# Quote — Bel Kaufman, Up the Down Staircase

> During what was presumably my lunch period, Admiral Ass (a Mr. McHabe, who signs himself Adm. Asst.) appeared in my room with Joe Ferone.
>
> "This boy is on probation," he said. "Did he show up in homeroom this morning?"
>
> "Yes," I said.
>
> "Any trouble?" the Admiral asked.
>
> There we stood, the three of us, taking each other's measure. Ferone was watching through narrowed eyes.
>
> "No. No trouble," I said.

- Author: [Bel Kaufman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman.md)
- Book: [Up the Down Staircase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bel_Kaufman#Up_the_Down_Staircase_(1965)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/during-what-was

## More from this book

> A teacher is frequently the only adult in the pupil's environment who treats him with respect.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/a-teacher-is-frequently.md)

> My words never reached him; I could almost hear them drop, one by one, like so many pebbles against a closed window.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/my-words-never.md)

> How can I take seriously such mimeographed absurdities as "Lateness due to absence," "High under-achiever," and "Polio consent slips"?
>
> —SylDear Syl,
>
> I'll match yours any day with "Please disregard the following."
>
> —Bea

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/how-can-i-take.md)