Who's Who in the Zoo
It's exam time at the local high school, which means some of the grade 9s have been filtering back to visit their old haunts.

Which is fine - I did the same when I was in grade 9 - and I enjoy chatting with them and finding out how things are going. But the other day I had the most disconcerting experience.

My classroom, because of its central location, has two doors that each open on to a different hallway, and as a result it gets used as a shortcut by students (and staff). I happened to be walking into my room from one of the hallways when I noticed about five young women in the room just ahead of me. When they turned to look at me I realised that two of the five were in my homeroom last year, and at least two of the others I'd taught art to.

This was the weird part. Normally when I meet up with grade 9's, even the shyest students will say hello and will stay for a couple of minutes to let me ask them questions about what they're doing now. But these girls, even though they had been quite happy to talk with me last year, now didn't want to talk to me at all.

"We just wanted to say hi," one of them said, and then they turned away and started walking. My attempts to engage them in conversation caused them to stop and just look at me. Finally I gave up and said, "Um, well, enjoy your tour," and they continued on their way out my other door.

They walked by a few minutes later and looked in, and then again a few minutes later yet.

I had the distinct impression of being a display at the zoo or, perhaps more accurately, an historical exhibit. Frankly, it was kind of creepy.

Fortunately, when we took our current grade 8's on their tour of the local high school yesterday, at least three former students came over to say hi. They smiled, they made eye contact, they asked questions and responded to mine.

It feels so much better to be present than past.