Miss Mills’ Closet

 

Miss Mills was my fourth grade teacher. She was young, attractive, athletic, and a disciplinarian. She became my favorite teacher because she made class fun.

One spring afternoon is poignant in my memory. We had just come back from recess and I was sitting in the front row close to the storage closet where Miss Mills kept the equipment.

Miss Mills came in from recess carrying the equipment, and she went directly to the closet to put it away. While she was in the closet I quickly calculated the distance from my desk to the closet and the time it would take me to run, close the door on her, and get back to my seat.

My calculations were accurate and I was out of my seat, running to the closet, slamming the door on my teacher, and back before she came out. Unfortunately, I didn’t get away with the dastardly deed. I was promptly kicked out of class and spent the rest of the afternoon leaning against the wall in the hallway.

A few days later I saw Miss Mills walking towards my house. I ran. Sure enough she went inside and told my mother. She suggested that my mom go light on the punishment because she had already dispensed it. She also confessed having to stay in the closet until she could control her laughter.

There are two resiliency skills learned from this experience. First, teachers and parents can laugh at the actions of impulsive children when no damage is done. Second, even though it was funny, discipline was administered quickly, appropriately, and fairly.

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