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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#198: Teacher’s Pet

Whether it was the one who taught you a valuable skill, encouraged you to strive for better, or simply put a band-aid on your grazed knee, there must be at least one teacher you’ll always remember. They’re a constant presence in our childhoods, and, when you’re only small, teachers can seem like larger-than-life characters; the source of all knowledge. It’s little wonder that they feature so often in our stories and our imaginations.

Teaching is a difficult and complicated calling. As in any profession, alongside the above-and-beyonders are also those who should never have become teachers, or who have become jaded. Perhaps your own experiences with a teacher of this kind, one who failed to believe in their students when they needed them the most, clipped your wings, or drove you to work even harder in life. Either way, let's use this week to draw from these formative experiences and write about the people who taught us things, or ought to have.

This week's prompts

Write a story about an unconventional teacher.

High School – 57 stories

Start your story with somebody getting called to the principal’s office.

Middle School – 40 stories

Write about a school trip that takes a turn for the unexpected.

Kids – 15 stories

Write a short story about a teacher or mentor figure who recognizes hidden (or magical!) potential in someone and helps them cultivate it.

Narrative – 46 stories

Write a story that contains the phrase “Okay class! Pop quiz.”

Teens – 24 stories

Stories

“The New Music Teacher” by Richard E. Gower

Submitted to Contest #198

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. – PLATOThe new music teacher, driving his own car (foreign, don’t you know), arrived in town in August, two weeks ahead of the start of the term. But gossip and speculation, traveling at near the speed of light, had preceded him by several days.Our curious minds had so many questions that cried out for answers. Was he going to be a strict teacher? By sheer coincidence, Ronnie had a cousin in anoth...

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“The Goddess Goes to High School” by Abbie Pedrotte

Submitted to Contest #198

Athena was rendered exhausted at the mere thought of her days on Olympus. Everywhere she looked, there was a hero who needed assistance. Some brute with oiled-up cords of muscle, its only purpose to compensate for the empty space taking up the inside of his skull, would get himself into some wholly-avoidable imperilment. And a hero in trouble only knew of one goddess to call upon. Athena was obligated to support whatever chauvinistic, elaborate quest or war or feud the hero would otherwise fail. It was all so dramatic. The Tr...

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“John Greenman's First Day of School” by Addison Dunn

Submitted to Contest #198

John Greenman was driving to school. This was a new thing, since before today he had driven downtown, not to the suburbs. He had done that because before, he was a lawyer, not a school teacher. He was a pretty-big-deal lawyer, too, at a pretty-big-deal law firm. It was too bad he didn't care one bit about tax law, and even worse that he spent a decade of his life working in a field he didn't care one bit about. But now he was a teacher. Or was going to be a teacher? He still wasn't sure when he officially became one. He had gotten the jo...

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“Mentality of Magic” by Rochelle Bourns

Submitted to Contest #198

It was an afternoon of waiting. The day had been as bright as pearls so far, with the December mist hanging in the air. All of it was cement-colored bricks underneath slate skies. All of it looked like the same old, same old. Except that the spinning red and blue sirens now sang outside instead of the birds.It seemed like every student, parent, and neighbor was out there to watch and listen. Meanwhile, Brian had been in the principal’s office ever since the high school had rung a release for its students one hour ago. One whole hou...

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“An unlikely messiah” by Kashif Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #198

As the teacher was delivering an intriguing lecture on optics, a ward boy interrupted the class by seeking permission to enter and handed her a slip of paper. Reading the memo, she addressed Mark Graham Carlson, informing him that the principal wanted to meet him in his office. Although the teacher's tone was jocular, Mark appeared apprehensive as he got up and walked down the aisle, avoiding eye contact with anyone. His mind raced with possibilities as to why he was summoned, ranging from the graffiti in the bathroom to his math grades. M...

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“A Clown in The Class For Integration ” by Charlotte Morse

Submitted to Contest #198

“Monsieur Audin! The principal wishes to speak to you in his office, right now!” A disembodied voice shrilled across the sea of heads. Monsieur Audin, or Louis as we better knew him, had been Ben’s teacher and our close friend for the last five years. It looked like he was in trouble, and it was all my fault! I glanced over at Sylvie, his wife, who was still holding her banner high in the air, ‘School for everyone!’ it boldly stated. She didn’t look overly concerned over Louis being summoned and continued to shout, “All children have th...

