The Life of Bon: Shocking, Shockinger, Shockingest

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Shocking, Shockinger, Shockingest

Shocking


Today I turned around to see one of my students, Adam, blatantly using his cell phone.  Not even texting from his pocket, not dialing from under the desk, nope, just straight up cell-phone-using right in front of my face.  You would think that after five months of being in my class every other day and after having heard oh-so-many times "NO CELL PHONES" that my students would get the hint. You'd think after seeing me take away dozens of their classmates phones (they use it in class, I take it until the end of the day.  Simple rule.)  they would learn to just put the dang phone away.


Shockinger


After I took away said cell phone from Adam, he shrugged his shoulders, gave that look that said, "Oh yah, teacher girl, well guess what?  I don't give an f," and put his head down on the desk.  When the bell rang and Adam approached me to get his phone back I waved my sassy little finger at him and declared, "Oh, no you don't.  You'll have to wait until the end of the day to get this bad boy back."


Adam's reaction was...let's see, how do I say this in terms you would understand....

Adam freaked out.

He stormed toward the door yelling, "This is a f***ing joke!"

My reaction to Adam's reaction was...let's see, how do I say this in terms you would understand....

I freaked out.

My kids know I hate the f word and they know that it is absolutely under no circumstances allowed in my classroom.

"Okay, then, you know what?  You can go talk to the vice principal about it if you're going to throw a fit.  I don't care!  You knew what the rule was when you entered the classroom and you made the decision to break the rule therefore you must suffer the consequence, and you do not be saying that word in my classroom because you chose to disobey, got it?!?!"

Wow.  I was really worked up.

Adam looked mildly surprised by my sudden outburst.  "K, sorry..." he mumbled and hurried his butt right out of the classroom.

Shockingest


I had long since forgotten the incident with Adam and was busy during my prep period, grading papers and planning lessons.  I heard a noise at the door and turned around to see Adam entering timidly.  He approached my desk with his hands behind his back and hesitated before speaking, "Uh... Teacher?"

"What's up, Adam?"

"I just wanted to say... I'm really sorry for my behavior in your class room today."

I could tell he was uncomfortable and I appreciated his gesture, so I decided to just put the poor thing out of his misery, "Thank you, Adam.  I appreciate you coming in."

Much to my surprise, he went on.  "I was frustrated about other things, and I took it all out on you.  I knew I wasn't supposed to be on my phone and I knew I wasn't supposed to say that word.  I'm just really sorry for how I reacted.  You're a good teacher, and you don't deserve that.  I'll never do that again."


He breathed a big sigh of relief and I could tell he was finished.


"Thank you, Adam.  That's very mature of you to come in and say that.  I accept your apology, and I'll see you on Friday."


Adam shuffled out of the room, and I watched him as he gently shut the door.


I'll tell you.  Sometimes those seventeen year olds just go ahead and shock the hell right out of me.

All in a day's work.
The cell phones I confiscated today.

15 comments:

  1. well, he just shocked me too. i was riveted by this story. i mean sitting on the edge of my chair. who knew 17 year old kids knew how to admit being wrong? that is amazing.

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  2. Ha ha! When I was student teaching, I had a bunch of guys in one class being obnoxious, and it almost made living through it worthwhile when one came back to apologize, and I just thought, "You're going to turn out to be pretty decent." Anyway, love the pile of cell phones you've racked up!

    Jenn

    passengerseatperspectives.blogspot.com

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  3. I give him guts for apologizing. Not a lot of kids do that nowadays. Good job!

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  4. Anonymous10:07 AM

    I keep hearing stories like these from fellow teacher friends. I really feel for you all that you have to put up with the newer generations. They are not what they used to be. I feel terribly bad for my HS art teacher who literally cries from time to time out of frustration. He's 4 years away from retirement. He lost it a couple of weeks ago when a student started cursing him in the middle of the hallway after my teacher asked him to remove his cap. The student went off on him and my teacher grabbed him by the arm to take him to the principal's office. He's now being accused by the student and his parents for aggressive behavior towards the student. I hope his career is not jeopardized by this silly boy....

    www.houseofhemingway.blogspot.com

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  5. I so admire you for teaching at the high school level. I don't think I could pull it off taking into consideration how most kids are these days. I give that guy kudos for issuing you an apology...that's a rarity.

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  6. wow what a day and yes what a shocker but good for him for being mature about it

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  7. oh my. you are a saint. i might have lost it on the poor kid. haha. thanks for visiting my blog and your sweet comment!

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  8. Anonymous5:06 PM

    http://www.wired.com/magazine/2012/01/st_essay_autocorrect/

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  9. Thanks so much for commenting over on my blog!

    -Hannah

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  10. oh my goodness, what a good kid for apologizing. I mean, obviously he shouldn't have acted that way in the first place, but small victories, right?

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  11. Holy cow. I'm amazed that he did that on his own! That totally takes some guts, especially for a 17 year old kid.
    And.... I'm sure it made you feel pretty good, which is always a plus!

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  12. that's crazy :) when I was in high school no one ever used the f word in front of the teacher :) and thank you for the lovely comment :)
    veronika
    www.livinginwinterpeg.blogspot.com

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  13. I'm so glad we are friends/blog followers now! I'm sure I can learn a lot from you, and it's always nice to have another teacher friend to relate to! I love the cell phone picture. They just can't follow the rules for the life of them can they!

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  14. I'm so glad we are friends/blog followers now! I'm sure I can learn a lot from you, and it's always nice to have another teacher friend to relate to! I love the cell phone picture. They just can't follow the rules for the life of them can they!

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  15. Oh my goodness that is so ME as a teacher!!! I HATE the F word! I would freak out on my kids if they used it in class!

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