Listen. I see you can talk a big talk. But you've done this before and we both know where this road goes. You lash out at the teacher as an authority figure, you get in trouble, you see our behavior people, we call your mom, you don't do any work and you get held back a year. But I'm on to you, you 6'7" 18-yr-old freshman in my algebra I special ed class. You think if you keep acting a fool we'll keep putting you in special ed and you'll be an oversized child forever. You've been doing this for so long, you don't know anything else. You're scared to try. You're scared of a bunch of numbers and words and educational professionals who want to help you so much it's ridiculous. But I'm onto you. You can't push us away. You know why? Because we're paid to make you succeed. And? Because we're your last hope. We're your last stop on the way out to the door of high school drop-out loser-ville. Do you know where high school drop-outs end up? No jobs, no money, and shorter lowww-quality lives, my friend. And you're better than that. It's the same skills you learn out there on the street, just applied a different way. And I mean really. You're 18. You're grown. Do I really have to call your mom? Do you really want to be here raising your hand to ask to go to the bathroom and getting sent to the principal's office when you're 19? We get to keep you until you're 22, young sir. And it's not even going to be that long because I'm sick of it. I'm sick of it already and I've been here for 5 days. You've been doing this for too long and it shows. So let's just not. Let's not do this whole charade. Because it makes me tired just looking at it--looking at your history in schools, at your sad attempt to have power over others. Because that's not you. That's a mask. You could be capable of so much. You could be a model citizen-an example for others. Someone who contributes to the school and the community. You can get the grades and pass outta here. But you have to try.
This is our last chance. And it's all you, young man. It's all you.
And you better do something quick because this ain't for free. Your public k-12 education up to age 22 through special ed is free. Your GED is not. Nor is all the time you waste.
