TeacherScribe

Stuff like this used to piss me off – I have two emo kids in my Sci Fi class. If you don’t know what an emo is – and I’m not sure I really do either – it appears to be a kid with long hair that covers their face (usually swept to one side) dyed black and blond – but mostly black. They wear skinny jeans which severely taper toward the ankles. They may also wear girl jeans. DC shoes are a must. They are quite skinny and androgynous. Dark, angst ridden T-shirts and chains are also musts. Oh yeah – and tattoos (since when did parents allow their teenagers to get tattoos? I know more than a few students whose parents get tattoos right along with their kids. They family that gets inked together . . .

Anyway, back to my point – I have two of them in my class and they don’t do much. One likes to check his cell phone all the time and twirl his hair. The other can do his work – but usually the former one distracts him so that they tend to stew in their own pot and teen drama and pain.

This used to drive me nuts. But not anymore. They are at the ALC. What would the point be of me reminding them to do their work? You would think the classes they failed, which is what got them here, would be clue enough.

Maybe they are convinced they’ll form a band and be the next Panic at the Disco or Fallout Boy.

Now, I just let their actions ride.

Why get worked up? It’s not worth it.

I used to want to grab these kids and wake them up and get them straightened out.

I no longer can do that.

You have to want to help yourself first. Then I’ll do everything I can to help you.



This latest product isn’t dumb. He’s a smart kid with ability. But he’s been trapped by his genes and the environment. He might even be trapped by his jeans – they are so tight I don’t know how he breathes. They certainly can’t stay on his butt because they are following down – despite his studded belt – and his boxers are showing all the time.

Thankfully, this has been the lone low point for this summer session. The kids, overall, have been great. They aren’t overjoyed to be here, but they have been well behaved and energetic. And I’ve enjoyed working with them.

I even learned what an emo is.


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Now, fair is fair. Not that I’m into all of this political correct, touchy feely crap where you have to give one positive comment for every negative one. However, this one merits it.

I have a student in my ALC classes who comes from a very troubled family. I had his brother over the years and while he was a nice kid, he was a horrible student. And we butted heads quite often. In fact, I had to have him removed from my class.

His brother, though, is totally different. Not only is he a nice kid but he seems to be a good student. He was just asking about one story they are reading in Sci Fi by Isaac Assimov called “Robbie.”

He said, “Is this the story I, Robot is based off of?”

I said that I thought it was.

“You know I like to read,” he began. “And I bought a book that said it was the story I, Robot was based and I recognize all of these names,” he said as he scanned over the worksheet on the story.

Then we had a great conversation about the movie and story and book. Sometimes, that’s as good as it gets.

Tomorrow, I find out what else he has read and what he likes to read. I already have a list of stuff he might like.