Don't Do Stupid Things

Once in a while we have to remind them they are still children and not entitled to behave any way they want, especially not in the classroom.

You have explained the situation perfectly. If only we could get the politicians and the parents to understand these things.

@poehere 'Don't be stupid' is part of a conversation we often hear.

@allknowing I know that. I was just making a point on this one. I have heard a lot of people use this expression and I guess I've used it from time to time.

Funny when my daughter kids were small this was one word that we were all forbidden to use. She didn't want us to say stupid around them. Now things have changed and this word is a common word used by all of them in their home. I guess when kids are small we don't want them called stupid. Who knows but I never saw a point to this one.

I'd say you were quite the rogue. I have a lot of concern over how much we baby kids these days, well into their teens. I know from talking with friends who own or manage businesses that the young people who come looking for jobs are ill equipped to handle the real world outside the comforting cocoon of school.

@OneOfMany Not many of the kids at my school would be able to figure that out. Over at the high school of engineering though, I've heard they have to keep a close eye on those students.

@DWDavis I used to come in and ask my homeroom teacher, who was the chemistry teacher, about various recipes from a certain illegal cookbook on the internet. He would tell me what they would do and warn me that certain mixtures would certainly kill me. A few we did in class as experiments though. One of those recipes I still use today, and in the past I would go into the pharmacy for salt peter (potassium nitrate) and they said they'd order more after I told them the reason for it. I was rather well known in town for being a pyro and liking fireworks. The police didn't like it when I made that flamethrower though... Surprisingly to everyone I didn't go into any of that for my major in college. That stuff was just for fun. However, if you see any kids with 9 volt batteries, wires, and pencil graphite, make sure they aren't trying to set things on fire!

These students understood exactly what I meant and they know I do not use that word lightly.

I find myself biting back certain words that would have come naturally when I was in the Army way back when. This is the first year the students have been so aggravating that I have to keep a firm check on my language.

@DWDavis I used to scare my students silly...I'm 5'2 and really sweet.....until you really piss me off. First time my senior class saw me mad was 4th quarter. They wouldn't be quiet, I proceeded to drop a 6 inch thick hard back teacher's edition of the literature book on the floor then stand there without a word. They didn't make a sound for 15 minutes ;)

@Lolaze I wish I could have seen that.

I think I might be able to get by with saying it because I rarely step that far out with the words I use and nearly all my parents understand that for me to feel the need to use the word I must have had a good reason. Other teachers who use words like that all the time might catch more grief for it.

@DWDavis I guess you have to walk a thin line and be careful not to tip either direction.

Technology and the quality of entertainment they watch and listen to. Most of it teaches them to be disrespectful and greedy.

Too many people in a position to make the rules about schools fail to see the harm they are doing by sheltering these kids from disappointment and reality.

When my students tell me something isn't fair, I quote them Bill Gates first rule of life. "Life isn't always fair; get over it."

@DWDavis Bill Gates rules of life were very good I thought. I should revisit them.

I spoke in a calm and even voice the whole time. That may have been what really scared them.

@theBlock My students learn they are not really in trouble until I'm standing silently at the front of the room just staring at them.

@DWDavis A calm voice can be threatening at times--lol

Very well put, my friend. Indeed, I always try to keep my perspective on how I feel about a student's behavior and how I feel about the student. My students know I might get upset with them or not like something they do, but they also know I love them and would die for them if it came to that.

Today's students are so different from those of even a few years ago. They feel like they are entitled to everything they want, should be allowed to do anything they want, and that paying attention to the material being taught is optional. We will see tomorrow if anything they were told today, in the grade level meeting with administration, by our grades leadership team representative, or by me, made any impression.