How Long Have I Been Doing This

One of my biggest pet peeves in the world When I was in sixth grade was that Mrs. Tuttle allowed Danny Kridelcome to shout out answers But if I did it she chopped off my head with a machete. If I become a teacher I vowed, I will never do that. Danny would give me a look of pure “haha” before he shouted Knowing I would also shout, and I would be duly lambasted. This was 1966, when a student did not challenge a teacher. Day after day Danny and I would blurt out the answer. And day after day I would get sliced and diced, while he received praise. A world where girls do not shout out. I was a rebel; I could not stop, so did not. One day when I was teaching a fourth grade class I realized For the first time that I was letting the boys shout out, So glad they were participating, but when the girls did it I was FURIOUS and I was chiding, and shaming them Because the girls ALWAYS answered. I tried to go back into my mind to try and remember how long I had been doing it. Thankfully my memory failed me, reducing my shame at my own prejudice.