There are a handful of boys in my classroom this year who have older brothers; brothers who are pre/early teens. I had a professor in college who always said that preteens needed to be sent away to the desert until they started high school. I'd like to send these big brothers to the desert. Second graders are still fairly innocent. Every so often a "curse" word like "damn" or "pissed" will be blurted out, but overall most still gasp if "stupid" is uttered in front of them. This group of little brothers are turning my classroom into a 7th grade locker room, and I have a feeling their older brothers are to blame.
The most recent incident...My kids were working on various assignments one afternoon last week - working, talking, basically taking it easy after a rigorous day of testing. It's always kind of funny listening to them talk to each other. I worked on some end of year paperwork at my desk and smirked as I vaguely listened. That's when I heard one of the "little brothers" make a request to one of the sweetest, most innocent boys (this was the boy who asked me how many more days until Christmas every day in the month of December), "Hey Carlos, say the letter 'x' five times really fast." It took a very quick moment to process the directive (take a moment if you'd like) and then I called across the room, "No, don't do it Carlos!" Carlos wouldn't have had any idea what he was saying, but he would have been the butt of a joke that even the jokesters didn't really understand. Yes , it makes me laugh. When I shared the story with colleagues or friends, they laughed. But really, it makes me a little bit sad that these tiny seven year olds aren't as innocent as they should be because of those pesky older brothers. If the desert isn't an option, I think they shouldn't be allowed to talk to their little brothers about anything lame like 5 Xs or the PEN15 club (take another moment if needed) or anything else that makes a 13 year old boy laugh. Because it’s not THAT funny.
Big sisters can do the same sort of thing. I can remember a trip to see Grandma when anything that involved poop or butts were hilarious. From Tulsa to Joplin I made them talk about said subject, so that it wouldn't be the top subject for Grandma and Grandpa. I actually worked.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! However your reason stemmed from being responsible around your grandparents. I don't think these boys are trying to get it our of their system so to speak.
ReplyDeleteActually, often the kids with big sisters are involved with drama more than those who don't have them. This year that isn't the case. This year's big sisters are studious and respectful so that seems to have rubbed off on their younger siblings. It's handful of boys, not so much.
Older sibs are the worst!
ReplyDeleteMy niece has an older half sister, and I cringe at some of the things I hear her telling my 5 year old...
Stopping in from Mama Kat's...
Oh I bet. Don't get me wrong, the jr. high boy humor makes me laugh. Just not when I'm trying to do my job - when the joke isn't appropriate for the audience. I cringe at that too.
DeleteSorry, I've searched, I was one after all, but no, nada.
ReplyDeleteYou were a bad influence or a horny teenager, or both? :)
DeleteBTW, what do you mean searched...the internet or your mind?
Mind. How would searching the WWW
Deletehelp.
I don't think boys are 13 are anything more than confused. Yes, confused and intensely private. But for absolute certain they aren't willingly going near their younger siblings. If your kids are echoing that's all they are doing and listening to it from a great distance at that.
I'll have to disagree with you on the private. I don't think they are anymore. With Facebook and parents who are more concerned about being friends with their kids, they're much braver and vocal about it. We've got 6th graders having sex and talking about it enough that their teachers even know. A lot of them flaunt it, thinking it's "cool", but definitely confused.
DeleteBut I think you're right that the little ones are hearing things from afar. They don't have much if any understanding of what is being said, but they are hearing it.
11-12 year olds ?. Have they the wherewithal, the boys that is, developed-wise that is.
DeleteI know boys talk a good game, but I doubt they are any more or less active than they ever were.
Hell I doubt a man at 30 has the game that a 13 year old talks about.
Ha ha! I'm sure there is plenty of that as well, but yes, some are. And some more are going the Monica Lewinsky route.
DeleteSounds like my nightmare!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteOh no...is that what I am in for next year?
ReplyDeleteI had a funny this week before our field trip...I have a boy who is young and ALWAYS gets lost. Because of this I was going to put him in my group of 2 kids. Before we left class, I wrote my cell number on a piece of paper and asked him to put it in his pocket..He said, "I don't need that...my mom gave me one." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a paper with my name and cell number that his mom wrote down for him!
Happy Weekend!