The Empty Desk: A Story of Classroom Community

As educators, we are often faced with situations that a college education cannot prepare us for.

This story is about an experience that taught me a lesson I could not learn in school and showed me the importance of establishing a community in my classroom.

Sean was a crack-up kid in my American Literature class.  The class clown, Sean always had the last say, and thrived on being the center of attention.

While lecturing the class on Romanticism, Mr. Sean was having the time of his life, 3rd row, 2nd desk to my left.  When I cut my “momma eye” at him, his smiling eyes met mine. Defusing my emerging anger, he looked at me and said,

    “I love you, Mrs. Roberson!”

    “I love you, too, Sean”, I replied.

Saved by the bell, Sean and the kids raced for their lives into the hallway while I stood there wondering what just happened.

Read The Empty Desk: A Story of Classroom Community