Elementary School Drama

I tell ya, Spring has arrived at my little school. You can always tell what Spring is here because it seems as if students are up for Oscar Performances for their acting skills! Unfortunately, some of them aren't acting, they are just downright rude or don't care. I was amazed today at what I had to deal with. Not because it was bad for me, it just seems it's too early to have drama.

So, we had picture day and it threw our entire schedules off. The kids were off, I was off, it was a weird day. No doubt about it. Just plain weird.

So, due to the change in schedule, recess was off schedule.

I went out and did an easy 20 minutes of duty during my regularly scheduled time. I usually do recess for 4th and 5th grades, but today I did it for 3rd. It was easy. No drama. I thought life was good.

Then about 1:15 I had a student come down and ask me if I'd be willing to take 5th grade out for a recess. They hadn't had a recess yet. I am a good team player, and I had just picked up my students and honestly didn't have enough chairs for them, so it was sort of a good answer to the problem.

So, we went out. I was blessed as I stood there with a friend during the recess and we told our Spring Break Events with one another. It was great. Slow. As we talked, we watched the kids. Everything was great.

Then a kid came up to me and said, "There's a fight, we need you!"

Sure enough, I looked over and saw one kid going after another kid.

The other kid was defending himself, not throwing punches.

I ran over. (Yes, the gal with a limp ran!)

The aide that was there split them up, and I took the kid that was throwing the punches as she took the other two kids.

I had my arm on Angerissueboy's shoulder because I wasn't sure if he was going to throw another punch.

He was okay with it at first.

The outta nowhere he said, "Get your arm off me, you freak!" And pushed my arm off his shoulder.

I stood there. Never, in my eight years of teaching, had I been called a freak.

I looked at him and said, "You know, all you had to say was, Please let go of me, and I would have done it. You don't talk to me like that!"

He didn't look at me.

The kicker of it was that he's a third grader, so I didn't know who's class he's in or anything.

So I asked him, "Who's class are you in?"

He said, "I'm not telling you! You're so smart, figure it out for yourself!"

I've never had the either. Every other fight I've dealt with, after they're calm, they realize what they've done and will answer whatever I ask. I just stared at him. And silently prayed.

I turned to the other two students who were involved and just as I did that, someone came yelling at me, "Someone's hurt!"

Snap!

The aide went to deal with it, while I dealt with the fight.

After playing detective, I discovered that Angerissueboy started the whole thing by throwing a ball and hurting the girl. The other boy stood up for her using words, not fists, and Angerissueboy went off on him hitting, kicking, and punching.

I was proud of the kids who just stood up for what was right and didn't fight back.

Both the girl and boy were in tears as they were complimented on how they handled it.

It was a good moment.

Well, I still had to deal with it all, get kids lined up, and back in the building.

Just then a kid ran up and said a 5th grader had been scratched by a third grader.

Welcome to Spring!

I said, "Okay, tell the kids to come to me."

I blew the whistle for 5th grade to line up.

Turned to Angerissueboy and said, "YOU'RE COMING WITH ME TO THE OFFICE."

He walked with me.

That shocked me. I figured I'd have to call the office on my handy dandy little walkie talkie I had in my hands, but I didn't. (Thank God!)

I got the kids lined up and in. Then I turned to all the drama queen performers and said, "Okay, let's go."

Then I looked over.

I still had my students waiting for me that were in fourth grade standing there.

I looked at them and said, "Can you guys do me a favor and go back to class while I deal with this?"

They said "Sure."

I love my kids!

I took the drama performers into the office, and everything was explained to Ms. AP, and she sent the good kids back to class.

Angerissueboy still had issues, and was still putting on quite the performance. Talking back. Being disrespectful.

I looked at him and said, "Never, in my eight years of teaching have I had a kid call me freak. You have no idea the hole you're digging."

His response: "I don't care."

Wow. Amazing.

Upon further investigation with his teacher, it turns out this isn't a new thing. It was new to me just because I never do third grade duty.

Ah yes, it is Spring. Stay tuned for more "Elementary School Drama" performances.

There will be MANY more to come.

Later!