Skip to main content

If you give an 8th grader a book

If you give an 8th grader a book, they might read it.

If they read it, chances are they find it interesting.

If they find it interesting, most likely it has an “edgy” topic.

If it has an edgy topic, it will make the adults in the room uncomfortable.

If the adults in the room find it uncomfortable, they will talk to other adults.

If they talk to other adults, the teacher is bound to find out.

If the teacher finds out, chances are she will approach the uncomfortableness with the adult.

If the teacher approaches the uncomfortableness, the adult will mention concern about exposing 14 and 15 year olds to teens making bad decisions.

If the adult mentions reading about teens making bad decisions, the teacher will respond with research about discussing the issues before they are faced with them.

If the teacher begins discussing the research, the adult will comment about parents not wanting their children to read these books.

If the adult comments about the parents not wanting their children to read these books, the teacher will realize she should probably go to the principal.

If she goes to the principal, the first thing she will mention is how students are begging to read.

If the first thing mentioned is students begging to read, the principal will smile big.

If the principal smiles, the teacher will think it is safe to discuss the “edgy” topics found in the book.

If the teacher discusses the topics found in the book, sex will come up.

If sex comes up, it will be squelched quickly.

If it gets squelched, the teacher may need to go back to the textbook.

If the teacher has to go back to the textbook, the students will stop reading.

If the students stop reading, they stop thinking.

If they stop thinking, they stop solving problems before they happen.

If they stop solving problems before they happen, it is possible they will make poor choices.

If they make poor choices, they could get hurt.

If they get hurt, I would cry.

Comments

  1. TammyFebruary 4, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Let them read!!! Way to be there for your students Mandie!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aging sucks.....or does it?

Upon first thought, watching a parent age sucks. Unnoticeable at first. A bit of a stoop, some creaking in the knees, whitening of the hair. The doctor’s visits begin, as do the pills One for high blood pressure, another to thin the blood, and a handful of vitamins to top it off. The signs are there, but it is easier to see him as he has always been. My father, a pillar of strength. Until my pillar was knocked off-kilter. A simple surgery and the mortality of my father looked me square in the eye when the drugs took hold of his brain. Amidst his fidgeting and confusion, I realized…AGING SUCKS! And then….enlightenment dawned upon me….AGING IS BEAUTIFUL Wrinkles tell of smiles while silver hair speaks a life of memories. Knees creaky after years of kneeling in prayer, offering up a lap, and climbing up the stairs for one more kiss goodnight. Almost forty-eight years of memories nestled in my heart. Memories of my father. Taking us to church each Sunday Building and fixing ...
2 comments
Read more

The Next Chapter Begins...

The first round of tears happened during the 8 th grade promotion. It has been such a wonderful year with all of them – 7 th and 8 th graders alike. The second round of tears came when I learned I do not have a contract for next year. I will not be returning to Benson Middle School unless the displaced teachers do not jump at the chance for my classroom.   Right after she told me, I did my best to remain professional and keep the tears at bay. Unfortunately, they came anyway. About the time the tears hit my eyes, an email a dear friend sent me when I first wrote about the contract situation came to mind: “There is always a reason for things. Maybe God wants you to move on and inspire other students.” I love what she says. I feel that with my whole being. However, it did not make hearing that I have no job any easier. So now what? I am floating off the edge again. My family began the year in two different states. We are reunited again in North Carolina. Both Tony and I ...
7 comments
Read more

My Top 10 of 2010

At the stroke of midnight 2010, I was in New York City celebrating the year with a bunch of teachers from Uganda. I looked around me wondering how my life had gotten so good. My life was turning out quite different from the way I planned it 30 years before. Little did I know that 2010 was the year my life would begin anew. The year of reconnections. 10. The Unexpected From chickens to unemployment, private school to public school, house of four to a house of two, Sean moving back and a pimping Caddy, the unexpected continued throughout the year. It began with Stu Pecker Feathers, the chicken that wandered into our yard in the middle of the city of Pueblo. Stu found herself a place to roost and laid a dozen eggs before we said goodbye. As the school year ended, I found myself questioning if private school was where I wanted to be and Tony found himself out of a job. I found myself living in North Carolina with Patti, while Tony lived in New Hampshire with Sana. Surprisingly, Patti thriv...
2 comments
Read more