A Middle School Christmas
Working in a middle school is like working in a science fiction novel. You enter the door of the school and in a flash the whole world changes. There are humans who are very small and children who are very large. Every word they say is emphasized so that the children around them respect them. Most of the girls are perfect in every way: perfect hair, teeth, legs but then when they speak you wonder who raised them?! Why are they so awful to each other? The few imperfect girls try to be invisible: hiding their faces as they walk facing down, speaking in low tones. Then the boys. Oh the wild, loud, rowdy and energy explosive boys. There is nothing that can stop them from dashing down hallways, competing at everything (who can jump the highest, burp the loudest, be the most obnoxious). However the competition stops when they are on their own with no audience. "How was your day?" you ask trying to be the responsible caring adult who they can trust. "I dunno. Boring." is the response. Probing for a conversation you continue, "How are your classes going?" They look at you questioning if you are really still trying to talk to them "I dunno. Boring I guess." You want to encourage a further vocabulary so ask "What was boring about your class?" Now it becomes a game. They want to see how far they can continue to say "boring" eyebrows raised with mock the sullen student replies "Everything was boring." Ahhhhh....to educate and converse with a 14 year old boy. Their attention quickly changes as they see a friend dash down the hall, their attention magnetically pulls them to the door and their legs start running after their friend. How? Why? Were kids like this when I was a kid? I feel like girls are now worse. They all have make up on their perfect little faces and a phone to constantly tweet, share and analyze. Each week the hall to the principals office is line with tearful angry girls and smelly defiant boys. It is of no surprise that the principal shares more than a healthy interest in cookies and that his office door often emanates the smell of Chinese delivery food.
Now the "Holiday" season is upon us. In a middle school that means Christmas dances, gaining merit notes for good behavior to spend at the holiday market and ugly sweater contests for the depressed and angry teaching staff. In a middle school the children are at the peak of energy in their life and with the most perfect physique they will experience, the teachers are usually at the lowest physical physique with drooping bellies and saddle-bag thighs squeezed in ill fitting polyester pants. The more exhausted and nervous they seem the more they feel they work hard and no other teacher can criticize them. Any drop of criticism will result in teachers exerting their exhaustion, real or pretend, onto the ears of other complaining teachers. The new first-year teachers are still young, fresh and hopeful that this career will change the lives of students and that they can make a difference! The 13th year teacher hopes to make it passed 3rd period in time to snag a stale doughnut and hide in the janitor hallway for a quite break.
Anyway, the Holiday parties approaching encourage all of the middle school kids to earn merit notes. "Be kind! Obey! Show respect!" encourage the signs in the hallway. This in fact, has an opposite effect on most. They get ideas to "Be a little jerk! Fight! Curse liberally at a teacher!" Yesterday I found myself sitting waiting for my turn to speak to the Principal. I was on a long bench flanked by sullen children awaiting their sentencing. I asked the child next to me, "What happened?" He looked at me to see if I could get him in any serious trouble. Grinning proudly he whispered "I got in a fight". He probably thought I was in line for getting in a fight too. I asked him what his parents would do "Oh, they don't care. Probly nothin'." Huh, nothing. I wondered how many children have gotten in fights and what is the best way to deal with fighting hooligans? Make them clean horse manure? Have them write a paper on the effects of physical violence? Have them attend a retreat based on kindness? Or just let them fight?
In conclusion, I'm looking forward to the entertaining antics and colors of the next few weeks as the kids show off awkwardly dancing, I'm looking forward to the teachers wearing their ugly sweaters and to the holiday market where for one minute (I hope) the sullen pre-teen faces will enjoy purchasing something with their merit notes.
Now the "Holiday" season is upon us. In a middle school that means Christmas dances, gaining merit notes for good behavior to spend at the holiday market and ugly sweater contests for the depressed and angry teaching staff. In a middle school the children are at the peak of energy in their life and with the most perfect physique they will experience, the teachers are usually at the lowest physical physique with drooping bellies and saddle-bag thighs squeezed in ill fitting polyester pants. The more exhausted and nervous they seem the more they feel they work hard and no other teacher can criticize them. Any drop of criticism will result in teachers exerting their exhaustion, real or pretend, onto the ears of other complaining teachers. The new first-year teachers are still young, fresh and hopeful that this career will change the lives of students and that they can make a difference! The 13th year teacher hopes to make it passed 3rd period in time to snag a stale doughnut and hide in the janitor hallway for a quite break.
Anyway, the Holiday parties approaching encourage all of the middle school kids to earn merit notes. "Be kind! Obey! Show respect!" encourage the signs in the hallway. This in fact, has an opposite effect on most. They get ideas to "Be a little jerk! Fight! Curse liberally at a teacher!" Yesterday I found myself sitting waiting for my turn to speak to the Principal. I was on a long bench flanked by sullen children awaiting their sentencing. I asked the child next to me, "What happened?" He looked at me to see if I could get him in any serious trouble. Grinning proudly he whispered "I got in a fight". He probably thought I was in line for getting in a fight too. I asked him what his parents would do "Oh, they don't care. Probly nothin'." Huh, nothing. I wondered how many children have gotten in fights and what is the best way to deal with fighting hooligans? Make them clean horse manure? Have them write a paper on the effects of physical violence? Have them attend a retreat based on kindness? Or just let them fight?
In conclusion, I'm looking forward to the entertaining antics and colors of the next few weeks as the kids show off awkwardly dancing, I'm looking forward to the teachers wearing their ugly sweaters and to the holiday market where for one minute (I hope) the sullen pre-teen faces will enjoy purchasing something with their merit notes.
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