two important things
Today, two important things happened!
Thing number one: There was a fight between two students -- and I kind of helped to start it-(but not really)
Thing number two: one of my kids totally stuck up for me in the hall (the scariest part of a middle school)
So- the stories that accompany these incidents
Incident #1
Today in English club- there were these two kids that were sitting next to each other. One, Romain, is one of the most annoying kids I have ever had the misfortune to teach. He doesn't want to do anything and when you say anything in English he doesn't understand- and is just loud and obnoxious. The other-- Dorian- is one of the sweetest kids I have in my classes. He is really animated, but really likes to do things in English. He is also one of my biggest proponents of Simon Says. All in all, a dream kid. Howevvver- today-- all hell broke loose- and the world was turned upside down. So Dorian and Romain were sitting with Caroline and Yannis- ok kids who just tend to instigate anything thats about to happen. So I split them all up and then all of a sudden I hear Romain shouting at Dorian. Now- I generally can not understand what the kids are saying when they "bavardent" (chitchat constantly at inappropriate times) and so I was upset with Romain because he was shouting. I had no idea what he was actually saying- and I threatened to give him a "feu rouge" (a red light, essentially a really intense detention). He didn't stop yelling-- and so I said- You have a really bad attitude and you are not listening to me- bring me your "carnet de communication" (this log book every student has to keep on them at all times to record where they are supposed to be every second of the day, any punishments they recieve, any notes to the parents, etc...). So Romain throws the book at me-- breaking it ( a huge, huge offense. I"m not really sure why bending/dropping/ripping it is so terrible, but it just is.) I fill out his punishment, and he starts yelling again- and again, I have next to no idea what he is yelling about. When the students get excited their voices get all high pitched and crackly and it all just sounds same. Anyway- he wouldn't stop yelling, so I kicked him out. Possibly the worst thing I could have done at that point, but like I said- I had no idea there was a problem other than his ridiculously angsty attitude. Two minutes later the bell rings, and I let the students out. Thennnnn, the vice principal calls me to her office to discuss the "incident" between Romain and Dorian- and I"m super confused-- all-- -what incident, what are you talking about? Dorian was an angel- he didnt' do anything. And then she breaks it to me that actualllly- Dorian started the class by calling Romain by the girl equivalent of his name- Romane. Romain retaliated by mocking Dorian's last name-- Poulain- which means a baby horse/foal--- but thats when he started shouting. So... essentially, Dorian started it but I didn't punish him at all, then gave Romain the worst punishment available and kicked him out. At which point he waited for Dorian to leave class and then started to fight with him in an empty classroom. So then another teacher came and found them and had to bring them down to the surveillants (these people who essentially babysit the kids at recess and during lunch and stuff). Sigh-- which is when I was called in to explain myself. So the moral of the story is -- I suck at french/ need to communicate better with the annoying kids. haha. oh well. When I left them in the vice principals office - they were both crying.
Incident #2
I was walking down the hall --and someone said something to me-- and I didn't really understand (I never do when they shout things or talk under their breath) and it was apparently rude because this girl that I"m kind of buddies with (she's in one of my classes) whips around and starts yelling at them and demanding they explain their disrespect! haha , it was pretty awesome, and totally made up for the fight situation! and I quote: " Bah, c'est quoi, ca??? C'est pas de respect!! Elle est une prof, et tu doit la resepecter!!!!" sweeet. she loves me. and now I definitely love her. haha.
well, an eventful day by any standards.