Friday, September 10, 2010

March 2008: Two Hypotheticals

Hypothetical One:
One day you have a sub. You've had one before, and the classes have done fine (minus not doing their work with very good quality). When you return the next day, you learn from the teacher next door that their was a "situation" in your first period. A boy and a girl ganged up on one of your other students in the class, verbally inspulting him in front of everyone. This boy then made a threat in response to their insults. this is a classic case of bullying, and to make it worse, the sub exacerbated the feeling of all-against-one against this poor boy. You have never noticed any bullying or put-downs strudents have aimed at this boy before when you were there. The two boys (bully and bullied) were sent to the assistant principal and placed in ISS. When you return, you make only passing comments about how disappointed you were to get a report like that from the sub when you returned. You try to discuss the problem with the class, but don't really know what to say, so you say hardly anything and lay it to rest. It hasn't been an issue since, but you know damage has been done in your absence. What do you do?
Hypothetical Two:
A chatty, bubbly girl in your class, who actually participates a lot and raises te bar as far as achievement is concerned, is a chronic gossiper. She sits by you at lunch. You like her a great deal, but have recently been quite disappointed in her behavior (she got pregnant, on purpose, which absolutely shocked you. You only wish you could voice how upset that made you, on behalf of her future, but all you said was, "I am surprised?" "I don't know what you're talking about..." she trailed off, probably feelng confronted.). In fact, when she asked you for a recommendation for cheerleading next year, you declined (as subtly as possible). Anyways, today another girl in your 7th period class (her class) upsets her by bumping into her on purpose, and pregnant girl goes off on a verbal tirade about how she's no poorer or worse off than anyone else. Her negative gossiping at lunchtime about her foe is almost out of control. You pull her aside and make a comment about loving others, which appeals to her beliefs as you know them from reading her essays and prior comments in class. She says, "yes, ma'am," but you see no change in her. Do you just let her constant gossiping and her turn to negative behaviors go, or keep on her case? How do you get through to a girl about your expectations and hopes for her, when she's already disappointed your greatest expectations/hopes for her?  

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