I subbed four days this week, my most this year. Mostly because of that exhaustion, I have been sitting on a post (in my head) since Monday or Tuesday, trying to decide if I should flesh it out and post it. Since I feel neglectful to this blog, I decided to do it.
Earlier this week Jordan told me that when she tried to sit next to a certain girl, whom I will call Dee, at lunch, Dee told Jordan that her mother does not want her to sit by J.
Yes, I said that. And as I write this, I am getting angry all over again. What kind of a mother, in a Catholic school no less, says something like that to her kid?! And my kid, although goofy, is honestly one of the kindest kids in the school. Believe me, I am there enough to see this and I certainly hear about it.
Here is my take on why this happened. Last fall, I subbed a gym class that Dee was in. A few of Dee's classmates told me that Dee was cheating (that is, when the ball hit her, she would say it did not), and Dee ran off, pouting. When I went up to a sulking Dee and asked her what the problem was, she said that they should not be tattling on her. I told her that she is right, but that she should also admit when she the ball hits her, that what she is doing is wrong. Then I told her to get back in the game. This happened twice that day, and I am quite sure I sounded somewhat exasperated with her the second time, though certainly not mean. It is clear to me that some of these parents must never let their kids lose!
Soon after this, anytime I would see Dee's mom, she would look the other way whenever our paths crossed. Now Dee's mom was one of the "snobby" moms to begin with, but at least she would acknowledge my presence before. Also around this time, Dee told Jordan that I was mean. Sadly, Dee's feelings are in a minority; as I have said, I am generally too nice to the classes as a whole, giving them many chances to be quiet and correct their behavior.
So once again, I am smacked in the face with all that is wrong with people today. I told Jordan that if Dee ever says this again, she should ask Dee why her mom said this. Probably not the best thing, but perhaps slightly better than what Brian said, which I will leave up to your imagination. I give J a lot of credit; when this happened, she just sat down, even though she had to climb into the chair because Dee was blocking it with her feet.
Jordan does not deserve this, and fortunately did not seem too fazed by it. But I won't forget it. Much as I won't forget some of the bad behavior I witnessed from students this week. Perhaps at a later date, I will regale you with tales of a food fight during lunch duty or my come to Jesus speech to the soon-to-be eighth graders.
Instead, I will leave you with a wish for a nice Memorial Day weekend and a request that you remember what Monday is really all about.
Earlier this week Jordan told me that when she tried to sit next to a certain girl, whom I will call Dee, at lunch, Dee told Jordan that her mother does not want her to sit by J.
Yes, I said that. And as I write this, I am getting angry all over again. What kind of a mother, in a Catholic school no less, says something like that to her kid?! And my kid, although goofy, is honestly one of the kindest kids in the school. Believe me, I am there enough to see this and I certainly hear about it.
Here is my take on why this happened. Last fall, I subbed a gym class that Dee was in. A few of Dee's classmates told me that Dee was cheating (that is, when the ball hit her, she would say it did not), and Dee ran off, pouting. When I went up to a sulking Dee and asked her what the problem was, she said that they should not be tattling on her. I told her that she is right, but that she should also admit when she the ball hits her, that what she is doing is wrong. Then I told her to get back in the game. This happened twice that day, and I am quite sure I sounded somewhat exasperated with her the second time, though certainly not mean. It is clear to me that some of these parents must never let their kids lose!
Soon after this, anytime I would see Dee's mom, she would look the other way whenever our paths crossed. Now Dee's mom was one of the "snobby" moms to begin with, but at least she would acknowledge my presence before. Also around this time, Dee told Jordan that I was mean. Sadly, Dee's feelings are in a minority; as I have said, I am generally too nice to the classes as a whole, giving them many chances to be quiet and correct their behavior.
So once again, I am smacked in the face with all that is wrong with people today. I told Jordan that if Dee ever says this again, she should ask Dee why her mom said this. Probably not the best thing, but perhaps slightly better than what Brian said, which I will leave up to your imagination. I give J a lot of credit; when this happened, she just sat down, even though she had to climb into the chair because Dee was blocking it with her feet.
Jordan does not deserve this, and fortunately did not seem too fazed by it. But I won't forget it. Much as I won't forget some of the bad behavior I witnessed from students this week. Perhaps at a later date, I will regale you with tales of a food fight during lunch duty or my come to Jesus speech to the soon-to-be eighth graders.
Instead, I will leave you with a wish for a nice Memorial Day weekend and a request that you remember what Monday is really all about.
Comments
It would take everything for me not to say something to that "woman". But then you just stoop to her low, sad level.
I would love to know what Brian said...
If only I could move on.