Teacher Voice

A friend from University of Louisville once said that she used "teacher voice" during a party at her house to get everyone out of the kitchen (or move them to some desired location). I think that teachers do have "teacher voice," and a belief that, for the most part, others will pay attention.

I used mine once on a plane. A big-wig basketball recruiter was standing in the aisle next to my seat talking to the big-wig person next to me. (I was eaves dropping.) The stewardess had repeatedly made the "please take your seat" announcement. I surprised even myself when I looked up at him and said, "Sit!"  He responded. My students respond to one-word commends. They think it's funny.

Teacher voice surfaced recently at a neighborhood coffee shop, Foxy Loxy, but with moderate success. Another attribute of teachers is our powers of observation; we're always watching. My boyfriend and I were next in line and I was taking stock of the girl in front of me. At first I thought that the rustic counter top was swaying -- could that be? -- but then I realized that it was the girl! A few seconds later her knees buckled and she was lying face up at our feet. I gasped and shouted to the barista, "She just fainted; call 911!" He peered over the counter, not half as alarmed as I would have liked him to be. Maybe this happens every now and then; students are the primary clientele and they aren't the best at self-care.

I must have repeated my demand. "Okay," he relented. Within a few seconds, the girl revived, explaining that she was just overly-thirsty. The barista said he'd get her some water, probably relieved at his new assignment.

I wasn't finished, though. I said to the girl as she was getting up: "You really should go see a doctor." She seemed to be recovering quickly, so I turned to the line of people closed in behind us (Foxy Loxy's ordering area is very cozy). In moderate teacher voice, I explained that whenever a person loses consciousness, that person needs to go see a doctor. (This was drilled in to me by my mom's doctor; she had occasional fainting spells, which we would casually mention to the doctor a few days later). People peered past me to the sausage kolaches in the case. My boyfriend suggested that I order.

We saw the girl once we settled out on the patio. She thanked me. I told my boyfriend that he was lucky I didn't try mouth-to-mouth. Her nose ring may have caught on my earring and there would have been even more of a scene.

Actually, I don't know CPR, but that's now on my to do list. Teachers have to be prepared for the next time we're needed.