Teachers/Professors

Professor: So, I realized I like everyone in the class, and I need to be indifferent about at least one person. So I’m going to pick someone at random. [Points at seating chart] Alicia. Oh, she’s not here. [She comes in late.] Oh, Alicia’s here. See if I care.

–NYU Law

Overheard by: Leslie G.

Professor: … And all of this relates to Freud’s concept of the super Eggo.

–St. John’s University

Overheard by: had some for breakfast

Professor: Saturday night and Sunday morning are very different. Saturday night is for killing people!

–English class, Brooklyn College

Overheard by: Monia Paford

Professor: I haven’t lost any weight this semester… in case you noticed.

–Silver Center, NYU

Overheard by: Limey

Professor: Now, I think we already went over the properties of constructive and destructive waves in Chapter 15 last semester… But then again, I could be drunk.

–Physics Lecture Hall, NYU

Overheard by: I come to class for the jokes

Professor: I can just see those [small Jersey city] creeps sneaking over the river, buying Coach purses on Canal Street, going back home and pretending that they’re real… It burns me.

–NYU

Russian teacher: What sound do your chickens make?
Student: Cluck, cluck…
Russian teacher: But what about an excited chicken?
Student: What?
Russian teacher: Kudaaack-tachhh-tachhh! This is the sound of an excited chicken!

–NYU Silver Center

Overheard by: the blz

English teacher: Class, I’d like you to remember where the line is. It is always moving, and it is determined by me.

–Bronx Science

Overheard by: HJWC

English teacher: I rose up into the air and flew out the window… You didn’t notice this?

–Hunter College High

Overheard by: stupid english student

Old teacher: Okay, there are three rules in this classroom, and I am completely serious. Number one, no swearing. Number two, no scuffles. Number three, no sex until 3:20 when you can do what you want.

–Grace Church School

Teacher: I’m a huge fan of bathroom stall graffiti! My favorite from this school is in the third floor bathroom: ‘If you can read this, you are pooping.’

–Bard High School Early College

Teacher to another: You are a hemorrhoid in my ass.

–Brooklyn Tech

Overheard by: Julie

Health teacher: Drug abuse is a symptom of suicide.

–Hunter College High

English teacher: The next scene is about sex, so pay attention. You might learn something.

–Brooklyn Tech

Overheard by: Julie

Student: But if little kids are rude it’s not really their fault…
Teacher: Yes it is. [Grins.] That’s why I ate my children.

–English Class, Bronx High School of Science

Overheard by: Lillian

Student: Am I passing your math class?
Teacher: No.
Student: But I only need your class to graduate! What can I do to pass?
Teacher: Excuse me. Just because I'm Chinese does not mean you can bargain for your grade like this is Chinatown.

–High School, Queens

Student: Once at the restaurant I saw a guy take a picture of one the kids with his camera phone. And I had no idea what to do…
Professor: Well, I can't talk about that with you because… That's weird.

–Pratt Institute

Professor, rolling up a blackboard to reveal a second blackboard that is covered in general chemistry: Oh god! Oh god…get it off! Ew!
(class laughs)
Professor: No, not the ideal gas law! We don't need that, we're organic chemists! There is no such thing as gas! No such thing as gas!
Student #1: Organic chemists are very sensitive.
Student #2: This is kind of tragic.

–Organic Chem Class, Barnard

Overheard by: Vicksburg

Columbia professor [having just explained a relatively simple concept, turning to girl in front]: Do you understand this?
Girl: Yes.
Professor: Good. Because, you know, you’re really the canary in the coal mine for this class. If I can get you to get this, I’m set.

–Columbia University

Overheard by: Bobby

Skinny professor: John* [a chubby professor] and I started Weight Watchers together at the same time!

–Hostos Faculty Dining Room

Overheard by: glad she's leaving

Skinny girl to clerk: Hi, do you have a soy-based, non-dairy substitute for heavy cream?

–Whole Foods, Union Square

Overheard by: office peon loves Thanksgiving food

Girl ordering Coffee Coolatta with skim milk: I hope this tastes as good as it did when I was anorexic. Everything tasted good back then…

–Dunkin Donuts, Bay Ridge

Overheard by: allison

Jewish grandmotherly type: Women with anorexia seem to have such strange eating habits.

–Upper West Side

Anorexic-looking girl: I want a tic tac. I'm hungry.

–95th & 2nd

CCNY student: I've always thought he has psychological problems. (pause) Like, he's one of those people that has to flip the light switch 17 times or the whole world dies.

–Hallway, CCNY

Overheard by: ladyliver

Suit on cell: She is trying to get a good education so that she can pay for therapy later on.

–1250 Broadway

Loud male customer counting out packets of chewing tobacco: One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Ever since I quit my job at Sesame Street, I can't seem to live my life. Kermit is my shrink, so of course I'm screwed…

–Smoke Shop, Park Slope

Overheard by: Kiri

Dude hanging up his cell: Oh my god, I think all Jewish girls need therapy.

–Good Stuff Diner, 14th St

Overheard by: Kosi

Suit on cell: Dude, I know, but like, you either get help, or you're normal. (pause) No, dude, pick one, get help or be normal. Damn.

–Port Authority

Overheard by: Sarah

History teacher to class: Does that make you uncomfortable? Because I know I'm mental.

–Bronx High School of Science

Overheard by: Lillian