I spend all weekend trying to find a way to teach my 11th graders skills they should already have. To quote Napoleon Dynamite, "They don't have any skills." In response to my writing prompt, "What type of career do you want to have when you finish high school? Give me three reasons you want that career," one girl wrote: "I want to be a nurse cause I like to help people. After I get finished with nursing I want to go to cosmotology school because I like to do hair."
Another girl wants to be a plastic surgeon because, "some people are misshapen and deformed and I would like to give them a boost of confidence."
Another boy said he wanted to be a "street pharmacist."
Princes wrote that she wanted to be "a surgeon." This makes sense because she told a boy in class one day, "If you touch me again, I will cut you mofo."
Others just wrote three reasons why they wanted to be something: "I lik baseball. I lik money. I lik playing baseball." Makes sense to me.
In my 10th grade class, I have a boy who is extraordinarily gay. He wears shirts that say, "Taste the Rainbow," and "I'm not gay but my wiener is." He is in the color guard and wears long earrings. He is in a class, a school really, full of rednecks and homophobes. Actually, he is in one of my better classes, but the kids in the back keep throwing things at him. They are too fast for me to catch them, but Cody complains everyday. On Friday, he made a sexual remark to a boy that called him a faggot and I thought there was going to be a fight. I tried to talk to them about kindness - you may not like what someone else does, but we must be kind to each other. They listened and sat down, but I fear this is situation will erupt into violence one day. What do I do? Should I ask the gay kid to tone it down? Ignore it and continue to teach kindness? I am at a loss.
5 comments:
Wow, I wouldn't know what to do in that situation either. On one hand good for not being afraid for who he is...
They would have never allowed shirts like that in my HS... at least the second one. Anything that could be taken "sexually" at all was not allowed.
Sorry for not being any help.
I can empathize with your situation. I had similar situations with my 8th graders, except there were 2 guys (in separate classes) and they had each other for support. (I guess that sounds strange, but they really were just friends.) Not only did the students say nasty things to these guys, but the teachers talked about them behind their backs, calling them "queers" and the like. I ended up befriending them, basically protecting and defending them on all fronts.
I tried to control the situation with the students by having a class about diversity and sensitivity. Basically, I emphasized the fact that people are people, regardless of their race, sexual orientation, or economic status. (We also had racial problems and the ever present "my mama can afford shirts from the Gap but it's obvious that yours is from Wal-mart.) The kids behaved better afterwards, but I left about 2 weeks later. I'm not sure how things turned out, but I'm glad I stepped in.
In your case, this kid should probably tone it down a bit. I understand that people should be allowed to express themselves, but if they can't handle the negative attention that comes with that action, then they shouldn't do it.
It's basically about taking responsibility and being respectful of others, and I think high schoolers are capable of comprehending those things. Good luck!
Take it to the principal. That way, if something does happen-- and it probably will, though through no fault of your own or no matter how hard you try to prevent it.
I had a similar situation in my class-- I recieved an essay, complete with overtones of the Columbine incident, from a student who was unhappy in my class because of the other kids. I turned it in to the counselor first, and then the principal. They moved him to another class and things worked out for the best.
Um, I realize I didn't finish that first sentence. Now I don't even remember the rest of it. And I'm an English teacher.
Can you tell it's Monday? :0)
I can't believe the T-shirt. I think its funny, but I can't believe they allow it in school. On one hand, I feel sorry for the kid. People should be allowed to be themselves, but I question whether that t-shirt helps him feel like him. Maybe it is just the catalyst he wants it to be. I don't know him, so I don't know his intention. Regardless, it does not excuse the primitive instigation of paper ball throwing. I got a sick feeling in my stomach for the kid.
I agree w/ letting someone higher know. You can never be to safe anymore.
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