This is a short rant…
As some of you are aware, I am working at a tutoring company Full time. Mostly my job entails helping New immigrant children with their homework, or preparing them for the SAT (Because their parents al want them to go to American Universities) or SSAT (Because public school is not good enough and their parents want them in private schools).
During the Holiday I have had a class of 6 students daily for a 5hour intensive SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) & ELSAT (Elementary Level School Admissions Test). Only 1 of them is actually planning on taking the test. ages range from 7 Years old to 15 years old together. 4 girls (ages 7~11) 2 Boys (aged 14~15).
I have had to separate the boys a few times because they get along too well. And I know your thoughts: Isn’t that a good thing? They are both new immigrants I realize that having a friend is a good thing, but you have to realize in China where they come from, Boy show their affection by hitting each other. Their separation doesn’t ever last, they always move back together and I understand why. 2 teens boys in a class of pre-teen girls.
One of them drew blood today. And the victim, immediately started to write answer his papers using his bloody knuckle as a pen. that was gross enough, I had him go to the washroom and clean up. He didn’t understand why I was upset. I need to sit down with a translator and explain with him the reason later. My class has been the last one in the school every day and even the secretary leaves about an hour before my class ends.
Last half hour of every day since Christmas, they have been asking to play “Apples to Apples” (A game Robyn Goodfellow gave me for Christmas). today I had to stop the game 15 minutes in, and send the 2 boys out of the room. They had started to fist fight again.
I asked the girls to continue (So they had something to do) while I went out to talk to the boys who had no clue why I was so upset. I sat with them for 15 minutes trying to get the idea across that violence in the class is not funny, and will not be tolerated in my class.
I have never allowed any sort of bullying or hitting in my rooms and have ZERO tolerance for it. I get so tired of seeing teachers claim No tolerance, but then ignore it because they can’t be bothered to act, or get involved. I had to deal with that as a student I will not let it go as a teacher.
I guess short rant was a lie… Sorry
Good night