"I say we put a ballot in, no more homework," Nate declared as the group finally got to the end of their homework for the evening.
"But then, if you become a teacher, what will you do?" Alex asked to Nate.
"Homework doesn't teach anything and I'd say we don't learn from it," Nate answered, "in may cases, I'd say its only busy work."
"But what would you do?"Alex asked, "Wouldn't students need to practice the rules and stuff so they know how to write?"
"I suppose," Nate nodded, "but then that could be done with a demonstration of the principle and then giving various samples of the same sentence with a different error and letting students discuss how to correct each."
"But what if there aren't alternates to make a sentence grammatically correct?" Ben asked, becoming slightly intrigued with the way the discussion was going. "Or at least not without adding things and potentially committing other errors?"
"That'd be part of the practice and discussion," Nate mused, "even use the board as a direct means to write out things. Of course, some things might have to be "restricted" to the subject matter covered... but it'd leave things open to theory and letting students discover things for themselves rather than giving them a worksheet with instructions to write out sentences without dangling participles."
"Interesting," Ben commented, "You might have a teacher hidden in you... though you may need to confirm that with your folks."
With that Ben got up onto one knee and began placing his things in his backpack. He had a date with Kenya that evening and didn't want to be late. Working on his homework and hanging out with Nate and Alex was fun and he did feel glad to have them as friends and pack-mates, but life couldn't be solely focused on them. He occasionally glanced to see that Nate had turned back to his desk and was setting things in order there while Alex put his things back in his own backpack.
"So... you got anything planned for the night?" Alex asked to Ben.
"Mostly just to enjoy some time with Kenya," Ben answered with a small smile, "the whole date scene and all that."
"Well, she seemed okay when we met at the college," Nate commented, thinking back to the previous Friday when he and Alex looked at Moon Lake College. As high school Juniors, the issue of college applications and scholarship applications wouldn't be an issue until next year, but since Moon Lake was a college town, there was no reason not to at least take a look.
"Might make for an interesting double wedding if we all stay together," Alex gave a grin, "Nate and I, with you as best men and Kenya and you"
"It's probably a bit early to get into THAT much detail," Ben chided him, though a part of him also seemed simply feel that Kenya was the one. He couldn't explain it.
"Details shmetails," Alex teased while slowly waiving one hand at him.
Ben only shook his head and chuckled. He then stood up and shouldered his backpack, "Anyway, I need to get going. See if my moms are home and get ready." Ben then took a few steps and paused when he reached the doorway to Nate's room. He then turned back to see both of them looking back at him as they stood in the center of the room. Alex had his backpack with him, looking as if he were ready to head out.
"So, what do you two have planned?" Ben asked.
"Mostly to see if I can stay for dinner," Alex answered, "If not... well... maybe we can meet after the sun goes down and either enjoy a nice walk or... or something."
Nate didn't say anything. He still had his pondering over what his mother had meant by her text at lunch to figure out and didn't know if it was something that was family related and thus private which might not allow for Alex to be there or if it was something else and would be something it was okay for Alex to be there. Nate figured that he probably wouldn't get that answer until they talked with Martha directly.
"Then I'll leave you to it, have fun," Ben smirked and headed down.
Nate and Alex followed close behind. He would say goodbye to Martha, but from what Ben could hear, she was on the phone, so he waived to Nate and Alex and left and was jogging across the grass to his own home with thoughts of Kenya on his mind.