How do you stop high school students from being mean to each other? I have these two kids who seem to be always at each other(we'll call them C and J), J,the younger one, getting the brunt of the insults. I feel bad for him, but he really is asking for it. J just always bugs the shit out of C and J tells him this without any thoughts of his feelings. The odd thing is despite J looking hurt he doesn't move or sit somewhere else. I tried putting people in assigned seats but somehow the insults and whispers still get to J. And that actually is the problem. These kids have no sense of how even joking about insulting someone is hurtful. Finally today I made all be quite and tried to put and end to it. No more jokin with insults! I don't want the easy-going nature of the class to become an unhappy place. Just because there are very few rules and talking is aloud that doesn't mean you can be mean to people. I don't think they took it in though....in one ear and out the other, or in some cases straight over the head missing the ears completly. Do you have to deposite your ears before entering this school? I mean for serious, get a grip kids.
After my class I told mom that I would take her class if she was late (she went to the dentist to have her mouth ripped apart). Turns out she was 2 whole classes late, leaving me with high schoolers for 2 hours longer then I like. Although I have to say substituting is so much better then actually having to teach something. I think I even got to the point where C is no longer mad at me, we actually have some things in common. So, not a total waste of a class period. And i discovered that not all the kids are as dumb as the ones in my art class....some actually have some interesting things to say and write with some skill. I mean not a huge number, but it gave me hope for the minds of tomorrow.
OH and tomorrow I get my first lower school class!!! ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh shhiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttttt someone save me please. what do i do with them....finger painting?! but then there's clean up.
"No more jokin with insults! I don't want the easy-going nature of the class to become an unhappy place. Just because there are very few rules and talking is aloud that doesn't mean you can be mean to people."
ReplyDeleteMoll this is a great idea. They may not get it the first time but keep the message clear and some will. It's your class! And good things take time.