It feels like a Two-Blog Day!!!

I got my usual morning call from the principal, ensuring me that he would be at school on time.. He signed up to teach a 7:00 AM P.E. class which consist of walking around the track for about 45 minutes. The name of the class is "walking with the principal". How cute. I arrived a few minutes early and witnessed the principal fully engaged in the enforcement of a particular rule that has been on the books for more than 5 years but never really taken seriously by anyone except this old sixty-somethings year old guy that comes to the campus sometimes. Oh! The rule is simply "your shirt must be tucked inside your trousers". I had suggested to the principal that the reason for the students and staff just ignoring the rule is; no consistency and no consequences and it was his fault!!! After digesting the stern comments the principle called me, acknowledging his responsibility and committing to fix it. No more yelling and screaming "Put your shirt it, pull you pants up" over and over again. Just quietly have the teachers identify the offenders and the campus security will write the suspension papers. The student would need a parent conference to return to school. You know it's really unbelievable how quickly students respond to seeing a couple of their comrades sent packing during the first hour of school. Of course there were those that had to test the system and the response was firm and swift. Can't wait to see what happens tomorrow!!

After a morning at Hillcrest I go home, rest up and get ready for my afternoon charges. I had a new youngster by the name of London. London is 7 and going to the 3rd grade. London's grandmother drop him off and the plan was to give him a diagnostic test just to assess his readiness for the third grade. London proved to be exceedingly bright and went right to work scoring 100% on the first couple of strands and 80% on the third. Oh! he was first tested in math. He was clearly prepared for third grade math, so I started his testing in English Language Arts. About two strands into the ELA testing ( 100% and 90%) his grandmother returned. It was as if someone had slipped up behind London as flicked a switch in his head. Instead of the personable and enthusiastic little boy, eager to get another 100% on the testing, he immediately transformed into a surly little brat. He refused to do the testing, wouldn't respond when I asked him a question. Just turned into a royal s__t. Grandma, sensing that her presence was having a negative impact, left the room and went back to her car. I talked to London, attempting to understand this horrible transformation. The only response that I got was surly "I don't knows" and crocodile tears. I took him outside to his grandma and told her that she had a very bright grandson, but if his attitude didn't make some serious adjustment, he would have difficulty in school. Grandma said that he was having difficulties already.
I looked at London and pushed the fast forward button. I saw him as a teenager walking into Hillcrest Continuation or some other Alternative school and telling the teacher how smart he really is and how boring school is of some such crap as that. I saw several older versions of London today at Hillcrest and will see more tomorrow.

Parents, please don't cripple your son and daughters in the name of love. Do the tough parts as well as the fun parts. Giving them nearly everything that their little hearts desire and showing them off is the fun part. Exacting disciplinary measures in a firm and consistent way is the tough part. Don't worry that they won't love you. They will love you even more, for making the into the best little pumpkins that they can be.