The annual 8th grade trip was held and for the first time in a while it was an overnight trip to Washington D.C.

Yours truly was approached to chaperone the trip and, well, when you don't have tenure and look at this way as the only avenue to see the country because you work almost every week of the year (teaching and summer jobs....yes, I'm the lone teacher without "summers off")...you have no choice but to decide to head off to the nation's capital.

It truly is amazing how much knowledge our young people lack when it comes to knowledge of our country.

Who are the senators from New Jersey? "No clue."

How many senators are there in the country? "Ummm....10?"

Is Washington D.C. a state? "Yeah, probably."

What's the name of 50 Cent's last CD? "You talkin' bout "The Massacre" or "Get Rich 'N Die Tryin'"? Cuz that 2nd CD is from a movie 'n (expletive)."

There's nothing more exciting than watching 160 teenagers take over a hotel and pretend that it's their own little country.

Male Student #1: Why we gotta stay in our rooms?

Chaperone: Because we want this place still standing tomorrow morning. And I don't feel like being on the front page of the newspaper.

Female Student #1: But I wants to go to (insert boy's name here)'s room.

Chaperone: Uh, no. I don't want you staring at the color pink in some pregnancy test in a few days.

I think the classic moment on the trip was at the hotel in the evening. We were responsible for taking out all the telephones before lockdown around 11 bells. One of the chaperones walked into a boys' room and this exchange occurred.

Chaperone: Could you hand me that phone?

Male student: Uh, that's not a phone. That's an alarm.

Chaperone: An alarm? That's the phone for the room.

Male student: No it's not. That's the alarm that wakes us up.

Chaperone: Ok, then where's the phone?

Male student: In the bathroom.

Chaperone: In the bathroom? I doubt it....but OK...Show me.

The student proceeded to pull the air dryer out and hand it, with cord attached to the teacher.

I guess the "High" setting means long distance.

Yes, world. We are in the trouble.

Coke Rewards up to 253. Keep them codes comin!