Get a Room!

Its Friday. Its the last period of a long week interpreting high school. The students--hearing and Deaf--have basically tuned out. No one is actually doing work but because no one is being loud or obnoxious, the teacher is fine with the apathy.

You, because there is no lecture and no interpreting, open a book. When you look up to check on your student, you notice he is swapping slobber with his girlfriend. They aren't pecking and batting eyes at each other; they need a room!

You decide there is no need to witness the makeout session, so you return to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing office. Of course, you gossip to the other interpreters what happened (maybe you shouldn't have told everyone, but hey, you all work together). One of the interpreters suggested you should have interpreted what they were doing. You say, "Slurp, slurp slurp."

Later you wonder if you should have pointed out to the teacher the R-rated scene that was unfolding in her classroom.

• What are options you have in that situation?
• Should you stay/go?
• What are the short- long- term consequences?