My freshmen are rehearsing for a major persuasive speech tomorrow based on almost two weeks of deep research and public speaking instruction. They are all a-twitter with serious practice and teenage professionalism.

Female student: Um, Miss Tolle?
Me: Yes, dear?
Female student: Can I say the word shitty? It’s in a quote.
Me: Yes, dear.

Then, there is always the peer editing that uncovers a student’s hostile frustration…