i think she really means it…

Teenagers.

Friday, March 12th, 2010 | Random Thoughts

One of the challenges of working with teenagers is that it’s their job to push the boundaries.

We’re at the time of year where my students have started challenging me on some of my “rules.”  They just want to be sure the rules still apply (after all, it has been over 6 months since the start of the school year).  It’s a never ending job enforcing the rules and remaining “firm, fair, and consistent.”  But here’s the funny part…when I actually call the kids out on their behavior, they don’t really act surprised.  For example, I had a girl stay after school today to serve a 30 minute detention because she’s been tardy to Homeroom 4 times in the last few weeks.  She cleaned the desks, straightened chairs, and graded mad minutes.  At the end she smiled and said, “Have a nice weekend, Mrs. Jones.”  I just made her stay after school, on a Friday, no less.  Yet, she still wishes me a good weekend?

Another student, who I ran with today during the jogathon, commented to me that I’m going to make a good mom because I call him out on things when he knows he should act better.  I just had a very serious conversation with this kid yesterday outside of the classroom about how he needed to act more appropriately in class and get on task.  I was quite stern about it.  He said that was a good thing?  Apparently that’s the type of discipline that works for him.

I guess discipline really is about love, though.  I have expectations, I’ve given good reason for those expectations, and I hold every student accountable to them.  It’s not my job to be their friend.  It is my job, however to model respect and train them to be responsible, decent people in our little community of a classroom.  That’s the ultimate sign of love.

It’s just interesting that they really do, deep down, want that too.

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