another thing that would 86 me from this job
I absolutely believe that public schools are mini-societies. Within these microcosms are reflected (with dizzying simultaneity) the past-- as these children ape their parents' behaviors, values, and opinions-- and the future-- if indeed the future holds little else but video-gaming and mass sugar consumption. In the realm of the Tweens, life is Machiavellian and there is no cold Justice. It is served up fresh, hot, and disproportionate to the perceived transgression. In addition, there exists a subset of mini-people who are simply a drag on the system, much like their parents are a drag on society. I am starting to wonder if the dichotomy holds water: "You're either a part of the problem or a part of the solution." If so, then these Problems and their offspring are Oxygen Thieves, sucking resources regularly and contributing nothing in return. (I am NOT speaking of the infirm or elderly, so shut up.)
Moving on, I've found quite a few Oxygen Thieves in the school. One in particular claims he wants nothing more than to join a gang and kill people. He thinks jail is "cool", and he regularly practices bullying, cheating, and theft. Worse yet, he is cunning and manipulative, and has done much to poison the behaviors of those around him. We simply don't have the resources in this area to place him in an appropriately structured (read: militaristic) setting, as the district would be required to come up with the dough to ship him out. He enjoys a large following, and has built up a reputation of sorts. He needs to be taken down several pegs, that his growing band of mini-thugs might see what a weenie he actually is. In lieu of a costly transfer, I propose a humiliating beating by a peer.
Although I could not follow through on this, I have chosen a student to carry out the ass-whuppin'. He's in foster care, and thus escapes the blood ties of the town; he regularly gets into trouble, but has a sense of honor and fairness; he is genuinely street-smart, as opposed to an MTV-manufactured Bad Boy; and we get along very well. I'd gladly pay him $20 to beat the tar out of this obnoxious little poseur, but we all know that this could only end badly.
Thus it remains a fantasy...and my job remains intact.
Moving on, I've found quite a few Oxygen Thieves in the school. One in particular claims he wants nothing more than to join a gang and kill people. He thinks jail is "cool", and he regularly practices bullying, cheating, and theft. Worse yet, he is cunning and manipulative, and has done much to poison the behaviors of those around him. We simply don't have the resources in this area to place him in an appropriately structured (read: militaristic) setting, as the district would be required to come up with the dough to ship him out. He enjoys a large following, and has built up a reputation of sorts. He needs to be taken down several pegs, that his growing band of mini-thugs might see what a weenie he actually is. In lieu of a costly transfer, I propose a humiliating beating by a peer.
Although I could not follow through on this, I have chosen a student to carry out the ass-whuppin'. He's in foster care, and thus escapes the blood ties of the town; he regularly gets into trouble, but has a sense of honor and fairness; he is genuinely street-smart, as opposed to an MTV-manufactured Bad Boy; and we get along very well. I'd gladly pay him $20 to beat the tar out of this obnoxious little poseur, but we all know that this could only end badly.
Thus it remains a fantasy...and my job remains intact.
spoken by Sister Morpheme at 12:27 PM
1 Rants:
Han Magnus Enzensberger (German social critic and poet) describes school as a place of oppression not conceived by either students or teachers, about which neither ever had a say. Its buildings were and are architecture of power. Formerly they resembled military schools of poor reputation; today they resemble workers dormitories.
Since this was originally in German, translated into Spanish, and from that language into English, I cannot vouchsafe its accuracy.
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