middle school stinks

This week was tough on me at work. Monday was a great day, but Tuesday was rough all the way through. Two of the biggest highlights from the day were: 1) a student balling up a huge wad of wet paper towels, throwing it at my wall clock, and the clock shattering on the floor into one million and one pieces and 2) my Ipod being stolen. I got over the clock thing and thought the day was going to end on a positive note, but I was wrong. Three of my sixth graders decided that while I was busy working with another student, it would be a terrific idea to take my Ipod off my desk and hide it in their pants (GROSS!). Then one of the kids involved (who is one of my most beloved students) quietly asked to go chat with another teacher, knowing that I would allow it since it was the end of the day. Really, he just wanted to hide my Ipod for collection later. Now, let me back up for a minute, because I'm sure a lot of people want to know why on earth I would've had my Ipod out where these little buggers could reach it. The story is this: we are ending the year with a project called "Music & Me". It's all about where the kids are a music-afficianados at this point in their lives and documenting that for purposes of later reflection. It includes lyrical analysis, lyrical composition, superstar reseach questions, and a musical-themed internet scavenger hunt. Since they were working so nicely that day, I decided to play some music (from my Ipod) to get them in the right frame of mind for the project. This turned out to be a huge mistake. So, fast forward again to the kid asking to leave class. While he was gone, one of the other kids involved decided to narc, and told my I.A. what was going on, basically placing all the blame on this usually good kid. Very clever, but not clever enough. My I.A. immediately called the office for a review of the last 45 minutes of class video (yes, all our buildings have continual video monitoring). We didn't get to the right segment of video before the buses left, so I was pretty sure my Ipod had gone home with one of those kids and would never be seen again by my eyes. I resigned to searching all over my classroom, while a few of my co-workers kindly offered to search around outside. Amazingly, (and stupidly of my kids), the Ipod had been dropped off in the bushes way across campus from my room. My co-worker returned it to me just about the time we identified the initial criminal and his accomplices on the video tape. We decided not to tell the kids it had been recovered, and to watch carefully to see if any of the guilty parties would return to the bushes to reclaim the Ipod in the morning. So, watch we did - four sets of eyes plastered through various windows on campus - for these kids to return to the scene of the crime. And boy did they ever. All three of them. Walked to their class, then ever so cautiously snuck over to the area where they'd left my Ipod. I was amazed at their brazenness. In the end, the Deputy lectured all of them, but couldn't arrest them because the one who actually took my Ipod confessed before he'd been read his Miranda rights. The most they were able to do was suspend that kid. The other two were innocent based on the lack of video evidence showing their involvement.

I was (and still am) so violated, enfuriated, offended, and disappointed by this that I don't think I'll ever forgive them. The next day, that whole class got a 15 minute lecture and none of them were allowed free time on computers or Play Station. They could draw or read. The group contingency is a very powerful tool, so while it was hard to give such harsh consequences to kids I knew were uninvolved, it was important to do. Peer pressure can go a long way. By this afternoon, we were all on speaking terms again and they had moved on, but I still feel hurt. I cannot believe the lack of respect they showed me. I am glad this happened at the end of the school year, so that I can have some time to regroup. I need some time away.

4 days left of school, including Tuesday's trip to Wakulla Springs and three early release days. Thank goodness!