Today’s guest post was written by Tamela Cook.
“Critters”
September 2024
I began my music teaching career in 1996 and, in that time, I have encountered some critters that make their way into my classrooms. I work in two schools, elementary through junior high at one location and just junior high at the other. I am in a rural area of West Tennessee so, the kids I work with are mostly outdoorsy country kids. At one school, I have been moved to several different classrooms but the one I am in now is the one that I have been in the most and I now consider it my home in the school. I have been in the same room at the junior high since the beginning and I share it with the art teacher.
My classroom at one school is actually part of the original school built in 1928. The school building has undergone many changes since then with some old sections being torn off and new parts added on and even a new building built right beside the original to accommodate a larger number of students.
Every year, I usually have to deal with some sort of bugs and/or critters making their way into the class. It is typically a dirt dauber or wasp and there have been plenty of pesky flies. I guess it is because my room is in the oldest part of the building, but the winged ones are apt to build nests in the dropped ceiling or in the air conditioning vent. The ceiling is probably a 10-foot ceiling at least.
So, the usual situation is someone spots a flying creature. If there are little kids in the room, it instantly sounds like an ax murder is underway with the shrill shrieks and screams. One would think that Michael Myers himself had appeared with a running chainsaw with the way it sounds in there! There’s no more instruction from that very moment because the whole class is consumed with the winged one’s presence. Since the ceiling is so high, I can’t always successfully swat it and kill it. On occasion, I have even made the remark and tried to calm them with, “Hey, it is just here with us to try and learn some music, relax and have fun. If we leave it alone, it will leave us alone.” But all that flying thing would have to do is make a pass overhead like a crop duster plane and the squealing would ensue.
One time, when a dirt dauber invaded, a kid maybe in the 2nd grade taught the class the difference between a dirt dauber and a wasp. He ensured his classmates that we were not in danger because it wouldn’t sting anyone! Did that help the calmness level of the class? Nope, not one bit!
Another time, I had lined the kindergartners up at the door to return to their classroom and a wasp dive bombed them. It was so surreal that hardly anyone had a reaction because one girl in line reached her hand up, swatted it out of the air and then stomped on it. That child was undaunted by the presence of that bug. When one is a child and in the younger years, you are fearless, invincible, nothing can hurt you. But sometimes, as you advance in age, things change and you realize that you are no longer invincible. It’s probably about the time that you get up out of bed and something different is hurting each day but I digress…
In that same class, probably the next year or the next one, one of the kids found a tick crawling on the table. They alerted me of its presence. I told them that I had a plan. I let them watch me get it into a tissue. Then I had them walk on out into the hall to line up to go back to their classroom. Meanwhile, I was toting the wadded-up tissue in hand saying, “I hope he’s got his swimming trunks on!” as I proceeded to take him into the bathroom that was located in the hall where they were lined up and I flushed him down the toilet!!! It was one of those toilets that sounds like an airplane taking off when you flush it too, so there was no denying his watery fate. Lots of laughter followed and most of the kids in that class (they are now in high school) probably still remember that event.
I have a flyswatter handy at both schools. I also have rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, and that bug spray that shoots like 20 feet that I can use if the kids aren’t in the room or if someone unauthorized gets into the room, I can also spray them in the face with it!
Within the first month of school this year, at the junior high, a wasp was spotted on the window. A 6th grader alerted me that it was there. I encouraged the class that there was no reason to freak out and that it would most likely stay on that window if we just left it alone. Those kids were so over it. The junior high kids’ reaction is vastly different than that of the little kids. A boy at the back of the room was already up out of his seat on the way to the window saying, “I can get it!” and he had his shoe in his hand. He swatted at it but missed. He proceeded to climb up the wall onto a very thin cinder block window ledge that was not meant for humans to stand on! I swear he looked like Spiderman up there clinging to the window facing! He swatted and missed again. The class was very amused and awestruck with this whole display. I said, “Wait! Stop! I got you!” as I wielded my handy dandy flyswatter in the air. He was already on his way to my desk at the opposite end of the room to get it and he was on his way back to the window. He successfully smacked the wasp and had it balanced on the swatter. I encouraged him to open the window and toss it out. This is traditionally the time when occurrences like this happen when I am apt to say that we need to have a proper funeral and I will hum “Taps” or say a few words as we toss it out the window or throw the insect away in the garbage can wrapped in a tissue.
