Teaching...at it's finest.

Most of you who are friends with me on Facebook already know about this small yet hilarious incident. First, let me start off by saying I teach Sophomores in High School at a school that interesting to say the least. So any of you who have teenagers or might be teachers yourselves know exactly what i'm talking about. As much as my students drive me crazy, they make me laugh ten times more.
So, on to the incident. Last month was black history month at school. Each day one of our assistant principals would come over the intercom during announcements (which you're lucky if you can get your kids to shut up long enough to hear) and ask the Black History question of the day. This particular class on that day happened to be full of mostly boys. I call them my "Football" class because they are mostly "football boys." One in particular who has become somewhat of a leach to my side lately is...for safety sake let's just call him George (due to my always err on the side of caution husband). George, at first was one of my most "interesting' students. He was a challenge to say the least, but has since grown on me to be such a bright spot in my day. George comes in everyday and gives me a hug and then proceeds to have about a ten minute conversation about something totally random. He has been trying his best at figuring out how to be a man. He's done a helluva job if you ask me. He never answers me with anything other than "yes ma'am," is always smiling, and shows the utmost respect for adults as well as himself.
On THIS day, George was very "into" his work for some reason the second he walked into the room. I took it as a maybe something was on his mind type deal and I knew better than to push issues with George. As announcements came to a close, my kids got surprisingly enough..quiet. The question was...."who was the first African American to be a supreme court judge?" Without hesitation and very sure of himself George shouted out triumphantly...."JUDGE MATHIS!!!" The even crazier thing is that I was the only one who erupted in laughter...and I'm supposed to teach SHAKESPEARE to these kids!?!?! GET REAL!!!!! After I had explained to George and the rest of the class who Judge Mathis was, and what a supreme court judge was, the laughter came trickling in..even from my little leach, George.
It was..one of those days where you look at your students and you see the angels that are deep inside...not the little demons that so often have the ability to show themselves. Needless to say...Shakespeare might have to wait a bit longer...baby steps, baby steps. : )