This happened a few weeks ago, but it sticks out in my mind. At the beginning of fourth hour in Mr. Tuttle's class, I was sitting across the way from two students. One had a pack of gum and Joe, the other student, wanted a piece, so he was offering 50 cents for a single stick of gum. The guy with the gum kept refusing, but then he slyly took the 50 cents right out of Joe's hand, put it in his pocket when Joe wasn't looking, and didn't give Joe any gum. Obviously, Joe was upset and demanded his money or a piece of gum. This wasn't banter between two friends: Joe felt bullied by this guy. I tried to step in, but it soon escalated to Mr. Tuttle's attention who asked Joe to move seats. Joe wasn't willing to let it go and the other guy just denied anything had happened. He claimed he didn't have Joe's money at all. Mr Tuttle decided to deal with this after he was done lecturing, so he made Joe move seats. For the next 20 minutes of class, Joe repeatedly made gestures and faces across the class towards the other student. Several times Joe asked for his money right in the middle of Mr. Tuttle's lecture. It finally got resolved when Mr. Tuttle went over during a work period and got the guy to cough up the money he stole.
Stealing someone's pocket change very clearly a display of power that could have easily come to blows had Joe decided to take his money back. On the other hand, Joe could have also gotten up in disgust, said, "You can have my measly 50 cents," and walked off. That would have ended it, with Joe taking the high road.
I know this sort of thing happens all the time in high school, given the headlocks I see in the hallways, and other heated exchanges. It's just amazing to me the way that these students so desperately want to be treated like adults, yet still do things like this. Don't get me wrong though, overall these are good kids that should come along fine. They just have plenty of growing up still to do.
2 comments:
Ben,
Maturity level? It would be nice if all students made orderly progress toward maturity; however human maturation is messy. There are so many factors that go into it-individual personality, how you have been parented, how much responsibility you do or do not have, personal experience, etc. I'll expand on one-how much responsibility a student does or does not have. I have seen students who handle responsibilities for siblings well but use school time as a time to let go. I have also seen students who have no responsibilities and use such antics to get attention. Of course, there are students who like to bully others. Now that time has passed you may ask the guy with the gum why he did what he did. Tell him you are just courious and do it in a nonaccusatory manner.
This incident brings up an interesting dilemma. How does a teacher resolve distractions and yet carry on instruction? This is where knowing the students and taking time to pay attention and talk to them pays off. A teacher makes many decisions each day. The success of the outcome will depend on how well the teacher knows the students and has garnered their trust.
Carol Cramer
I think your point about getting to know the students after this incident is a good one. A lot of time has passed since this, but I do know those students better now and I think a particular glance and a few words would carry a lot more weight with them now.
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