As it is usually a winged one, this year at the K-8 school, a 4th grader came over to my desk and whispered, “There’s a lizard in the window.” She went back to her seat, looked at me, smiled and pointed to it. I was in awe that she didn’t make a spectacle of it by alerting the other kids. It wasn’t long before another, then another kid noticed! I just happened to know that she has grown up in a house with pet snakes, lizards, turtles, etc. and she has told me that she has handled them all at home. She looked at me and said, “Can I get it?” I said, “I ain’t scared if you ain’t” and the race was on! She grabbed at it and it took off! By this time about a half dozen kids were up and some squealing started up but it wasn’t ax-murderish like with the smaller kids.
One of the boys finally got it cornered. He had it in his hand but then it wriggled away until it dropped to the floor. He put his foot down and it was writhing around and trying to skitter away. He finally got a hold of it in his hand again and with the struggle of the blue-tailed skink trying to escape his fate, his tail got pulled off. All the while I was encouraging the boy and the class. I was pleading with them that we needed to let it go so it could get back to lizard life and maybe even that its family missed it.
So, I convinced the kids that were nearest to the action to open the window and throw it out. They said that they didn’t want to drop it all the way to the ground so they put it on the window ledge. I looked up and another kid had the tail in his hand. I told him to throw that out too and that the good news was that the lizard would grow a new tail!
There’s one thing for certain about my job. I never know what to expect when I get to work in the mornings and face the day. It is an adventure! Anything goes!
—Tamela Cook
I hope you enjoyed Tamela’s post as much as I do. It brought back fond memories of my elementary school days.
The old Martins Creek School didn’t have air conditioning and the windows were so old that once they were opened they just stayed open until cold weather. Like Tamela’s classroom there was often the stray wasper or spider scurrying or flying about the room.
My second grade teacher was Mrs. Sult. She was a tough teacher, but a good one. All these years later I still remember things I learned from her.
The school was brick and had very thick walls which meant the windowsills were wide enough to stack books and papers or to hold potted plants and the occasional child.
Mrs. Sult’s windows held something else: numerous praying mantis. We learned about the lifecycle of the insects and got to see it first hand. I really don’t remember much about the cycle, but the image of the teeny tiny praying mantis hatching out will forever be in my mind.
Last night’s video: Family Stories and Memories from Opal Corn Myers 6.
Tipper
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My late husband’s grandfather preached in a church made of rock from the area. One Sunday when he was a little tyke, he was sitting with his grandmother and realized a snake was on the wall right next to them. He excitedly pointed it out to his grandmother, who calmly took off a shoe, smacked the snake in the head, and then patted his little knee and said, “Now listen to your grandaddy, son”….
Thank you all for such dandy comments about my musings. It is a form of therapy for me and a chronicle of my career to write such things. It is truly an honor to read all of the comments. I try to make sure my students have a big time and make sure they do some laughing whenever possible. What a pleasant surprise for me on this dreary, rainy afternoon!
So funny ! So cute !
I’m principal of a rural K12 school in Alabama. A few weeks ago we had a squirrel fall through the drop ceiling into the office… if you remember the Ray Steven’s song “Squirrel Revival” that’s how the office ladies and a few other teachers standing there at the time reacted. Two weeks ago we had a deer running all over campus.
A delightful post and any kid who has her as a teacher is assuredly blessed, for the learning experience in her classrooms clearly transcends straightforward lessons. On top of that, Tamara tells a tale with verve and vigor.
What great stories! Critters are something you just have to live with in rural areas. Growing up in a log house, they were everywhere. Mother would cut wasps and dirt daubers in two with scissors when they were in the windows. Now I’m finding stink bugs on sunny days this time of year. They’d better have their swim trunks on too! To keep them from climbing out of the toilet bowl I use spray cleaner. Getting 3-4 a day, I don’t flush after each one. In the fall when they come in my screened porch (built so as not to have critters inside – Hah!) I keep a small plastic container of soapy water handy. I just scoot it along the screen under them and they usually jump in.
When I worked at the Ag Museum
in Nashville I was the champion fly swatter if the two ladies I shared an office with had a flying bug come in. They would chase the poor thing until it was exhausted. I would get a swatter and usually hit it on the first try. When they ask how I could do that my answer was, “practice”! Once an unfortunate snake about the size of a pencil got into the large exhibit room (it was a former horse barn for show animals) with smooth concrete floor. I’m sure one of my co-workers and I scared the poor thing into submission as it was a comedy act when we both tried to scare it into a small garbage can with brooms. We finally got it back outside through the open door.
