Nazi Symbols and the Birth of Christ

Last week, we took our students to a local facility that packs up food for the homeless. Learned a lot.

For example, we had to check each item to make sure it hadn’t been recalled. We also had to check expiration dates and could actually accept a can, that wasn’t rusted or leaking, for five years past the expiration date. Who knew? So a can of green beans from June 2000 was out, but a package of deviled ham from 2005 was good to go.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

After three or four hours, students and staff worked up quite an appetite. As we left for lunch, I noticed one of our students had a swastika drawn on his neck.

No biggie.

I’ve been teaching teenagers for a while now and rarely does anything shock me. Besides, when kids get around other kids, they tend to act like assholes.

I told the kid to wash off his neck before we went out to lunch.

Kid said it was permanent marker and walked off ahead of me.

None of my fellow teachers backed me up. Not one. Maybe they weren’t paying attention or oblivious to the chaos around them, we all deal with cranky kids in different ways, but none of them said a thing to me or to the offensive student. And I didn’t feel like being the oversensitive Jewish teacher who makes a big deal out of nonsense.

That's what my site is for.

Everyone boarded the bus and I had a choice to make: Raise a stink or take another approach. I decided to calmly, politely stay in the bus during lunch. I know I’m the only Jew in town, but a Nazi symbol displayed for all to see is embarrassing and I didn’t want to be seen with him.

SIDE NOTE: Co-worker #1 let the class vote and we went to KFC. Who allows a bunch of teenagers to choose their own food? When I was their age, I drank Jolt cola and ate Doritos every day for lunch. You don’t put those kinds of people in charge of lunch!

Anyway, due to a rude kid or yucky eating establishment, take yer pick, I stayed in the bus and read the newspaper. Apparently, the kid immediately felt bad and washed his neck before eating his trans-fat-soaked fare.

Never underestimate the power of a guilty conscience.

This wasn’t a bad kid. Just a stupid stunt to attract attention. And when it didn’t work, he took care of it himself.

Still. Teachers should support their fellow teachers.

While I was in the bus, waiting for my students to finish feasting off dead chickens, I heard Jesus’ name.

Seems when the bus motor was turned off and a sh*tload of shouting children were away and I could focus on something other than irritation, I could clearly hear the radio. It was actually quite loud, over the intercom, and tuned to a station playing Christmas music.

This wasn’t the classic and entertaining “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” variety. No Run-DMC up in this b*tch. I’m talking about the kind of tunes played in church. Energetic, New Testament-inspired, boring-ass Christmas music.

In fact, during a commercial break, the DJ announced that this particular station wasn’t “afraid to put Christ back in Christmas.”

The bus driver was nodding his head and humming along with the songs.

So clearly he wasn’t uncomfortable playing religious music on a public school bus. Not in this town. I just shook my head and prayed to Buddha that I learn *something* from a swastika and Christian music.

All in the same day.