Teaching Tomorrow's Homeless--Today

I gave the kiddos time to read Huck Finn in class. That book is so freakin' long (Oooh, Tom's got a new twist to the plan. They're gonna hide the witch's pie--by baking it in another witch's pie. Oh chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.) that they need every minute possible to keep up on reading. Of course, they decide to use this time to sleep. I'm not surprised about that because I would bet money (of course, I don't have any... man... money'd be nice) that most couldn't read a fortune cookie without zonking out.

What I am surprised about is their method of sleeping. They just slouch over and drool. Have you ever tried to sleep in one of those desks? Well if you haven't, then imagine trying to sleep on an airplane with your head on the tray-table.

You know I worry about these kids, but with skills like that I guess I don't have to. Sometimes I worry about them facing those all too familiar, uncomfortable nights on benches or in the back seats of cars. I remember those horrible times. But I think my fears are unfounded. These guys can sleep a-n-y-w-h-e-r-e with no trouble at all. So if the going does get tough, then the tough can get dozing. I can't imagine where the next generation will be able to sleep. We'll probably have to check in wheel wells on cold mornings.