My last encounter with dirt daubers made them my worst enemy. I bought a 2019 pick-up truck about two years ago and let it sit in the carport while driving my car most of the time. A few weeks later I had to take it back to the dealer for service on an issue with an airbag which was covered under warranty. Of course it sat outside there. When that was repaired they found water under the carpet. I told them that issue would have to be repaired so while they had it to go ahead. I didn’t think it would be a big deal (nor cost). I had that issue on another vehicle once before. It turned out to be a stopped up drain caused by a huge dirt dauber nest, a lot of parts would have to be removed because of where it was located, and the labor cost me $1300!!! Now I don’t like dirt daubers! I’ve now sold the car so maybe the truck won’t sit long enough for them to build back.
I’m not afraid of critters and usually just try to move them if I know we can live in peace like large rat snakes on my carport a few years ago. I took pictures then coaxed them back into the woods. But some I have to ask for forgiveness and end their life! They should stay away.
My family and I have had some memorable critter experiences. They related to school, church, and my first real job, in wildlife conservation. I’ll share a few quick ones. My wife got a call from our son’s high school that he had been bitten by a snake he had caught. She was not alarmed. She knew that he knew his snakes and had not messed with any poisonous species. Thus assured, the principal and our son went on with their day. A bat once closed a worship service at our church. The pastor was wise enough to know he couldn’t hold our attention. Deacons with brooms took over. At another church a cat died, lying on a duct in the basement. The janitor said he couldn’t locate the source of the smell. It was in plain sight. The preacher and I bagged it while holding our breath. On the job once, we got a call from a nightclub that the band’s sleeping quarters smelled skunky. They needed help. Skunks had denned beneath the slab floor. We evicted them by pumping in ammonia, then sealing the entry holes. If the skunks ever returned, we didn’t hear about it.
I enjoyed Tamela’s classroom stories. Lots of life lessons were taught through the critter happenings in her classroom.
Loved Tamela’s post and it sounded like the kids had a great time in her classroom, learning about critters in a fun way. I remember in junior high we didn’t have air conditioning, and we also had those big windows, and they were raised and one day in 8th grade a bird flew into our classroom. Being that age, no one panicked and eventually it flew back out. It wasn’t unusual to see a lizard or two now and then also. I remember being on the school bus one day and since there was no air conditioning on buses back in those days, all windows were down, and bees were bad for getting in and one stung my ankle. When I got home mama got the stinger out and the next day it was swollen so bad, I wore flip flops to school.
Everyday occurrences can make for great learning! My youngest daughter was terrified of bees and spiders, so one summer afternoon I heard a scream coming from the kitchen, it was a bee on the front window. In a flash her brother picked up the broom swung it to “save” her. The bee got away, the window was broken, but my daughter learned that no matter how much they fought with each other, he would always be there to defend her.
Great stories. I raised my kids to understand the value of insects, and to reduce their apprehension of them. Wasps, for example, kill a lot of the larva that destroy my collards and squash during the summertime, so I leave them alone. All manner of bees help with pollination. Those insects I take the time to identify before giving them to the chickens sometimes turn out to be beneficial. I don’t have any time for June bugs, roaches, flies or ants in the house. Outside, they can do what they want. Except for the June bugs.
Oh my goodness…this post was so funny! It reminded me of all the years I worked at our elementary school. There are old and new parts of the building…with lots of spots for wasp nests, spiders and snakes. One day the custodian found a long black snake skin hanging down in front of his face while walking down to the basement. Many times, tiny snakes were found in the hallway and the gym area. The ceiling in the gym is so high that you can do little about flying wasps. They would dive down during PE or recess…scaring the teachers and students half to death. I had a sticky pad in my office for the numerous creepy spiders. One morning the custodian informed me he had found a snake stuck on it. Thankfully, he had taken it away before I arrived. After that, I was always looking down at my feet wondering when its little friends might come to visit.
I enjoyed Tamela’s post. it brought back memories of my wife’s teaching days in a country school. Everyday she came home with a story about her children’s day.
