Naw, not a problem, I decided. Although I had never taken the place of an adult, I'd never, ever had trouble leading a group.

    "You'll get to experience what we teachers go through," Ms. Garcia continued. 'Also, we hope some of you will be inspired to become teachers yourselves someday." A girl named Cokie Mason (whom I can't stand because she's mean, conceited, and generally obnoxious) appeared at the door with some papers to give Ms. Garcia. She'd stood there long enough to hear what Ms. Garcia had been saying. "Will TOT volunteers be dismissed from their regular classes those days?" she asked as she handed Ms. Garcia the stack of papers.

    Well, duh. Cokie has never been a bright light, but this was a dumb question even for her. Did she really think she'd be expected to be in two places at once?

    "You'll attend your regular classes except for the class periods when you are teaching another class," Ms. Garcia explained.

    "Cool!" Cokie said with a giggle as she left the room.

    1 couldn't imagine being in a class taught by Cokie. I raised my hand and asked, "Can anybody do this?" Ms. Garcia nodded. 'As long as you take the training course. Also, I should mention, those students who do volunteer will receive extra credit for their work." I was definitely going to volunteer. Even if I couldn't be principal, I had ideas about how some of my classes could be improved. For example, Ms. Griswold, my science teacher, tends to ignore a bunch of goof-off boys who sit in the back of the class. I'd make them work or get out. They distract everyone who sits near them. And Mrs. Simon, my English teacher, although she's very nice, picks the dullest things for us to read. I'd assign books that are much more enjoyable.