Student-Faculty Basketball Showdown

Last year I had the idea of replicating one of my favorite memories from middle school: the Student-Faculty basketball game. At Mount Logan Middle School, it was the crown jewel of student incentive activities, and I thought it'd be cool to bring some of that magic to Henderson Middle School. But last year, my principal said no, even when I volunteered to coordinate and organize the entire thing. This year, my principal is so desperate for anything to "work" that he said, "Sure. What the hell."

I didn't realize beforehand how much work would actually be required to pull this thing off successfully. It was like taking a part-time job on top of teaching, grad school homework, and coaching baseball. There were teams to form, permissions to acquire, concessions to coordinate, and a school-wide eligibility tracker to be implemented. But I went forward with it anyway, sure that it would provide a little shimmer of hope and happiness into what has otherwise been a very dark and gloomy school year.

The day finally came. The student team was assembled. The teacher squad was two-deep. We had the pep band playing in the corner of the gym, and the cheerleaders "doin' they thang" as they say. The referee jumped the ball at center court, and the game was underway.

Mr. Boone looking official!

Ms. Padgett in traffic!

One of my former football players, Larontae, trying to get past the defenders...

Then he ran into this. Boom.

Luckily for me, the kids were pretty terrible.

I say "luckily" because, in the days and weeks leading up to the big game, I had done a lion's share of trash-talking to my kids. I couldn't help myself. I told them I'd be breaking their ankles left and right. I even guaranteed them a Faculty win several times, but they just wouldn't believe me. I don't think they could wrap their brains around young, hip black kids getting schooled by a dorky white teacher with glasses, but that's exactly what happened. Some students even wrote me notes on the day of the game, urging me to have my ankles wrapped tightly and an ambulance close by so I could be easily retrieved.

The 8th grade boys made a good run at the end of the game to bring it within 16 points, but by then it was over. Final score: Students 45, Faculty 61.

It was the most fun I've had as a teacher in 3 years at HMS. And now, thanks to some strategic gambling, my students owe me brownies.