10th graders are the same world wide...

Perhaps it was the fact that I was up early on Friday morning traveling back from Budapest – or maybe it was just that it was Friday – I’m not sure.  But I had my first discipline “issue” today.  Have no fear, I certainly did not come out on the losing end, but it’s the first time I have had to do anything other than “shh” while here.  I had one class of 10^th graders (I swear – they are satan’s spawn) who refused to do anything.  We were talking about English and how it’s a dominant language, and about the recent LPGA decision to require English to participate in the tournaments.  So I had some articles for them to read.  They were to find the thesis and two supporting thoughts.  Not real hard (if you’re one of my AP kids – you are rolling your eyes at how ridiculously east this request is).  So – we got to the point when I was asking them for the thesis of their articles, and no one could (would?) tell me.  I waited and waited and waited – so I re-phrased the question… and then I re-phrased again.  Still nothing.  So then I entered bitch mode (which is NEVER a good thing) and I said – I’m sorry, I thought this was a dual language class.  You are here because you want to learn English right?  One student responded – “well it’s kind of hard” to which my response was “good”  you’re not here because English is easy.  I’m here to help you become better at it, but I can’t if you aren’t saying anything… so maybe next week I’ll just find a different teacher for this class and I’ll work with a group that wants to actually learn some English.  OK?  They didn’t say anything – so I left.  Now, in the states, I could be in HUGE trouble for that.  The students are in my care for the entire period they are in my room- and though there were only about 7 minutes left, I didn’t go far- in case they decided to go crazy.  In any case, their lead English teacher came in immediately after the end of that period and said that they are pleading to continue working with me.  I am not sure what the teacher before me did, but he had these students 4 times a week – and they don’t seem to be inclined to work for the American teacher, so we’ll have to see what happens this week.  Now they know that I don’t mess around, and if they want success – they’ll work.  Incidentally, I have the second half of that same group the period after – and they made it through the articles, discussion and such just fine.  Stupid 10^th graders.  Ugh.