Catch me if you can
I will be turning 43 years old this year.
One more year gone and another year wiser.
Of the many duties we administrators are charged with, the one that probably takes up the majority of our time and energy is to maintain discipline among the student body and keep the climate of the school pleasant, inviting, and nurturing.
In all my years in education and on this earth, what never ceases to amaze me is how kids assume that adults never had a childhood and a wealth of experiences to draw upon.
They really do believe that every little prank or infraction they can muster is something they just invented at that moment or dreamed up the night before. They just refuse to believe that these same things that get them in trouble are things we did over 30 years ago, and sometimes did them better.
They also wonder why we catch them so quickly.
Take for example the elementary school student who cuts class. Now unlike high school, elementary school students tend to remain in one of three locations throughout the day: Class, lunch, and P.E. Any other times, before and after school on the playground, they are being watched and supervised by many eyes that catch the precise moment when they are about to spring their act on an unsuspecting victim.
When an elementary student is missing, they are usually found within minutes and when that happens, they look at the administrator as if to say “How did you know I was here?”
Sometimes I think they believe they are invisible.
These same students are the ones who run away when they get caught.
Where do they think they are going to go? Do they really believe we will never see them again?
I don’t even chase them anymore. I just show up at their “hiding spot” and watch them look perplexed from wondering how they were found so quickly.
Reminds me of the time I got caught cutting class…once. I really thought I was never going to get caught.
Which is why I was hiding in the bathroom across the hall from my class.
I also chose the perfect day to cut class.
The day I was caught, was the very day my dad was to be a guest speaker for the very same class I was cutting.
That was back in 1984.
Even though the kids don’t know it now, as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. I don’t think the kids can come up with something I haven’t seen (or done) before years ago.
Like I said, we were doing this same stuff over 30 years ago.
Tagged with: Cutting Class • Discipline
Filed under: Administration • Schools • Students
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LMBOOOOO this was a good one, you cutting class the day your dad was to speak for that class…hummm, smart Marc!! I often wondered the same thing with my kids. However, I remember my parents saying the SAME thing to me!
Yea Susa it was a good one! One that I truly haven’t forgotten. I’ll never forget the look on his face when he came into the principal’s office to get me and the sound of his voice when he said he asked the teacher in class where I was. Needless to say I never did that again. Guess I had to learn the hard way.
I guess I was either a punk or that my parents had very effective parenting skillz because I never cut class… I was convinced that my parents had a GPS device on me before there were actually GPS devices! AND TRUE DAT as regards kidz thinking they’re brand new. I always told me “Look, I know U cuz I knew me first”!
oooops-told me = told mines
Bonnie, neither did I…no way I would have cut class or school. Whew I can’t even imagine what my mother would have done, daddy was the easy one!
Yea I could never get away with anything when I was younger. I swear my parents had eyes everywhere and I’m not even including the eyes from the rest of the “village!” I think in 16 years in education I may have seen ONE thing where I said to myself “now that’s new” but I can’t remember what that was so I guess it wasn’t brand new.
Marc,
It is funny how kids think that their parents were never children or that things are different for them then it was for us. I agree a lot of things are different, but children are not much different especially the phases they go through. My oldest son always gets caught, my neighbor keeps telling him to just give up on trying to do things, because he always gets caught right away and is a horrible liar. His lies usually don’t make any sense. Now my younger son who is supposed to be “slow” can lie off the top of his head and tell lies you would believe. You have to verify his stories or his will get away with all kinds of things.
That is absolutely true Jennifer. They lie, then once they are caught they compound the lie with more lies while actually thinking they are making sense and that we have no idea what they are talking about. It really never ceases to amaze me.
Sorry hit the button to soon. Great job on your blog.
Question: Any suggestions on to get your kids interested in actually learning. My oldest son is in 9th grade and unfortunately thinks that being cute is enough and does not bother to learn anything. He is poor at reading, spelling, writing, math dang everything really except brushing his hair. Not his teeth, he is poor at that also.
Jenn
LOL yes I have a few ideas. I have seen that syndrome far too many times. I can email you and we can talk about it. Maybe I will write about it one day. Oh, I hope you don’t mind but I had to edit my name and correct it in your last comment. You put a “K” in my name and not a “C”
Glad you liked my blog.
please keep reading and enjoy it! (hopefully you will subscribe to it too)
Marc,
Sorry my nephews is spelled with a C also. I usually try not to spell peoples name wrong by using a C and this time I messed up and used a K, figures.
Yes please email me when you have the time.
Jenn
I will. Promise. Feel free to send me questions you have anytime too!
I have to admit I almost cut class 1 time and never did it again. 7th grade and cut with a boy I “thought” I liked, and some friends, until he wanted a kiss. I took myself to class quickly and told the teacher I was having severe cramps. That was enough for me to not ever cut class again. I don’t know what I thought kids did when they cut class but if that’s what they did I didn’t want to do it..
LOL good save!
I don’t know what I was thinking when I cut that class. Guess you live and learn.