Reminds me of the wasps in the country churches I grew up attending. No insulation of course but a red hot stove. So when the ceiling warmed up, out came the wasps. They would swoop down then back up, bat the ceiling and swoop down again, over & over. Every now and then, they’d get low enough to land on somebody or in a woman’s hair. As far as I can recall, nobody ever got stung. And my brother and I had a resident “Blue-tailed lizard” (as Tamela said, a skink) that we saw around the eaves of our bedroom from time to time. We never bothered it or it us. A reasonable mix of critter encounters just go with country life. But there are limits, like squirrels in the attic. I’m thinking, Tamela, that you are a good teacher and a good role model. I expect your kids learned more from you than they knew at the time.
Ron, from reading your comments, I think our early lives would have a lot of things in common. I mentioned church wasp in my first comment, in my evil childhood mind I kept hoping one of those wasp would sting one of those bald headed men. I bet the commotion would have woke up a lot of those Southern Baptist church members that had went to sleep! Our preacher at that time would have laughed as much as the rest of us. By the way, my claim to fame will be climbing out of the open Sunday School class windows in the old church building and running around in the cemetery. A story for another day. Sure fire whooping if Mother came to get me, 50/50 chance of Daddy just walking around with me.
Lovely story.
Sounds like Tamela had a few adventures in her classrooms.
What you are calling a 5-lined skink we used to call a “scorpint lizard”. Now that I am old and know they are neither a scorpion nor a lizard, I still call them that.
Ed, you reminded me of an uncle who frequently made reference to his ailing “prostrate gland.” When I gently told him the word was prostate–“your prostate gland”– he paused briefly before replying, “Well, I’ve called it ‘prostrate’ for so long, I believe I’ll just keep calling it that.”
I grew up with Sults there were 4 girls and one boy. I now refer to the lot of 5 as INSULTS. Most children I have found (when by themselves) are quite different than when they are with a bunch of kids. They are usually more observant and tolerant when there’s no drama to be had. Most are quite inquisitive and they love bugs and lizards until they get stung or bit and that seems to change a good many to want to kill insects. As a military person, I suppose I have collected literally hundreds of millions of cockroaches (by way of vacuuming them with bright light in hand in wee hours of the night for Aberdeen Proving Grounds for chemical warfare studies. Amazingly, they are able to build up resistance to pesticides and other poisons.) I’ve had them run across my boots by the droves. It made for uneasy imaginations of critters in my boots and clothes for sure. I collected mosquitos too and packed them up to send away too. In my belief system, most every creature has a purpose (God Given) and like us if we embrace our purpose and life, something changes in our hearts to make us respect other life forms and their importance and special right to exist as well. I really do think we are ALL (critters, humans, bugs, etc) in this together whether or not we see it… I say MOSTLY live and let live OUTSIDE, but if bugs come in, they’re leaving flat lined… lol God love you all this fine day! To me roaches are the worst of the worst-I cannot stand a roach.
I have more “respect” for stinging critters (bees) than anything else. I have never came across Tipper’s friendly bees. All bees would be happy to me bodily harm! I don’t panic and will and do kill them. I like to be kine to yellow jackets and give their in ground nest a drink of gasoline just about dark if I know where it is. I usually find the nest by having them sting me something during the day. I have been a country boy and drive open cab tractors all of my life, for excitement nothing beats plowing up a yellow jacket nest. You know nothing about it until they are eating you up. Talk about multi tasking, trying to stop and turn tractor off, keep the bees forming sting you and get away away at the same time. The bees will follow and not leave as long as the tractor is running.
Sadie, I hope you and others can understand my reply about bees, either I made a lot of mistakes or spell check was having a field day with my reply.
Life sciences and the fine arts hand-in-hand!!!
Great teaching moments.
Wow! That post brought back many good school memories! I was blessed with many good teachers who knew how to capture the imaginations of their students. My elementary school days were mostly filled with fun! I did get called out for playing with an inchworm that had rode in on my clothes once. Out the window he went!
Even though the two schools I attended, Fork Shoals 1-7 grades and Woodmont High 8-12 were not air condition, I don’t remember any problems with critters. It was fairly common to find snakes or a possum in the part of the Michelin plant I worked at that was near a swampy area. When I was a child, going to our old church building that was not air conditioned, I would watch wasp flying around in the auditorium to see if one would land on the bald head of one of the men and sting him. We moved into a new more modern building in 1965. Unlike today in some of the new style churches, men did not and still do not wear hats or caps in the auditorium at our church. Some even won’t wear them even during the week if they are doing some type of work in the auditorium. The schools I mentioned were rural country schools and none of us would have been very excited if we did find a critter in our room.