A few days after confiscating bracelets from Marcos, which I took to the Dean's office just in case Marcos's mother wanted to pick them up, I was cruising the aisles of my classroom looking over student work, when I spotted a bright red bracelet with the letters STFU.
What is with these students?
These aren't even my hard-core high schoolers. This are my middle school students. It's the first month of school. They usually stay innocent until at least Valentine's Day. (Or so I like to believe.)
"Stephanie, you need to take that bracelet off." It was rather ironic that she had such a bracelet. I'm pretty sure I'll be screaming the words of that acronym to her--in my head--by the time the year is over.
"But, Miss--" she tried to look innocent.
"Save it. I know what it means." As she slipped it off her wrist, I gave her the low-down, "Take it home, and never bring it back. If I ever see it again, it will be mine."
How smart would she be?
The next day, I was heating up my lunch in the workroom, and I glanced into the Spanish classroom. There was Stephanie with her red bracelet on. I walked into the room (the teacher is a close friend, so it's okay), straight to Stephanie with my hand out.
"Give me your bracelet. I told you yesterday not to ever wear it again."
"But, at least it doesn't actually say the words."
I stood with my hand out. Eyebrows raised: Stink Eye activated.
Blah, blah, blah. She gave me some lip before surrendering it.
"Can I get it back?"
"You mother can. From the Dean."
I took it directly to the office. The way she was acting, I thought her mother might actually pick it up.
As I handed it to the dean, labeled with the student's name, I said, "This is the third inappropriate bracelet I've confiscated in the last week."
The dean looked confused.
"You know what this means, right?"
Blank look.
Not censoring for him, I said, "It stands for Shut the Fuck Up.'"
He recoiled a little when I said it.
Exactly my point.
(Sorry, Dad. Sometimes you have to tell it straight.)
4 comments:
I picked up a F*ck You bracelet last year. The little girl I took it away from seemed shocked that I would take the bracelet from her. I knew from experience that she would just put it righ back on as soon as she left my class.
You know, it's early in the year. The students just have to test the boundaries, right? On the boy, I had him early in the day, so I messaged all his teachers to be on the lookout just in case he didn't do the right thing. Although...he should have known the right thing before he came to school, but anymore, I just don't know if that's true.
Maybe she wants to go to Stephen T Frasier University.
Mister Teacher, you're probably right. I shouldn't jump to conclusions.
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