"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." - Elie Wiesel US News & World Report, October 27, 1986

So, the worst part about teaching, hands down, is the indifference. The first week of school I thought that I was literally going to have to quit or make some sort of peace with the blank stares and eye-rolling from my regular English classes. Still, I jumped around, smiled, complimented them, and was enthusiastic, trying to entertain and teach at the same time (which is necessary these days). This week started off much the same as the first. Finally, today my kids were actually enthusiastic about what we were doing. Enter Oedipus, from door (stage directions). We finally got to the part in the play where everyone (except for Oedipus) has figured out that Oedipus murdered his father and has children with his mother. Jocasta, the wife/mother says to Oedipus that many men have dreamed of sharing their beds with their mothers. All of the kids, in perfect unison, make the same exact disgusted face in every class. Then they all gag a little and look to me for direction. I, being the mature professional at the front of the room (I even have a master key), respond by laughing at them all and dancing what I like to call the "Oedipus is shocking (he shags his mother!!!) and just wait, there's more" dance. They finally responded! It only took murder and incest to get their attention! They didn't even want to leave class today because they wanted to find out what happens in the story. They no longer are able to read without grinning and pounding their fists on the desks. Yes! I got'em (for now at least). The lucky part is that most of the senior English curriculum involves sex and death, so maybe it will all be OK. Yay sex! Yay death(?).