A Desire for Duct Tape

Monday, November 14, 2011

Yesterday my 3^rd block class was crazier than usual. Thank-you to my co-operating teacher extraordinaire Jan for showing me how to be patient with the out-of-control students during my student teaching! If it wasn’t for you some of them might have ended up duct-taped to chairs and with their mouths duct-taped shut. I’m just saying…

Today they were quite calm (for them). We started reading To Kill a Mockingbird this week. I read the first chapter out loud to them on Sunday, stopping to explain it. They were not impressed. I told them that it would get better, and to have some patience. Today we started chapter 2, and they were warming to the story.

Here’s the deal about English classes: you can start talking about one topic from the novel and it can quickly morph into something that has nothing to do with the story. My 3^rd block class is really good at this. Sometimes it goes off-topic because a student sees something that reminds them of something in their own lives. That’s great; I love it when they make a connection between things in a novel and themselves. It makes the reading of the story a more personal and enjoyable experience.

Well…one of my male students brought up the topic of where a woman’s place is. He asked if I wanted to hear it. I said no. I really didn’t. He decided to tell me anyways. He believes that a woman’s place is at home taking care of her family and children. End of story. As he started to talk, I told him again that I didn’t want to hear it because I wanted to still like him tomorrow. Yes, I said this in a joking manner, but was partially serious. I’m a bit afraid that my own personal opinions may get in the way sometimes. Shocker, I know. I don’t have any opinions :)

Another male student jumped on student # 1’s bandwagon. I was not surprised at all by this based on my observations of this student and other comments he has made. The girls in the class were beginning to get quite feisty. I told everyone to stop talking and to calm down.

I then said that while I was not married, it was pretty obvious what side of the debate I fell on. I went on to explain that if a woman wants to stay at home and take care of her family, that’s wonderful. I fully support that, as long as it’s HER decision. This was not the view my male students took on this situation. They fully believe that a woman should do what her husband tells her to. (I cringe to even type that.)

While I know that these types of viewpoints and feelings are still out there, to hear a 13 year old kid spout them is disturbing to me. The best I can do is to try and get them to look at the situation from a different angle. Obviously I can’t change their culture or their heritage, but hopefully I can help them learn how to have an open mind.

If only I had some duct-tape…