Am I Missing Something?

The principal held a meeting with all of the recess/lunch supervisors this morning to discuss the "situation with the 5th graders."

According to her, the 5th graders are going through senioritis in a big way. There has been a recent rash of inappropriate behavior, requiring drastic action by all of us. Here are the inappropriate behaviors:

• Last Friday at an afterschool event, two fifth graders spit on a girl.
• Two kids had weaponlike items (nail files) and someone said they were threatening to use them.
• Some boys were tackling and choking each other at recess.
• Kids are playing Truth or Dare at recess, and a kid ate dirt.
• Some kids are "dry humping" each other.
• People have been reported kissing.
• Kids say they're going to the library or bathroom, but they just end up wandering or walking slowly.
• They don't play anymore, they're just loitering in groups.

The prescribed response to all these issues is for all of us recess/lunch monitors is to "act like you're prison guards. Get your rifles out. Groups are a no-no. Break them up. Hurry them along. Tell them to play sports. But only certain sports on certain days. Again, congregating is not allowed. We need to get tough. It's prison out there. Get your rifles out."

I wish I were making up the employed simile but I'm not.

OK, I'm not saying all of this behavior is excusable. But I think only numbers one, six, and perhaps two are concerning. Interestingly, the principal said the kissing is something they're used to, and the rest is new and more concerning.

So, why am I not concerned about the tackling? I watch the 5th graders and about a week ago started seeing boys joking around with each other and either fake fighting, play wrestling, or falling all over each other playing tag. I pulled the boys out and talked to all the 5th graders, saying that I know it's not mean spirited or aggressive, and that I know they're just having a good time. But, they had to understand that it's not appropriate behavior for school. I had to come down "hard" on a few boys two more times, but that behavior has stopped.

As for the other issues?

• Truth or Dare is a game. It can become inappropriate, but it is a game. A kid ate dirt. That is weird and it shows a lack of common sense. Both are conversations, perhaps with the whole grade.
• "Dry humping" is the 5th grade tattletale translation for a girl/boy hugging another girl/boy and lifting them up into the air.
• Watch recess intently, and they won't be able to sneak off to smooch. And what is wrong with walking slowly? Or not playing with a ball at recess?

Again, I'm not excusing this behavior, and I'm not saying nothing should be done. But, there are definitely problems with the adult response to it, and it's because of two factors:

1. Everything that's being acted upon is coming from people telling on other people. I'm not saying the kids are lying, but 5th graders don't always paint the most accurate picture. "He/She said" should be taken with a grain of salt (this is why I question #2).
2. These are issues of 5th graders (10-11 year old kids) not understanding what is appropriate and inappropriate for school (or perhaps outside of school for that matter), and not having the most common sense. But they're 5th graders. Come on.

Knowing this, why is the adult response to go on lockdown and punish the kids (today 40 kids were told to sit on the blacktop for 30 minutes in silence) without having them understand WHY the adults are concerned? The principal said that we can loosen up if they behave better, but what is behaving better? Complete silence? Without talking to them, how are they ever going to know what is appropriate and inappropriate?

By all means, move someone to the bathroom to watch the area. By all means, address those who spat, those who tackled, those who kiss and hug, and those who threaten to use nail files. But address them by having them understand WHY. Address the issue by having everyone understand that question. Otherwise, the kids aren't going to figure it out, and the grownups are just going to be mad that they can't.

It's elementary school. It's recess. I can imagine few things that are more unlike prison.

UPDATE: I found out this afternoon that recess at the other school I work at has implemented the following rules: no imaginary play, no sitting alone, no running, no dancing, no screaming, and you must play with a ball. Oh, and "no walking around" is under consideration. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?