Malicious Behavior
She dismissed the first meow as malicious behavior on the part of her students. She willfully disregarded the second one when it occurred.
However, by the third time she knew something was wrong. She rushed to the back of the class, putting her register sheet aside. She was taken aback by what she discovered.
Dani The Teacher
Dani Rauch taught Spanish in California. She found her passion for teaching in the last two years and aided children from all over the state with their Spanish studies.
Dani, a California native, adored the state's melting pot of ethnicities and viewpoints. None of it, however, could have equipped her for the events of that day.
Substitute Teacher
Dani recently took the plunge and decided that she was ready to obtain her master's in education. However, this meant that she did not have that much time to teach children, so she decided to become a substitute teacher to help make ends meet.
She was lucky enough to find a position for a Spanish teacher in her town. She was ecstatic about her new position and woke up feeling ready for the day's challenges. She had no idea how much the day would impact her career as a teacher.
Willingness To Learn
Dani arrived just as the students were settling in. She scanned her new classroom.
She couldn't help but smile. She adored children and their willingness to learn. She grabbed her register sheet and started her roll call. When she called out the first child's name something happened.
The Beginning
Dani looked up from her paper as the class guffawed at the noise. She grinned as she read the following name, disregarding the meow.
Another meow shattered the silence, followed by another one. She had enough. Dani placed the attendance sheet on the table and took a look around. “Excuse me? Who’s doing that?” She wasn't expecting the response she got.
Identifies As A Cat
“Meow,” they responded. Dani was starting to get incredibly frustrated. She exhaled slowly and firmly, aware of how amusing high school could be at times.
However, a girl in the front row clumsily raised her hand. Dani told her to proceed and she said, “You have to meow back at him. He identifies as a cat.” Dani could feel her jaw tighten.
Something Different
“I have to do what?” Dani inquired, her grin unflappable. "Meow back at him," the girl said. "Meow," he went again.
Dani was able to locate the cause of the problem this time. She made her way to the rear of the room, where a youngster sat with his head bowed. “Meow?” he inquired. Nobody could have anticipated what Dani did next.
Not Responding
“Is there a litter box somewhere in here?” Dani inquired, and the class erupted in laughter. With a sneer, the youngster leapt to his feet. He snarled as he swept his sight up and down Dani.
He made one more meowing sound before rushing out of her class. Dani let out a giggle, assuming it was all in good fun. However, things did not end there.
Harmless Fun
Dani made a barking sound when the boy approached the door. The class erupted in laughter. Dani joined in the laughter, hoping it would end soon.
She finished going through her attendance list and began her lesson. After a few minutes, the boy returned to class and Dani gave him a smile. Despite his lips curling back at her, she knew something was off.
The Day Went Well
The class went swimmingly and Dani was ecstatic. She grabbed all of her stuff and made her way to the office. Dani could not help but smile when she thought of her unique interaction with the student.
However, she was quickly pulled back to reality when the secretary called out for her. "Miss Rauch, the principal would like to see you in the office. Thank you."
The Principal Calls
Dani nodded at the lady and quickly changed her trajectory. She’d meant to take her teaching materials to the office first before seeing the principal anyway, so this worked out fine for her.
She knocked on the door, expecting a warm greeting. She received none. “Sit,” the principal almost commanded. Dani couldn’t believe what the principal said next.
He’s Serious
“We no longer need your services,” the principal said. “If you can’t identify with all the children in the classroom, then we can’t continue working together.”
Dani used everything in her to keep her lips from curving. She realized the principal was serious about the matter. She would match the principal’s energy with her answer.
I Understand
“I didn't know cats were considered people,” Dani said. “I thought they were pets.” Was that a twitch on the principal’s jaw?
“I am sorry,” Dani said. “I understand what these kids go through every day. It is not easy for them.” As part of Dani’s grad school education, she learned ways to make education more comfortable for students. Could she apply anything she’d learned here?
She Speaks Her Mind
“I appreciate that the student identifies as a cat,” Dani said. “It makes him unique. Maybe we could find ways to make him more comfortable in class.”
When the principal took an interest, she continued, “We could focus on his likes, maybe encourage sincere communication. There is a lot that these kids have bottled up. We can help them.” The principal leaned forward. What he said shocked Dani.
A New Development
“You seem to know a lot about this,” the principal said, and Dani nodded. “If you are up for it,” he continued, “you can incorporate what you're talking about into our teaching programs.”
Dani gave another nod. She’d wanted a chance to apply what she was learning in a real-life educational setting. “When can I start,” she asked the principal.