Imagine iPods hangin’ out of ears, greasy chips and soda smeared all over young faces, cell phones sandwiched between book pages and the camera part of the phone aimed at your face — get the picture? Now imagine a teacher having the gall to stand up in front of that class and begin to teach. How dare he or she interfere with the modern gadgets and take all the technology fun out of life? Look, even without numerous distractions teaching is challenging and the state’s pressure for students to pass the Regents makes pressure from an Internal Revenue audit seem like Christmas in July. The strict, brave, successful teachers threaten to arm wrestle any students who dare walk over the threshold of their rooms with any technology ‘strapped’ to their person. But he or she risks the wrath of some parents who complain that such restrictions and deprivations are enforced.
“I must be able to contact my child at any hour,” hyperventilate some parents. Question: Were THEIR parents able to contact them at all times? Absolutely not! And what do you know, both parents and children survived. And some parents, you might risk going into cardiac arrest here, have actually called their kids during school hours. Yep, during school hours, so don’t believe mom and pop when they complain that they don ‘t know how to talk to their teenagers. With all the practice they get from talking to them on their cell phones, they should be experts! If they must call because of an emergency, God forbid, the school has secretaries to take the call, a nurse and counselors to assist. What comfort does a cold cell phone offer?
Remember when we couldn’t even chew gum in school? It’s a wonder we were allowed to swallow our own spit for fear of being accused of eating in class. Eating is permitted in some classes so students risk packing on 1,500 extra calories from their candy, chips and soda.
“I concentrate far better and perform my best school work when I’m eating,” some wise kid will speak up.
“Out in the hall — now!” I’ll order.
I would never embarrass him/her in front of their peers, so once we’re alone: I’ll ask one simple question. “If that’s the case, dear, why is your average in this class a 39 percent?”
Once back in class I continue my crusade. “Growling is the only noise I want to hear coming from your stomachs,” I’ll warn. “You’ll never ever be allowed to eat in my classroom.”
“Oh, they’ll roll their eyes, inhale loudly, or stick out their tongues at my photo ID tag that I wear, but all and all, we share a great respect for one another. Teenagers instinctively know when you like them, so the precedence has been established between us. On very rare occasions (maybe only once, I swear) a student will become so obnoxious, so disruptive in class that one must exercise total self-control not to knock him or her into the next school district. I think it’s against the law to send them sailing, so all I can do is ask the obnoxious, disruptive kid, “Do you want my possible cerebral hemorrhage on your conscience?” and just like that, they’re sitting down and absolutely quiet. Well, maybe not absolutely quiet because those darn teenagers like to get in the last word, but who the heck doesn’t? That’s why I allow that final verbal venting for the whole class to hear like, “I wish our ‘real’ teacher was here.”
“So do I,” I’ll quip, but because they don’t believe me for one second, they’ll give me a reassuring smile. The heck with the smile, I want their attention, their imagination and their hunger for knowledge because ... (to be continued)
Karen White-Walker is a Wilson resident. Her column appears every Tuesday.
Columns
Related Photos
WHITE-WALKER: Students for all seasons
- Columns
-
-
HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
There are still those remnants of the fading bouquets of floral tributes that still hang at that base of a tree on city hall’s lawn. It is near where, last year, from his shiny silvery cart, Melvin Johnson sold hot dogs and sausages to both city employees and passerbys while his tiny white dog excitingly yelped at anyone that came near.
- No Headline Provided
-
GLYNN: Gillibrand seeks help for prime bread-winners
A recent report shows that working mothers across the Empire State earn nearly 15 percent lower pay for the same work as men.
-
BRADBERRY: There really are spirits in the water
Over the centuries since it was “discovered” hundreds of millions of people have traveled from every corner of the world to visit Niagara Falls making it the most visited of the great waterfalls on the planet.
-
CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
The ongoing debate over Obamacare has brought to light the concept of rationed healthcare. Opponents of health care reform keenly point out that while the bill never explicitly calls out rationing, it features certain provisions that will lead the markets to adjust to strict federal demands and, therefore, dispense certain procedures in smaller amounts or not at all. Because of it being the first time that the subject has really come up in public circles, most people, especially on the right, believe that rationing is something new. It’s not. The free markets have been practicing that for quite some time. I should know; with a 4-inch long, 1-inch wide scar running south of my belly button – and a couple of related scars around my groin – I could be the poster child for rationed health care.
-
CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
-
GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
-
HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
-
GLYNN: Graduates find they’re in staggering debt
Countless senior citizens often gripe about something, sometimes even with good reason. Perhaps they should consider themselves fortunate, compared with the younger generation.
- More Columns Headlines
-
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
