This was one interesting interview, especially after the previous ones with the student from Nepal. And when I say interesting I mean illuminating, because that’s what everybody’s been voting for on this month’s Exit Ticket.
This interview was with two students, girls, but I’m not going to distinguish between their voices–for one because their words shared a thread so common that I thought it was coming from the same shirt, and secondly because I don’t want to take the time to distinguish between unnamed students.
With that being said, let’s begin. I only ask that if you start reading their interview, you have to finish it.
Anything on your mind?
This school is bad. The students in the school. I have no words. Most students in the school is bad. Yea, they you go. Um, too many fights. Too much drama. Gossip. People instigate.
What would you do to solve the drama, fights?
To solve it? You can’t do nothin’ if it ain’t which you.
It depends on what the person did to the other person to cause the fight. Cause a person’s not gonna fight you just to fight chu.
When there’s drama with you, what do you do?
I don’t talk, I just throw my hands. All people do is talk. They talk over the Internet. They talk reckless behind your back. But when it comes to you confronting them, they don’t say nothin’, but I seen you do it, and I heard you say it, and they say they didn’t say it. I be so confused.
How many fights have you been in?
This year? Just this year? Does it have to be with people in this school?
Last year one in the school and one out of school.
What is going through your head when you’re fighting?
Just hit them. Knock that bitch out. Just hit. Just swing. Just think about a person you hate.
I was thinking how I fought this girl, you saw the video [she asks the other girl]; I was thinking I coulda pulled her down.
Do you feel like you hate the person you’re fighting, or you’re just angry?
You have to get me very mad for me to end up fighting. So if I don’t like that person, I’ma do that person crucial.
The fight that I was in, the girl was only pushing, and I told her to hit first cause I don’t do the first hit.
Let’s talk about teachers.
I like certain teachers. I only like three teachers out of five.
I only like two.
What makes a teacher one that you like versus one you don’t? What’s the difference?
The teachers that I like, they cool. And the teachers I don’t like, I just don’t like ‘em.
What makes a teacher cool?
He has funny jokes. He’s just stupid. He’s silly. And for Ms. _____, I don’t know. She’s just always been cool.
How many years do you think I’ve been teaching?
Seven.
Three? How many have you been teaching, mister?
I’ll tell you in a month. Give me a grade as a teacher. You’re the teacher and I’m the student; what grade do I deserve?
B.
B minus.
Why did I get that grade?
Cause you’re the type of teacher that wants to motivate your students, but at the same time, they reckless. They actin’ up. You teachin’ them how to be polite, but sometimes they not polite.
Today, what happened in class, you yelled about the crayon that was thrown at _____’s face. And he didn’t even do it. And plus nobody likes her.
I do, she’s a babe.
I just reacted. How do I do that better?
Before you react to something that you didn’t see with your own eyes, you have to ask politely, not yellin’, 'who threw the crayon.'
It coulda been one of the other two boys at the table.
This interview was with two students, girls, but I’m not going to distinguish between their voices–for one because their words shared a thread so common that I thought it was coming from the same shirt, and secondly because I don’t want to take the time to distinguish between unnamed students.
With that being said, let’s begin. I only ask that if you start reading their interview, you have to finish it.
Anything on your mind?
This school is bad. The students in the school. I have no words. Most students in the school is bad. Yea, they you go. Um, too many fights. Too much drama. Gossip. People instigate.
What would you do to solve the drama, fights?
To solve it? You can’t do nothin’ if it ain’t which you.
It depends on what the person did to the other person to cause the fight. Cause a person’s not gonna fight you just to fight chu.
When there’s drama with you, what do you do?
I don’t talk, I just throw my hands. All people do is talk. They talk over the Internet. They talk reckless behind your back. But when it comes to you confronting them, they don’t say nothin’, but I seen you do it, and I heard you say it, and they say they didn’t say it. I be so confused.
How many fights have you been in?
This year? Just this year? Does it have to be with people in this school?
Last year one in the school and one out of school.
What is going through your head when you’re fighting?
Just hit them. Knock that bitch out. Just hit. Just swing. Just think about a person you hate.
I was thinking how I fought this girl, you saw the video [she asks the other girl]; I was thinking I coulda pulled her down.
Do you feel like you hate the person you’re fighting, or you’re just angry?
You have to get me very mad for me to end up fighting. So if I don’t like that person, I’ma do that person crucial.
The fight that I was in, the girl was only pushing, and I told her to hit first cause I don’t do the first hit.
Let’s talk about teachers.
I like certain teachers. I only like three teachers out of five.
I only like two.
What makes a teacher one that you like versus one you don’t? What’s the difference?
The teachers that I like, they cool. And the teachers I don’t like, I just don’t like ‘em.
What makes a teacher cool?
