Adventures in Teaching: Making Children Cry

So, yesterday, I made a 9 year old cry. Really cry. This kid sobbed for a good 15 minutes; maybe more. Class ended and he was still crying on his way out the door. Oh well. He shouldn't have misbehaved.

The incident started towards the end of class. I was teaching Memory English, level 2. This class focuses on reading comprehension and is a fairly low level class. Kids usually take it somewhere around fourth to sixth grade. The kids in it are somewhat conversational. They aren't fluent but, they can read simple stories and can have a slow, age appropriate conversation. It's usually a cute class. The kids are adorable and their lack of vocabulary makes them say really funny things.

During the last 40 minutes of each class (each class is 3 hours long), the kids work on their Critical Thinking Projects (CTP). Each day is a different project. The CTP is designed to teach the kids to work in groups and gives them a chance to apply the vocabulary and facts they learned during the class onto a project that they present to the class.

Yesterday, we read a story about a baseball team that had ugly uniforms. The CTP was for the kids to make up a team and design a uniform for it. They also had to pick a mascot and a symbol for the team. It seemed like it would be a fun project. I put the kids into groups and we started the project.

While the groups are working, I go from group to group. This helps to keep them on track and for me to answer any questions that come up during the project.

When I visited group 3, I noticed that one kid, Ryan (pronounced Ree-anne for some unknown reason), had his workbook closed and was staring at the desk. So, I asked him what was wrong. He told me that his group was stupid and he wouldn't work with them. Ryan also told me that his group was making stupid choices for the project and that he would get a F. I assured him that their choices were fine and that they wouldn't get an F b/c their team had a weird name. We then discussed getting along with others and how just b/c he didn't come up with an idea, it wasn't automatically stupid. I told him that he just got out voted this time and maybe his idea would be the one used in his next group project. I thought I handled it ok.

The next time I look over, Ryan had turned around and wouldn't even look at his group. I went back and Ryan then announced to me that not only was his group stupid and he wouldn't work with them but, the entire project was stupid and he wouldn't do it. I told Ryan that he had to work with his group on the project to get a good grade. Ryan told me he didn't care, give him a F. He said he wasn't going to do anything at all that was related to the stupid project. He was quite adamant about this and confident with his choice.

I reminded Ryan that he was going to get a F and he would be punished and then I gave him 1 minute to think and give me his final decision. After the minute, Ryan said he was not going to do anything at all. At this point, the entire class was staring at us.

I told Ryan that he had made his choice and he would be getting a F. Also, he was being a disruption and he would have to leave the class and go sit with the Korean staff in their office. At that point, he became belligerent. He refused to leave the class. He said "Teacher, you can give me a F but, I will not leave this class." I repeated myself a few more times and he kept refusing to leave. So, I left the class to get one of the Korean staff members to remove him from the class.

I should probably mention that the kids are terrified of the Korean staff members. I don't know why. It is suspected that either the Korean staff hits the kids or, tells on the kids to their parents and the parents hit the kids. I'm not really sure which it is but, the kids are afraid of the Korean staff.

I went out of the class and ran into one of the Head Instructors, Richard. The Head Instructors are above a teacher. So, I asked Richard for help and he came to my class.

Ryan saw Richard and completely flipped out. He started sobbing and screaming. Richard is American but, of Asian descent. So, I think Ryan thought I brought a Korean staff member to remove him. I actually would have brought a Korean staff member but, I found Richard first.

Richard removed a sobbing, hysterical Ryan from my class. Richard was actually really nice and kind to Ryan but, Ryan didn't seem to agree. Ryan continued to cry and scream until it was time to leave.

What a way to end the week!