Chapter 20
Random Acts
Mike O'Conner was all set to retire, the last straw breaking the camel's back. Overcrowded schools, under budget funding, and the daily battle with unreasonable students would drive any educator to quit. Surprisingly a brush with death rejuvenated his passion for teaching. His plight had been caused by a former delinquent student, but he had also been saved by none other than his most problematic one, Robbie Hawkins. Robbie could have turned into another Lucas Tremaine: a drug addicted murderer one step away from hell. Mike didn't know he had made a difference in Robbie's life by giving him a second chance after the stolen camera incident.
It seemed to have worked. Robbie had been the one to tell the police that exit number 34, Lake Washington, was the fateful location of his missing teacher. With the sounds of his students wishing him happiness after 20 years of teaching echoing in his mind, Mike found he still had more to live for and people who depended on him. He had been selfish to place his petty needs before that of his students.
The recovery from the bullet wound was arduous, but he had hope on his side. Many of his students were the first to greet him on his waking to the last day when he walked out of the hospital of his own power. His first day back on the job was met with cheers.
Don't get him wrong, the same issues with the school system still stood, and the role of teacher was never the highest paying occupation. He could easily obtain a different job with fewer hours and more benefits. The settlement with the board of education for getting kidnapped on school property helped with the medical bills, but he was still stuck in a dingy apartment with no CD's.
The look on his students as they walked on graduation was worth it though.
The years passed and again, there were some delinquents who fell asleep during class and equally bright stars that excelled. The troublemakers he found were often from broken homes, single parent households who relied on their child's to contribute to the household expenses. A full course load alongside a 7 hour work shift was brutal, so it was no wonder these failed his civics class. Private tutoring helped these unfortunate souls, at the cost of the man's social life, but every passing grade was a balm to the sting.
Mr. O'Conner found his 30th teaching anniversary much more pleasant than his 20th. He still had it in him to teach for another twenty years.
Especially since the man presenting him with his commendation was Robbie Hawkins, college graduate and a noteworthy teacher himself.
A good episode with John Ritter and a young Dante Basco. The ending was pretty dramatic. Also kudos for Roma Downey with her acting. It was much less wooden than her later seasons. This one shot was based off of a Korean PSA where a teacher tried really hard to get through to her failing student.