Someone Exploded

Put first things first   
Priorities    
That's this month's social emotional learning focus.    
    
On a good day,    
five or six kids connect with the lesson.    
The rest sneak Cheetos    
and draw pictures of dicks.   
     
This morning    
was no exception.    
Until suddenly Ahmad    
ran frantically for the door,    
fanning his face furiously.    
     
I'm sorry    
he tells me    
but...    
somebody exploded.

Eww, it was Naqiyah says Jeremy    
     
No it wasn't you black monkey!    
shouts Naqiya    
It was you!    
     
Cue a good 90 seconds more shouting    
Accusations and denials    
Laughter    
Chaos    
     
Look at your priorities I tell them,    
raising my voice to be heard.    
Put first things first.    
Do you want to finish the lesson on time    
and get out to recess,    
or do you want to finish the lesson during recess time    
so you can scream about farts now?    
     
No! Recess! Recess!    
     
See how priorities involve deciding what's more important?    
They nod sagely.    
Silently.    
     
Real life lessons.    
Always better than the curriculum.