After introducing the topic of characterization to the kids today, I then asked them what determined their perception of their teachers during the first week of school. All of the kids jumped to share their strategy and they went something like this:
“I looked at style”
“I watched to see how much homework they gave”
“I listened for if they are funny”
“I waited to see if they yell”
Finally, one student raises their hand with this response: “I see if they are married.”
WHAT? Being married is the new evaluative tool to determining if 6th graders will like their teachers.
I of course probed at this response and this was our whole class conversation:
Me: So, if a teacher is married what does that mean?
Students: It means they are happy.
Me: Well I’m not married and I’m happy.
Students: (randomly out of no where) “Cat-lady”
Me: Wait…so what does it mean if someone is not married?
Students: They are lonely and sad.
Me: What??
Students: Yeah, married people are old.
Me: So, if you’re married you are happy and old and if you are single you are sad and lonely?
How does being married make a good teacher?
Students: It just does. It means you’ll be happier.
Maybe America should take advice from 6th graders! Stay married---be with your spouse---don’t give up---marriage makes you happy! Being an adult I know this is not always the case, that awful things like abuse and affairs happen. I do think that they are onto something though. Maybe it’s their naïve perspective but I hope it remains…...a 52% divorce has to start changing somewhere with someone!
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