My lovely little Freshmen!

I have been teaching science since 1982.  Until recently, I have have always had mostly freshmen classes.  My school started an academy a few years ago and you couldn't teach freshmen unless you had them all day.  I still wanted to teach the upper level AP classes, so I had to give up the freshmen.  Now-like pretty much everything in education, the rules have changed and I have three freshmen classes.  They are small and cute.  A few of the girls have a tude.(attitude)  Most of the girls are really sweet. Most of the boys are in dire need of aderol.  They are cute-but hyper. It is a whole different world than teaching upperclassmen.

Two days a week we have a block schedule with 95 minute class periods.  That is lab day.  So last week I took them outside for a lab that lasted about 15 minutes outside.  They had stop watches(all a swinging), and they were throwing toothpicks on the ground and picking them up in 15 second increments.  One boy was all over the place.  I had to ask him to get to work three times.  He started on the 15 second pick up and then threw up in the grass.  I asked him if  he would like to sit down in the shade and rest. He was totally fine after he threw up ( and also before.) Back in the classroom- I saw a boy with tears in his eyes.  I questioned what was the matter.  The girl next to him said take him in the hall and asked what happened. He proceeded to tell me that another boy threw him into the back window and proceeded to choke him.  I asked if he was OK and he said his ear hurt from being jacked up into the window-but he was otherwise OK.  I proceeded to take the other boy to the assistant principal and then I had to go back and get the other one.  In the meantime my class of 34 little heathens decided to take the turtles food and throw it all over the room.

I blew my top on return and I think I may have uttered the shit word.  The next day they were really good.  I hope they haven't forgotten their remorse this week- I doubt it.  My friend said I should use the - I'm in menopause while yelling at them next time and they will be frightened.  I haven't tried that one yet- I have a feeling I may need it!

It is interesting the lab we did was on the topic of natural selection.  Survival of the fittest- will it be me or them?  Stay tuned.