Responsibility

Veteran readers will remember that my "day job" these days is still supervising alternative school students who for whatever reason can't be at the regular high school in our district.

Immediately after a change of semester, we always have a drastic reduction in the size of our population, as many students are sent over to the main campus to continue their education. Either they've "done their penance" for a temporary expulsion for weapons or drugs, or they've demonstrated the ability to attend class regularly and/or complete actual classwork, or caught up with missing classes that prevented them from moving on with their peer group.

The eight young men we have left this January are (ahem) a delightful bunch of children. By definition, they have not demonstrated the above growth, and continue to need our attention here for another semester. During this first week back from vacation, they're acting out about that.

How do we explain what you would think would be patently obvious to a teenager who blatantly refuses to acknowledge their reality?

The argument I just had with an otherwise nice kid about sleeping in class is a prime example. His position, as best I can recreate it, is that "sleeping is not a crime". Which is what he's been doing throughout class the last two days. It feels like I'm trying to convince someone who's holding his breath that "breathing is necessary". Have you ever had that argument with a three-year old? Why-why-why, and there is no end to it? You feel like you'll end up back at the nature of God from the initial question, "Why is that truck red?"

That's how this feels. Why can't I sleep in class? Um...because we have stuff to do? Because you don't get credit for just being here? Because you can't do that at any job or school or whatever? (Short of being a mattress tester, perhaps.) What do you say to the patently obvious?

Yesterday's argument was similar: I can say anything I want any time I want. Um...no, it doesn't work that way. Why not? I have freedom of speech! I can say anything I want! Um... well, ignoring the fact that you're a minor and that right doesn't even apply to you? No, you can't. We give up those kind of rights whenever we enter into a social contract like a classroom situation - but how do you explain a "social contract" to a student who's being so bull-headed that they refuse to stop speaking long enough to even listen to  your explanation?

Alas, that student is home for the day, explaining to his mother and grandfather why he can't say anything he wants.

But while he's home, he's not making any academic progress. Perhaps this is more important, though. Sometimes, we have to teach these kids the basics of life and reality. 

I truly wish I could simply preach Christianity to them. It may not help, if the Holy Spirit isn't ready to overwhelm them, or if they're actively rejecting Him. But it can't be worse than what they're doing now, can it?