He has funny jokes. He’s just stupid. He’s silly. And for Ms. _____, I don’t know. She’s just always been cool.
How many years do you think I’ve been teaching?
Seven.
Three? How many have you been teaching, mister?
I’ll tell you in a month. Give me a grade as a teacher. You’re the teacher and I’m the student; what grade do I deserve?
B.
B minus.
Why did I get that grade?
Cause you’re the type of teacher that wants to motivate your students, but at the same time, they reckless. They actin’ up. You teachin’ them how to be polite, but sometimes they not polite.
Today, what happened in class, you yelled about the crayon that was thrown at _____’s face. And he didn’t even do it. And plus nobody likes her.
I do, she’s a babe.
I just reacted. How do I do that better?
Before you react to something that you didn’t see with your own eyes, you have to ask politely, not yellin’, 'who threw the crayon.'
It coulda been one of the other two boys at the table.
When you’re sitting [the class before mine], what are you thinking?
I don’t wanna be in there, you’re class. It be boring. There’s no fun people in here.
So what makes a good class? People?
The people at school. like ______ and _______.
So what’s the point, in your eyes, of school?
Learning. See your friends and learning. Not even learning. I just come and act up most of the time. No, I don’t know. Why you asking me? I like coming to school. It’s better than being at home. Some teachers get me pissed.
I’m asking you because I’m trying to make you think about life.
Why is school better than home?
Cause my house is borin’. I don’t do nuttin’ there. I just be on my phone or watch TV.
I need to use the bathroom. Are we almost done?
Yep, real quick. What’s your favorite ice cream?
All of it. Every kind. Except the green one. Mint or something.
Same thing as her; I don’t like the green one.
What are you gonna do as soon as you leave here?
You wanna chill [one asks the other]? We bout to chill, nigga, I mean ninja, I mean teddy bear. Yea, so we gonna chill.
...
You may have finished reading that and thought, well shit. I probably would have too if I’d read something like it a year ago. However, after reviewing what they said, I realize it doesn’t fairly portray them as I know them. Perhaps that’s a result of a duo interview, with each trying to impress the other throughout. But these girls are not searching for fights at every opportunity. However, their combative mindset is one I’ve become very familiar with while at this school, but it’s not one that should disqualify students like these from being ‘good’ or even enjoyable–it’s simply a sad, sometimes unavoidable reality for many in this school (and I’ll go so far as to say this district, based on conversations I’ve had with other teachers).
Look, if a child is immersed in English growing up, that child will speak English. Likewise if a child grows up surrounded by fire, that child is likely to come out fiery.
The source of that fire is a vastly broad topic that interests me greatly but isn’t my job to investigate. Instead, I’m tasked with putting out that fire every day (on bad days it seems like every few minutes), and I’ve found it to be the hardest thing I've ever done.
Image of screaming child courtesy of Weebly.
I don’t wanna be in there, you’re class. It be boring. There’s no fun people in here.
So what makes a good class? People?
The people at school. like ______ and _______.
So what’s the point, in your eyes, of school?
Learning. See your friends and learning. Not even learning. I just come and act up most of the time. No, I don’t know. Why you asking me? I like coming to school. It’s better than being at home. Some teachers get me pissed.
I’m asking you because I’m trying to make you think about life.
Why is school better than home?
Cause my house is borin’. I don’t do nuttin’ there. I just be on my phone or watch TV.
I need to use the bathroom. Are we almost done?
Yep, real quick. What’s your favorite ice cream?
All of it. Every kind. Except the green one. Mint or something.
Same thing as her; I don’t like the green one.
What are you gonna do as soon as you leave here?
You wanna chill [one asks the other]? We bout to chill, nigga, I mean ninja, I mean teddy bear. Yea, so we gonna chill.
...
You may have finished reading that and thought, well shit. I probably would have too if I’d read something like it a year ago. However, after reviewing what they said, I realize it doesn’t fairly portray them as I know them. Perhaps that’s a result of a duo interview, with each trying to impress the other throughout. But these girls are not searching for fights at every opportunity. However, their combative mindset is one I’ve become very familiar with while at this school, but it’s not one that should disqualify students like these from being ‘good’ or even enjoyable–it’s simply a sad, sometimes unavoidable reality for many in this school (and I’ll go so far as to say this district, based on conversations I’ve had with other teachers).
Look, if a child is immersed in English growing up, that child will speak English. Likewise if a child grows up surrounded by fire, that child is likely to come out fiery.
The source of that fire is a vastly broad topic that interests me greatly but isn’t my job to investigate. Instead, I’m tasked with putting out that fire every day (on bad days it seems like every few minutes), and I’ve found it to be the hardest thing I've ever done.
Image of screaming child courtesy of Weebly.