Word of the Month for July 2019: Rascal

Once upon a time there was a boy name Bret.  Bret was a rascal.  Now, I remember reading a book called "Rascal." but that was about a kid who had a pet raccoon named Rascal - this wasn't why Bret was called "a" Rascal.  It was because he earned that title.

See, Bret had a 2nd grade teacher named Mrs. Waterman.  She was nice enough but for some reason, she really had it out for Bret.  He could do nothing right.  Even when he was on his "A" game, she was on him like sticky on rice.

One day, as he was being ushered out of his 2nd grade class room (more like yelled at and told to not come back until he had a signed note from his parent/guardian/whomever would claim him), Bret turned to respond to Mrs. Waterman with, "Yes, Mrs. Watermelon - I'll do that!"  Now, all the kids in Bret's class had been calling Mrs. Waterman "Mrs. Watermelon" - just not to her face.  

So, when Bret said it, a deathly still crossed over the room.  Mrs. Waterman sloowly turned and screeched, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?!"  Bret replied - yes, Mrs. Watermelon - and out the door he went followed by the screeching voice of Mrs. Watermelon which followed him all the way up to the principal's office.  Of course, by the time Bret reached the principal's office, darn near every teacher was standing (hands on hips) watching and listening to the whole thing and as I sit here, I'm still laughing about it.  What a hoot!

Fast forward a few decades.  Today, as Bret's children were getting ready for their first day at school (see, we, just recently moved the family from California to South Carolina) and today was Bret's kids' first day in school.  While they only have a couple weeks more of school, Wife thought it best to get them in the system so that they can start making friends.  Smart momma.

Turns out, that the day before, both of Bret's kids had met their prospective teachers.  His youngest teacher's name was...yeah, I don't remember.  Bret does, however remember his oldest kid's teacher's name - it's Mrs. Balue.  So, Bret's oldest is mulling that name in her head and slowly a wicked smile creeps across her face as she sounds out Mrs. Balue...Beluga...Beluga Whale - MRS. BELUGA WHALE she says out loud (and over and over, again).  

Wife's ears perk up and quickly seeks to quash that name.  Don't ever call anyone a beluga whale - it's not nice,...it's not a pleasant name...(and in my head, I'm thinking, yeah - and, while you will earn the admiration of every kid in school, it will get you kicked out of class while your brand new teacher is screeching your name as you walk to the principals' office). 

Of course, this brings us to our word of the month:  RASCAL.  According to The Oxford American College Dictionary (apparently, Black's didn't see me coming), RASCAL is defined as

A mischievous or cheeky person

Anyway, I wondered what, if any, resources Mrs. Watermelon might have used to keep me out of her class had she had the chance.  Turns out there are a number of resources she could have read, such as:

• United States Code Annotated, Title 20 (Education)
• Education Law: First Amendment, Due Process and Discrimination Litigation (TR)
• Education Law (Lexis)
• Student Rights (ACLU)

Yep, I was a real stinker when I was in elementary school.  Good thing Mrs. Watermelon didn't know what I know now (about law and legal things) and hopefully I can get my kid to not convert Balue to Beluga Whale.  But then again, I kinda hope she does (but that's just the rascal in me).