Why would you call it DISorder? The order is built right in.
I am a bit uptight. Not ridiculously so, but enough to make
my friends roll their eyes. I’m uptight about my house. White sofa, white
furniture, white curtains... who wouldn’t be. I’m a bit protective.
But I can laugh it off (mostly) when people spill, and tone
it down and make a good show of not caring and not being too fussy. I wouldn’t
want to look that crazed.
But at school?
At school I am SO fussy about my classroom.
People are in awe. I have a reputation as craziest insanely
tidy teacher in the building. In BOTH buildings. Even my class are in insanely
tidy habits now. Everything has to be
reset at the end of each lesson. Everything returns to default ready for
whatever’s next.
Basically because:
A) It’s an autistic class, and we’re supposed to be plain, low-arousal,
distraction-free and spartan.
B) I don’t have ANY clutter on any surfaces. Everything has
a draw or cupboard so there is no need to leave anything out.
C) I like the kids to know that whatever happens- it doesn’t
matter. If they freak out and chuck a table over, or throw a chair or whatever,
when they return it will look exactly as it looked before, and it’s no big
deal. And if they trash it not because they’re distressed, but because they’re
being an arse, then their tantrum has no effect. Everything remains the same-
their sulk is irrelevant and pointless and futile.
D) I’m very obsessive.
And you know what? It
makes for a really orderly, successful classroom. When the Head comes round,
she’s always really pleased that at least someone is keeping her shiny new
school tidy, and best of all- it drives everyone else nuts.
And that’s really what it’s all about... isn’t it?
