# Teacher rattles desk; student calls 911 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 2, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239 "2011-03-02T18:12:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/21 "2011-03-03T14:12:38Z")
Latest update - [Atherton police release recording of distraught student’s 911 call – The Mercury News](http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_17526296?nclick_check=1) It sounds like there is more to it than originally reported, but I still have no idea if either the student or teacher overreacted. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/22 "2011-03-03T14:18:33Z")
From the article - the mother of the kid who called 911: > [@](#): > > “I honestly think that this whole thing has nothing to do with my daughter or any of the kids,” Prado said. The WHOLE THING has to do with YOUR DAUGHTER being a TWITCHY LITTLE FUCKTARD who thinks that sobbing into a cell phone in the bathroom is an appropriate reaction to what was described in the article. The teacher picked up a desk and dropped it? Oh, the horror! Teach your kid some coping skills, FFS. ---
**Author:** ![Jimson\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@Jimson\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/23 "2011-03-03T14:25:16Z")
I had a high school chemistry teacher that would throw blackboard erasers at dozing or distracted students. Unfortunately his aim wasn’t the best. On occasion he’d hit the neighboring kid. Unabashed he’d say “Toss that at him will you”. When a student would fall asleep he’d continue the lesson in an even tone as he quietly walked over and picked up a metal rod from a ring stand. He’d walk up behind the sleepr and drop it. If you were really unlucky he’d drop 3 or 4. He was one of my favorite teaches, even if I did get hit with an eraser from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/24 "2011-03-03T14:31:52Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > From the article - the mother of the kid who called 911: No, “she is the mother of the girl who loaned the 13-year-old student her cell phone.” The article goes on to say that this mother “said she would be surprised to learn Haynes [the teacher in the story] had used profanity. ‘My daughter is an honor roll student and I would say it’s partly – mostly – because of him,’ Prado said. ‘He’s a very good teacher. He’s committed.’ She said her daughter hadn’t mentioned that Haynes used any swear words and is concerned her teacher might now be in trouble.” ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/25 "2011-03-03T14:44:53Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > No, “she is the mother of the girl who loaned the 13-year-old student her cell phone.” The article goes on to say that this mother “said she would be surprised to learn Haynes [the teacher in the story] had used profanity. ‘My daughter is an honor roll student and I would say it’s partly – mostly – because of him,’ Prado said. ‘He’s a very good teacher. He’s committed.’ She said her daughter hadn’t mentioned that Haynes used any swear words and is concerned her teacher might now be in trouble.” Ah, thanks. My rant against the mom is therefore retracted. The part of the rant that addresses the sobbing student will remain. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/26 "2011-03-03T14:47:39Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > I didn’t sleep in that class anymore. I cut a deal with my teacher in the previous period- he would let me sleep through class as long as I kept getting A’s on all the quizzes and tests. So I was always well-rested for history. Your story reminded me of my journalism teacher in 11th grade. He told me that as long as I continued to work on the paper in the afternoons, I didn’t have to attend his daily class. Was the easiest A I ever got. Same year, my English teacher was a “fan” of my poetry. Although I skipped her class quite often, she offered me an A if I turn in all my recent writing. Not only was she true to her word, she typed and bound my poetry and presented it to me as a gift. I think the late 70s, early 80s had teachers that allowed more creativity and independence than those of today. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/27 "2011-03-03T16:57:52Z")
Well, at least the mother of the cell phone owner had nice things to say about the teacher, and is concerned for the teacher’s job. Around here, with a local school levy pending and the bickering about a “union busters” bill that passed yesterday, one would think that all teachers are the devil incarnate and solely out to rape all taxpayers and annoy the fuck out of children. Glad to read that not all parents think that way. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/28 "2011-03-03T18:01:07Z")
At least the teacher wasn’t [Harry Senate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Senate_%28TV_character%29#Harry_Senate)! 😃 For those who never watched _Boston Public:_ > [@](#): > > Possessed of a sarcastic sense of humor, Harry was infamous for deploying unusual (and often dangerous) methods to try and reach his students, such as firing a gun off in the Dungeon in an effort to teach the unruly students there a lesson in respect, ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/29 "2011-03-03T19:31:48Z")
There’s a fair bit of difference between rattling a desk or picking it up and dropping it and the things the young woman described to the 911 operator. Throwing a table, throwing things, screaming and swearing from a teacher would have freaked me out at age 13 as well, especially if the thrown items were nearly hitting me. I want more information on this one before I pass judgment. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/30 "2011-03-04T00:21:08Z")
