Monday, November 10, 2008

Oh No He's Just Like Me...

When I was in the seventh grade we were told that we could choose elective classes. Classes that you could take for a semester that was out of the ordinary. I remember we could choose from newspaper, pottery, some type of gym class, choir things like that. I happily signed up for pottery, newspaper, archery, and whatever else was interesting. Anything and everything but choir. Imagine my shock when my third semester elective was choir. I tried to explain to the choir director that there was a mistake and I was not supposed to be in her class, I didn't sign up for it. That was the year that I found out that "elective" in the public school means that they will put you where ever they want to and they don't care what you signed up for.

I did the only thing I could do. I refused to sing. They could force me into that class but they couldn't force me to sing. I sat there quietly, not doing anything the whole hour. I was boycotting the class and doing my best to let the powers that be know that I was not a mindless student that they could just put anywhere.

Needless to say, I was not the teacher's pet and it probably upset her more than anything by not singing. I was sent to the office once and explained my position. I don't really remember how that went. I just remember that it did not convince me to sing. The sad part is that I still feel righteous indignation toward the whole incident and still feel that I was right.

Today I got an email from Joy #2's choir teacher today saying that he was getting a detention for disrupting the class and not "being on task". When I questioned him after school he basically said, "Choir is stupid, I didn't even want to take the class and I've been trying to get out of it for 2 weeks." He might of even said that something along the lines of he shouldn't be forced to take an elective he wasn't interested in. Eek!! I went on to tell him that he should just suck it up, behave and get through the class the best he can, it's only a few more weeks. His response was, "They can make me sit there but they can't make me sing."

Oh no! I feel like I'm about to relive 7th grade choir all over again. And I haven't even told him my story! Calgon take me away....

4 comments:

leah said...

Oh no!! but how funny is that! I guess that gives you good insight into showing him compassion!

Debbie said...

hehe, I recognize that stubborn streak! I think I have the same one :-)

I wish you well with this one :)

Tracy Batchelder said...

Well, I think it doesn't make sense to be put in a class like choir if it's something you didn't sign up for. It's bad for the student and the teacher. I hope you guys can work through this one. You're right though, he may have to tough it out for a few weeks.

cinnamongirl93 said...

Haha! LOL! That's such a cute and funny story. Good luck with this issue!