My third day teaching in Los Angeles was highlighted by Damon pictured below. I thought my first day was bad. On my first
day a kid ran around the room, refused to sit down and kept telling every kid in class "I saw your mama last night...I know
your mama etc......". I really didn't quite know what to do. He was out of control. Someone came to get him. Then the principal
got on the PA and said "we know you are smokin in the bathroom and we are comin to get you." I wasn't quite sure what I had
signed up for. Later that day, the kid that ran around, came by and offered me his lunch.
Well anyway the third day I had the kids reading this awful book called "The Jokers Wild." I was a history teacher teaching
reading and that was all there was. I asked Damon to read to the class. Damon looked up and said (with very red eyes and looking
like he had quite an evening the night before) "Mr. Mendoza don't make me read......"
I replied "oh come on Damon read for the class".....
he said "OK...you asked for it"
So he started to read and after about 4 words he started to throw up on the book, on the desks, on the floor, and on
the railway and stairs leading to the bungalow style classroom. As I looked on as the classroom was being cleaned up, a carton
of orange juice came flying at me. Welcome to Los Angeles.