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“Zurin Academy” by Rhea Bloom

Submitted to Contest #198

The silence of the classroom was interrupted when the speakers above the door let out a piercing noise, followed by the announcement, “Alicia Sanders, you’re needed in the principal’s office.” Silence would’ve been better than the Ooooo’s that filled the classroom when the speaker quieted. I don’t think I did anything to get in trouble for. I quietly stood, grabbing my backpack and tossing the strap over my shoulder, before heading for the door. I heard quiet muffles of other students as I left, but I ignored it like I always do.&nbsp...

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“A Tale of the Unexpected” by Debra Williams

Submitted to Contest #198

Harriet Cooper stared at the scuffed toes on her shoes. Her stomach coiled in knots as she stood outside the principal's office and stared at the name on the brass plaque attached to the door: Mrs Notgoodenough. The principal’s pinched lips, permanently lined with red lipstick, fronted a stern face. Mrs Notgoodenough. Nothing was ever good enough for her. An appropriate name for a tough principal who didn’t seem to like kids. She certainly had never liked Harriet. Why Harriet wondered, was she even in the job? Harriet’s class had been on a ...

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“A Meeting at the Principal's Office” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #198

A Meeting at the Principal’s Office The Tale of a Teenager of the 1960s I’ve walked this ill-destined path before. “John, go to the principal’s office right now!” The teacher said that just as soon as I walked into his classroom. I knew what it was about. I have long hair and I had neglected to grease it down, so it didn’t look as long as it actually was. I also had the shaggy beginnings of my second beard. Both are more or less forbidden in my hi...

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“Saved” by Anne Reed

Submitted to Contest #198

Kelly Chase knew there was nothing very special about herself, which is enough to make any child of thirteen resentful. In fact, she was quite sure that she was one of the worst people she knew, and she hated herself for it. She had started her eighth grade year by being sent in to therapy. However, she refused to tell the therapist anything, including the reason why she needed therapy. Dr. Hobbs was a calm, comfortable, middle-aged woman who dressed in simple clothing, usually a blouse and slacks. She was neither formal nor ...

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“Trippin” by Shanelle Monique

Submitted to Contest #198

Today is the big day! It is the 8th grade class trip to the Science Museum. Adrian had been excited and preparing for this day for a month. It had finally arrived and he could hardly contain himself. It has always been his dream to be an entomologist because he loves to play with bugs. For Adrian to see all the different kinds of insects and bugs for the 8th time, would make his day. Each and every time, his fascination with bugs has grown. When Adrian arrived at school, he ran excitedly to his...

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“The best thing about the zoo” by Nathanael Geach

Submitted to Contest #198

Sam and Tom were best of friends,Always thick as thieves.Outside they'd play. Well Tom would sitWhilst Sam kicked through the leaves.Tom prefers to be indoorsPlaying with his toys.He loves his Lego pirate shipAnd shouting "land ahoy!"In the garden Sam would search for bumblebees and slugs,But there were things he’d rather find than teeny tiny bugs.He’d love to spot great jungle cats or monkeys in the trees,Penguins in the Arctic, and Great White Sharks in the seas.Sam knew about these animals by researching in books.He’d carefully turn the p...

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“A Journey into the Unknown” by Ella James

Submitted to Contest #198

Hi. My name is Emily Hanshaw. I am 12 years old and I live in Northland. This is my story on how when I took a school trip, It’d take an unexpected turn. It was a crisp autumn morning when our school bus rumbled to life, ready to take us on a much-anticipated adventure. The destination? The sprawling countryside of Northland, known for its scenic beauty and rich historical landmarks. We were a group of wide-eyed high school students, eager to escape the confines of our classrooms and immerse ourselves in a day of exploration and discovery. L...

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“Finding My Porpoise in Life” by C.C. Knight

Submitted to Contest #198

My day starts like any other school day at Crescent City High, except it's the day of the big field trip. I feel the excitement buzzing through the halls as I walk towards Heather's locker, where she's adding yet another picture of Harry Styles, no surprise there. "What did you bring for lunch today?" I ask, already dreading the tuna fish sandwich my step mom packed for me. Heather slams her locker shut and sighs, "Bologna." "Thank God! Want to swap?" I plead, desperate to get rid of the smelly tuna in my backpack. "Yes, if it's turk...

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“Underlying Potential” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #198

In every teacher’s career, there is at least one student who shows outstanding potential, though not all are as obvious as one would imagine. Mrs. Quarrel, the first-grade teacher at Pudmore Elementary, greeted her students as they entered her classroom on the first day of school. “Welcome! Welcome, students! Come in and have a seat,” she said cheerfully. &...

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$250

Prize money

182

Contest entries

105

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 19, 2023 EST

Won by Zack Powell 🏆

Title: Multiple Choice

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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