Teacher Obituary

(circa August 2005).

I was visiting my folks
back at home in Pennslyvania
in August of 2005.

I felt the urge to
look at the obituary
as I drank my coffee
on this particular 
Saturday morning.

I turn to the obits,
and there is a picture
of Ms. McGuirren and 
Mr. Kotran,  both of whom
I had as math teachers
at Raub Junior High School
from 1978-1980.

They both died young,  
not even able to collect
Social Security.

I tell the story to my students,
and tell them as I drank my coffee
 and read the obits
of my former teachers,
I felt a little guilt
that I misbehaved
in their classes
at
times.

I tell my students, 
"I don't want you
to feel bad
on the morning
you are drinking coffee
and looking through
the obituary and
see my picture 
and feel guilt
about misbehaving 
in my class.

DO THE RIGHT THING,
BEHAVE,
BE RESPECTFUL,
do your work,
and on my passing,
you will feel no guilt."

The behavior
motivation
works for less
than 10 minutes.