When I entered the class a week later, they sat in silence. Over the sessions, they had gained perspective on what I was willing to teach them. They welcomed me into their classroom and actively participated in conversations I initiated. I never uttered a word. They spoke in length about planning escapes before starting a mission. They were supposed to learn from their mistakes, but I didn't want them to cost them their lives.
That day, I had a different plan.
They waited patiently for me to scribble something, but that was not part of the plan.
"Today, I will be giving you situations, and you will be telling me how you will escape from it." Gasps filled the room.
"You speak?" I heard someone say. I pressed my lips together in irritation and gave them a fierce look. They quieted down and then waited for me to proceed.
"Adam," I called the boy in the front row. He was good with knives but was even better with computers. He couldn't shoot a target to save his life.
