in California. As far as reliving their "glory days"...just wait 'til you go to your 20th year reunion! And one more note, I never had my teachers sign my yearbooks 'cause I was the kid your talking about! Larabelle
Karin said…
I am learning of more and more people who are true "uncle Ricos" when it comes to HS. -Going so far as visiting all former ex's homes, asking for directions, just to see who they married and what their house is like? (10+ years later) and several other similar situations. Grow up and move on.
But Michelle, you know
U R
2 COOL
2 B
4 GOTTEN...
meggan said…
Forget the cliches that they will write in your yearbook, what are YOU going to write in THEIRS?
Markelle said…
good stuff Michelle haha. You got me thinking and I don't recall signing any teachers yearbook, but I did have one teacher in particular who was my absolute favorite sign mine every year(I had him four years in a row) Anyway he was hilarious and really made my "school days" better. Speaking of Mr. Rydiger I think I encountered him in a dream last night...weird!
LEE BIEN said…
What are you talking about? Without the other one knowing, Brett and Matt had their favorite lunch lady sign their yearbooks last year because she always knew what kind of sandwich they liked best before they even ordered each day! You never know.
Dottie Stay said…
That is so funny, and I have never thought about a teacher signing my yearbook. I would have been afraid that they really would have told me what they thought of me. Like I was a little snot or something. I didn't need that kind of negative vibe.
Leah said…
How the heck are you so funny? Honestly. You crack me up Michelle! Thanks for a good laugh.