I remember being a student. Respect for a teacher was drilled into us, and the few 'bad' kids that dared to be disrespectful were dealt with. Usually they didn't repeat the offense either. When did this change? I'm not talking about a rowdy can crowded public school either. I teach a Sunday School class full of 3rd and 4th grade students. Don't get me wrong, I love the kids, but the reaction to authority shocks me:
Me- Johnny- please move to that table
Johnny- Why?
Me- Because I asked you to- that table you are at has no supplies
Johnny- The activity is dumb, I want to sit here.
Me, (calm but annoyed)- yes, but I didn't ask you about the project. I also did not ask if you wanted to move- please move.
Johnny- No.
Me- Sorry, not a choice *take away Johnny's chair- he moves*
5 minutes later Johny and his partner in crime Jimmy are back at the table, which now has not chairs, laughing.
One 'teacher glare' and they moved... slowly.
It would be OK if this were the only time, or the only students. I also have a runner... who's parent refuses to 'make' them come into class, rather they will enter when they are emotionally ready. Never mind she runs off to do her volunteer work elsewhere.
Or, the 10 year old boys that bring toys to class and refuse to put them away. M loves Bionicle Legos... they weren't too happy when I offered their toys a new home at my house...
Or the girls, lest we think it is all boys, who are the rudest of all. The phrases I'm bored and this class is stupid are particular annoyances. I realize, I tell them, they are here because their parents 'make them' be there. It's still my job, though, to teach them. I had the phrase 'he's a jerk' mumbled under breath yesterday because I refused to let a group of 6 girls (about 1/3 the class) go to the bathroom together 5 minutes after we had a class restroom break.
So... am I crazy or have kids become disrespect machines? These are 'good Christian' kids from (mostly) solid families.
The highlight of my class yesterday was the boy with Asperger's, or similar. He was obsessed with elevators and numbers of floors in places. He poled everyone he could about their experiences with elevators, floors in their home and where they worked, etc. He loved that I'd been on the world's fastest elevator in the Hancock building in Chicago. I expected constant competition from him during the lesson... he was an angel.
The irony of it all was the topic yesterday: "To Be Like Jesus: Learning to Rejoice in Suffering"
God bless these kids... but I pray for a wake up call for their parents.
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4 comments:
It makes me sad that so many children are raised without boundaries. I guess at a certain point in time these parents just sit back with their fingers crossed and pray they turn out okay.
For the record...discipline is NOT easy. Z requires it constantly. M and I went through a stage where I would never leave a store with what I needed because he threw a fit and had to be taken out. But now I see what the fruits of our labor have created. Respectful children who are enjoyable to be around, well-liked by peers and teachers alike. They are not perfect, they are sinful, just like us, but thank goodness we took our job as parents seriously. Otherwise some other Sunday school teacher may be blogging out their frustration about our children.
And the general response we have received from parents we have spoken to is a standard "we can't deal with them either". Sigh...
It sounds like Super Nanny. I do think parents give up (I'm not a parent, of course, so take this with a grain of salt;), and I also think the culture has frowned upon discipline and we've become spoiled & materialistic. Teachers also are allowed to do less & less, I think. Or at least might feel like they're not allowed to do much. I dunno, a lot of things contributing, I guess. But you see why I look forward to summer breaks. ;) It looks like you need them from Sunday School too. ;) Sad that it's just as bad or worse at church, but I've heard that about Christian colleges too, that they can actually be worse than public schools sometimes. Maybe there's less accountability when we're around other Christians? In an odd, ironic way.. I remember Mel writing once on her blog that she acts better around her friends she knows aren't Christians b/c she's more aware of her actions & words & how they might be perceived. Something like that anyway.
Sorry, Chris. That kind of stuff is exactly why I don't want kids. ;) (I know not all kids are like that -- but I also know I might be like one of those parents who "give up" too easily.)
Nah- kids are all great. Questionalbe parents out there though.
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