"She was graying, and the brace she wore to support her failing back was limned clearly against her print dress"(536). Miss Sidley was an old woman with a very distinguished career in teaching. Still, in her old age, she was the best at the game. Or so she thought. ". . . she reflected that the success of her long teaching career could be summed and checked and proven by this one everyday action: she could turn her back on her pupils with confidence"(536). Nothing you could do or say would convince her otherwise, she was old and set in her ways.

Upon first reading the story, I thought that the catalyst that drove her to the breaking point was a kid named Robert. His unruly juvenile behavior was that typical to a class clown, which all classes h

After this harsh realization, the school day ended without incident. So once again, in order to justify her comment, she placed the blame on Robert. "With sudden shock she realized that the blurred reflection in her glasses of Robert's pale, respectful face had gotten inside her and was festering"(538).

The following scene, while horrible in its conclusion was basically academic. After nearly getting hit by a bus, her mind had totally lost grip of reality. She took it out on her students by assassinating twelve of them. She had been placed in a mental institution where she met a fellow professional, Buddy Jenkins.

On the following day in class, she could feel their eyes burning a whole in her aching back. "Stop that! She told herself sternly. You're acting like a skittish girl just out of college!"(537). What an inconceivable thought. After all of her years of teaching she was feeling as skilled and nervous as her first day. Years of experience out the window.

The episode in the restroom took a toll on her back. The following day, "Miss Sidley kept Robert after school. He did nothing to warrant the punishment . . ."(539). He and his monster friends had scared the old lady into passing out. This was her only recourse. The only punishment she had would ultimately make her snap. While they spent time after school together, alone, she festered. It got the best of her again with another appearance of Robert, the monster. This time almost killing her.

Miss Sidley's worst fear was that she was too old to teach. She was proud of her ability to command discipline. That was all she had left. She did not want to realize that she was a lonely old woman whose frail body should not be teaching anymore. If she was not teaching, she was worthless. She held onto her sanity with the blood of her students. Suffer the little children.

Upon further analysis, however, it was the fact that there was a student in her class that she could not control that ultimately drove her nuts. As with Jane, all of her students were afraid of her--afraid to get caught by her watchful eye. The fact that Robert could care less if he got caught seemed to intimidat

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Approximate Word count = 1471
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)