Writing Prompt: His expression softened.

Morning all. Let’s get this Thursday started. Timers set for fifteen minutes and off we go.

Last night I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is retireing from teaching. I think the conversation settled in the back of my mind.

Thursday, May 7^th: His expression softened.

His expression softened.  He knew he was considered a hard man.  He was often looked at with concern even when he was just walking down the halls and not actually targeting anyone.  He blamed his own training.  His training was far more strict and had far heavier consequences. 

‘It was a different system,’ he told himself as he stared at the students lined up before him.  There were elements he liked and elements he did not.  He was certain that even if he were an instructor in the old system he would feel the same.  No system was perfect. Still he had been asked to lighten his step so to speak.

“You have failed your exams,” he told the three lined up before him.  “Principal Danforth has set up a tutorial program to get those who did not pass extra assistance.  Until you have passed the exams you will report to Room 263. They will get you past the exams and catch you up with the rest of the class.  Once you are caught up you can be allowed to return.”

Despite the softening of his tone and expression, there were protests.  Complaints that he critiqued too harshly.  That the test itself was somehow unfair.  While two of them muttered about complaints one outright told him that he would be telling his father. 

“And I will be happy to speak with him,” he told the student.  “For now, room 263.”

“You should be upset about your own failure to teach us properly,” one of the students told him.

“And you should feel relieved I did not do this in front of the entire class and that I didn’t point out the excessive number of absences you have in my class.”

His mouth opened to continue the argument.

“Room 263,” he said.  All softness left his face and any kindness drained away.  There were huffs from the students but none dared challenge him with his change in demeanor.  They all slunk out. 

He sighed knowing several uncomfortable conversations were about to be had.  He knew the parents of all three by now.  Despite all evidence to the contrary their parents believed them to be angels who could do no wrong.  They were also believed to be brilliant.  As he considered them barely mediocre it was a point of contention.  He had the list of unexcused absences, the missed assignments and the multiple failed tests.  This last had been the final straw.  He offered a make up exam and each of the three refused to take it, expecting instead that he change his grades.  He made each of them sign a paper stating that they were refusing to take the make up exam. 

He wanted to simply boot them out of his class.  The principal, terrified of parental reactions, set up the tutorial system.  He had already talked to Danforth however and made it clear.  If they passed and managed to catch up they would be returned to Smithson’s class, not his. 

That was going to be another battle.  There were many who did not like him and his ways of teaching however those who passed his class were the only ones who were able to pass the district’s exams.  Despite everyone thinking he was too harsh his class was the one anyone with aspirations wanted to be in and one of the few who kept the school reaching it’s required numbers.  The fact that the few other teachers raised in the same system as he was were teaching the other classes known for keeping the district numbers up was not lost on him.