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 4
th 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 B
ionicle 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.