The Announcements Are Mailed!!!

Yay! Today during lunch James and I mailed off the announcements. The post office laughed at us because we did not know how many announcements there were for sure. We had to count them there. Oops :) Except for the ones going to Romania and Moldova (because we forgot the address to the mission home and no one there will be able to come anyway), they are gone!

Life is full of truths. Sometimes they are simple, and sometimes they are "deep." Today in my Exceptional Students Class, we discussed classroom management. Rules and consequences need to be specific and clear so the students know how and why to be obedient. I am convinced that a significant amount of misbehavior would be solved if students simply understood the rules.

EXAMPLE: (fake but realistic)

Mrs. Smith is a high school Home-Economics teacher. At the beginning of the year, she posts a list of class rules.
1. Be on time
2. Be respectful
3. Follow directions
All of the students nod in understanding and agree to abide by the class rules. The next day, Peter swears in jest at his buddies trying to use a needle. Although the friends are not offended, Mrs. Smith is. She takes Peter to the side and reminds him of the class rules. He smiles and agrees. However, the next day, Mrs. Smith hears Peter swearing again. She asks him to stay after class. She asks Peter, "What are our class rules?" He recited them perfectly. He promises to abide them and gives her a quizzical look. On the third day, Mrs. Smith is already stressed and Peter swears yet again. "TO THE OFFICE, PETER! NOW!" Peter is confused but grabs his belongings. At the Dean's office Peter explains that he is confused but guesses his language is what upset Mrs. Smith. The Dean asks, "well Peter, would you use the language at home?" Peter replies with an honest, pleading face, "but I do! Everyone in my house talks like that!"

Mrs. Smith never explained that Show respect included not swearing. To Peter, he did nothing wrong.

I call this discussion from my class "truth" because we all deal with such problems in communication with others. We often do not explain ourselves. We believe others can GUESS what we mean. Unvoiced expectations can harm a relationship. By asking questions, by listening to others, and discussing things, a relationship can avoid many arguments.

I am grateful these simple truths of life show up. The trick is I must be looking for them.