To Be or Not to Be: Teaching and Society

Every one knew he was gay. He changed his name from Mark to Markie and dotted his ‘I’ with a heart. One day after algebra, a group of senior guys were waiting for him after class. The biggest guy jerked Mark aside and slammed him into the lockers, pinning him up so that his collar was stretched to his nose and he was balancing on his tiptoes.
“Hey faggot, so my friends tell me you’re a fudge packer.”
Mark just looked to the side, his face was beat red and tears were slowly welling up in his eyes.
“So are you?” This jerk got closer to Mark’s face.
No response, Mark just kept looking away.
“Hey faggot, look at me! ARE YOU GAY?”
Just then the teacher came out of the room and peeled the two guys apart. Mr. Cook pulled the big senior student aside and said:
“Aren’t you late for class? One more unexcused absence and your suspended.”
The older guy gathered his buddies and strutted down the hallway. Mark just stayed against the locker and waited by ...