Most elementary teachers know that a bottle of white glue has two settings:

Nothing.

And...

Way too much.

I learned this lesson firsthand during an art class with 34 Grade 4/5 students packed into a rather small classroom.

Over the years, I had developed a pretty good system for keeping our classroom supplies organized. Each week, I assigned a few students to be part of the Art Crew. Their job was simple: make sure everything was where it belonged.

Lids on markers.

Scissors put away.

Glue sticks capped.

Supplies returned to the right bins.

They were even responsible for testing the bottles of white glue and pulling out any that were clogged. Later, I would unclog them and put them back into circulation.

At least, that was the plan.

Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten around to fixing a few of the clogged bottles, and somehow they found their way back into circulation. My bad.

What could possibly go wrong?

It was the middle of art class, and things were going surprisingly well. With 34 students in a small room, classroom management was always on high alert, especially when scissors, glue, and creativity were all happening at the same time.

Before we started, I gave my usual instructions.

If you have a problem with something, ask me for help.

And most importantly:

If a glue bottle is clogged, don't keep squeezing it. Try another one.

Simple enough.

As I made my way around the classroom, I noticed one of my dear students struggling with a bottle of glue.

He squeezed it.

Nothing.

He squeezed harder.

Still nothing.

The look on his face told me everything I needed to know.

He was not giving up.

After a brief conversation, I convinced him to put the bottle down and try another one. Preferably one that posed less of a threat to everyone in the immediate area.

Problem solved.

Or so I thought.

 My only mistake... I didn't take the bottle. 

I turned my attention to the other students and continued making my way around the room.

Apparently, my daring young student decided this was the perfect opportunity to return to the clogged glue bottle.

With my back turned, I suddenly heard a wave of chaos roll through the classroom.

Something had happened.

I spun around.

There stood my student, still holding the bottle of glue.

And what I can only assume was most of its contents was now spread from the top of his head all the way down to his waist.

He was wearing a black T-shirt.

The white glue made quite the contrast.

For a second, everyone just stared.

Then the room erupted.

Even I couldn't help laughing.

He looked like a skunk, with one long white stripe running down the front of him.

Unfortunately, there had also been an innocent bystander within range of the projectile glue. He had taken a direct hit to the back of his shirt.

Collateral damage.

Eventually, the laughter died down, and everyone got back to work.

Since I suddenly had everyone's attention, I figured it was the perfect time to sneak in a little science.

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

I never thought I'd turn an art lesson into a science lesson quite like that.

As for my glue-covered student?

Once he and his classmate finished cleaning themselves up, I gave him a new job.

Check the remaining glue bottles to see if any of them were clogged.

Sometimes, students learn the hard way.

And sometimes, teachers really do get to say...

I told you so!

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Now, Over to You...

Teachers, what's something you warned a student not to do... only to watch them do it anyway?

I'd love to hear your story.

Share your thoughts with me! I read every one, and who knows... your story might inspire a future edition of Mark's Notebook.

Until next Friday... keep laughing, keep reading, and if a bottle of glue won't cooperate, put it down. Otherwise, you might just discover that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction... all over your shirt. 

— Mark Gunning

Children's Author | Retired Teacher | Collector of Kid Logic