I got mugged or feel like I have by 6 classes of 7th graders yesterday. The first 4 classes were good, the last two, a chair and a whip would have been a handy tool
Direct challenge of why should I have to sit in my chair, putting 4 chairs together and laying down and trying to sleep. I knew it would be rough when there was a students desk connected to my desk, but I wouldn't have guessed how rough it would be. The usual stern language and threats of detention did nothing to calm them down. But at the same time I would have the other half of the class good as gold and sat away from the trouble makers.
I finally took control during the last class when I had a trouble maker come over to the classroom phone and I started to dial the principles office when they agreed to calm down.
But on a really good note: I don't know if you remember my oldest son went the the High Tech Marine Academy for math and science? While my wife teaches there we got to go to Hawaii and NASA for robotic competitions. He is now in college for computer engineering.
Anyway, 750 kids tested to get in this month, they take 75 new students per year. My youngest daughter got accepted. All geeks and they love it. No trouble with students, they all worked hard to get there with needing two years of "A's" and take a 200 question test. She will go far due to her strong work ethics. I'm so proud of her!
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Don't believe everything you read on the internet- George Washington.