When I was a senior, one of my classmates would sometimes doze off in my first period English class. Everyone would turn and start making smartass remarks before the teacher would go over and drop a book or something to wake him up. He’d always be like, “Huh? Sorry.” It was pretty amusing to witness. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/31 "2011-03-04T01:45:33Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s a fair bit of difference between rattling a desk or picking it up and dropping it …Throwing a table, throwing things, screaming and swearing from a teacher would have freaked me out at age 13 as well, especially if the thrown items were nearly hitting me. Wouldn’t have fazed me at all. One of my 7th grade teachers would lob any thing at hand at students who were talking, doodling or otherwise not paying attention. Usually it was just chalk, but throwing a chair across the front of room wouldn’t be out of the question. Our job was to pay attention, his job was to make sure that we learned something. We understood the dynamic and knew the reason for the anger. Today’s kids have grown up in a biosphere of constant fear of everything. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/32 "2011-03-04T19:07:16Z")
You know what? Some students lie. Some students make shit up either because it pleases them to get everyone’s attention or because they have a grudge against the teacher. I had a student who spread a rumor that when I was gone for three days for a district required seminar, I was actually suspended for looking at porn in the classroom. The next year, another student claimed he saw me looking at porn on my computer. Of course, when asked to draw a floor plan of my classroom showing where the computer was in relation to the door, he couldn’t. When he and his mom continued spreading these lies, the superintendent stepped in and told them in no uncertain terms that she would be delighted to give me access to the district’s legal counsel for advice on suing for defamation of character. That shut them up. I’ve had a student convince their parents to call the vice principal during the first week of school and complain that I was “cold”. Another parent complained that I required mechanical pencils, which I did, because the entire set of art pencils would have been three times as expensive. I’ve had a father accuse me of persecuting his boy after multiple witnesses came forward to say he was the one that hot glued the pencil sharpener and the door lock. Had a mom scream at me for sending DCS to her home after her daughter swore to me there wasn’t an adult living there. So . . . . yeah. Color me doubtful that this particular little girl was doing anything other than stirring shit up, either for shits and giggles or because she’d never once had anyone be stern with her. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/33 "2011-03-04T19:23:27Z")
That sort of stuff makes me wonder why anyone would ever become a teacher. (BTW, if you didn’t see it, I recommend watching The Daily Show from last night.) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/34 "2011-03-04T22:48:41Z")
FWIW, Atherton CA is one of the wealthiest communities in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/35 "2011-03-05T00:54:33Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > FWIW, Atherton CA is one of the wealthiest communities in the country. What does that have to do with it? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/36 "2011-03-05T01:06:43Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Don’t Call Me Shirley View Post > > I cut a deal with my teacher in the previous period- he would let me sleep through class as long as I kept getting A’s on all the quizzes and tests. > > Now theres a teacher that should be put on admin leave… Why? If someone knows the material what is the big deal? I sat and read my own books in one english class because I had already read and could demonstrate my knowledge of the texts used that semester but I had to actually attend. Didn’t stop me from sitting there and answering questions when called upon. And I once had a speshul snowflake of a roomie who would literally scream and jump in the air if i closed a cupboard loudly … She didn’t like it when she would claim to be channeling her inner child I would call it her inner brat. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/37 "2011-03-05T01:20:54Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What does that have to do with it? It means EXTRA-special precious snowflakes. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/38 "2011-03-05T01:48:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What does that have to do with it? Just providing the context, so we have the right mental picture. Conclusions are up to you. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/39 "2011-03-05T01:55:24Z")
Also, Atherton doesn’t have street signs. They have the names of the streets written on posts at intersections. Just helping you set up the right mental picture. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239/40 "2011-03-05T18:26:42Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > So . . . . yeah. Color me doubtful that this particular little girl was doing anything other than stirring shit up, either for shits and giggles or because she’d never once had anyone be stern with her. Well. then she gets extra demerits for coming up with such a lame fake offense. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-rattles-desk-student-calls-911/573239.md?page=3)