While we as teachers should never call students names, we know that "lounge talk" sometimes degrades to tacking labels on some students. Perhaps this occurs out of descriptive convenience, sometimes it's out of good natured humor, but at all times the intention of talk about students should be helpful and thoughtful. Right now I am thinking about (and concerned about) some secondary school students who have earned some "new labels" for themselves.
What concerns me, are the few students who are returning to campuses across the nation after spending a couple of weeks in what amounts to county jail this summer. As I reflect on certain students whom I know will be returning after their stints in confinement to the middle school campus where I work, I wonder what's going through their heads. Is it a new day, a time for change with a renewed spirit and dedication toward school? Somehow, I don't think so. Did the forced confinement do lasting emotional damage? Are they farther behind this year than they were last year? Are they doomed to a life of in and out of jail without a hope for meaningful intervention? I am afraid so.
Let's do some thinking on this. Oh, yeah, and in the lounge this year, let's not refer to "that kid who just did jail time", he has name. I know this will be a big topic of discussion in my teacher credentialing class this fall and I plan to really work through it with my university students. Unfortunately it is something we need to be aware of, more today than in the past.
As always, your comments are encouraged.
Stef
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