I have a 13-year-old grandson. Like most 13-year-olds, he sometimes does not make the best choices.
A while back he was in Shop Class. That class is divided into two groups – one group is in the shop while the other is in the classroom.
The classroom is outfitted with tables and stools. The teacher's stool is fitted with wheels.
While unsupervised in the classroom, this group of 13-year-olds set up their stools like bowling pins, sat a kid on the teacher's stool as the bowling ball and were on their way to a high point bowling game when caught at it. The school principal had a visit from several 13-year-olds and the parents were informed of their children's activities by email.
Just yesterday this selfsame 13-year-old somehow found himself in possession of a snowball in the classroom. Nobody knows for sure just how this happened, but another visit to the principal's office and another parental email was the result.
As my son was relating the snowball story to me today, he said there were consequences at home for acting up in class. But he also said that he found it disheartening that most teachers expected their students to be carbon copies of one another.
Granted, bowling in shop class and a snowball fight in another class probably weren't the best choices. But I have to give the kids credit for imagination and thinking outside the box.
Schools are turning out many, many kids who will grow up to follow along like sheep, do exactly what they are told to do and never once question authority.
Give me the kid who goes bowling in shop class and has a snowball fight in another. Those are the ones who do not follow the crowd but who think for themselves and use their imaginations.
Those are the kids who will grow up to do great things.
My kid got caught being the lookout for another kid who set off a cherry bomb in the bathroom. Remember those stupid teenager tricks? Not anymore. He was arrested and charged with USING AN EXPLOSIVE WHILE COMMITTING A TERRORIST ACT! He ended up in front of an old judge who said "Y'know, there was a time when a kid could get away with doing this kind of stupid thing, but unfortunately not anymore. Are you going to do that again?" 'Kid answered "No." The judge responded with "Then get outta my courtroom!" Luckily, there are some people whose brains ae still intact, and one of them was that judge... I kinda wonder what happened to the kids in my oldest son's class who released 20 greased pigs into the school as their "senior prank..."
ReplyDeletePete...I think part of the problem is that those in charge have no sense of humor anymore. I found the bowling thing to be really funny, as I do the idea of 20 greased pigs let loose in the school. Granted, probably not the best choice, but nobody was hurt. It was a prank, for goodness sake.
DeleteKids have been setting off cherry bombs in bathrooms since both were invented. A terrorist act? Really? Thank heaven for a judge with some common sense.
By the way - I heard about another senior prank involving pigs. Four pigs were turned loose in a school. The pigs were numbered 1,2,3 and 5. The kids just sat back while the adults were frantically searching for pig number 4. :)
I'm with y'all; these pranks are, as you say, probably not the best choice of behavior, but they do show some great creativity.
Deletechipmunk...I look at the pranks as typical young teenage behavior. It would be a whole other ballgame if the kids were malicious, destructive or just plain mean. Yes, maybe not the best choices, but their creativity is awesome!
DeleteSkipping #4. Brilliant!
DeleteAnd I would have set up that bowling game.
I don't know who skipped #4, Ed, but it was a stroke of genius! And I would guess that grandson was up to his eyeballs in the bowling game. :)
DeleteThey are also the ones who will have some funny stories to entertain people with in years to come. My 78 year old uncle to this day still tells the story of the prank he and buddies pulled on their high school principal, LOL.
ReplyDeleteOne Family...Yes - the stories! I grew up hearing about all the mischief my Dad and his brothers got into. That's how family folklore is born. :)
DeleteMy uncles had police records. :)
DeleteIf there were any police records among my Dad and Uncles, they kept them quiet. And if there were none, there probably should have been!
DeleteAgreed, Vicki. Loved the pig stories, too.
ReplyDeleteYou all be safe, Merry Christmas and God bless.
LindaG...I sometimes wonder how the kids are able to think up some of the things they do, like the pigs. :) I think I would rather have a kid with a good working imagination than one with no creativity at all.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours, and may God bless.
Nothing beats a group of kids pooling their money to rent a big forklift from a construction equipment rental company to set the principals car on the roof of the school...
ReplyDeleteThat, Warlock Sundance, is classic!! And now I hope Grandson does NOT read these comments. :)
DeleteMany decades ago, some of the more mechanically inclined students disassembled a Bug and laid the pieces out in order to put it back together again.
ReplyDeleteOn the Gym floor. Red
Red...That is wonderful!! And I truly hope my grandson doesn't read this one either. :)
DeleteMother, that apple didn't fall far from the tree, did he? Sounds like some of the shenanigans I found myself in at his age.
ReplyDeleteSon...I always told you it was my hope that you would grow up to have a kid just like you. I seem to have gotten my wish. :) Love you both!!
DeleteI totally agree that the schools and some parents need to let the kids be kids. No one was injured so no harm no foul. We do not need more sheeple.
ReplyDeleteLori...In my humble opinion, we already have an overabundance of sheeple. We surely could use more who can think for themselves. Seems that is becoming rarer each day.
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