Before reading the books, each class did some pre-reading activities - talking about the themes of the novels and whatnot ... And let me tell you, these seventh graders had some interesting answers for the questions asked.
When we we started talking about Treasure Island, one of the main themes is growing up so one of the essential questions posed is "What marks the difference between childhood and adulthood?" ... Meaning is there a definitive moment when you can say 'Here, you're a child. Here, you're an adult.'
I smiled a little when I read the question because all kinds of things went through my head being where I am in life, and then thinking back to what it was like in 7th grade (hell).
So we began the discussion and I was surprised at the answers given ... It went something like this ...
"Like behavior!?"
"Well, when you say behavior. What kinds of behavior do you mean?"
"Like, you're mature and respectful and stuff. Like if you're rude and mean, you're a kid. And if you're acting like an adult and being proper, then you've become an adult."
"Okay, so acting like an 'adult' ... That's one way to look at the difference."
"Adults have really big responsibilities so once you have those, you're not a kid anymore."
"So taking on adult responsibilities. So meaning when you start having to what? Pay bills? Take care of family? Things like that?"
"Yeah, when you need to start taking care of those things yourself and you don't really rely on others to do them all for you all the time."
All good answers ... But then the shining light of answers for the definitive moment when a child becomes an adult ...
"I think it's individual. I don't think you can ever really know. Like [insert random hip-hop artist here] needed to be an adult when he was like 15 because he was on his own, living by himself. But [insert other random hip-hop artist], he's older, like 30, and he still acts like a kid all the time. So I think it's really an individual thing. I don't think you ever really need to be one or the other. I think you can always keep the kid side of you with you even when you're an adult and take it out when you want to."
"I think you are absolutely right. I think that it is an individual thing. I don't think that there's ever a real age when you can say someone is an adult. The law says 18 but that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone, and it's true, everyone can act like a kid sometimes, as long as they know when it's appropriate."
The other class was beginning the novel Friedrich ... and that conversation was not as light-hearted. We began talking about the Holocaust and asking what the class knew about it. Generally the answers fell into the realm of "Hitler started it, there were Nazis, there was a war, concentration camps were there, Poland was involved [I'm not sure why, but each class which was covering the novel mentioned Poland ... no other country], Hitler killed the Jews [only one kid mentioned that he thought that maybe Hitler might have killed Blacks too ... schools really need to focus on the fact that not only Jews were killed during the Holocaust], and some other general facts.
After that, we moved onto a pre-reading activity based on the themes of the novel and this is where it got back to the light-heartedness of the day ... We went back to focusing on main ideas and themes in literature and one theme throughout the novel happens to be friendship.
So, three questions were asked of the class. The first being "What makes a good friend?" and here are some of the 7th grade answers for that wonderful question.
"Someone who has yo' back!"
"Someone who keeps your secrets!"
"Someone who won't get you in trouble."
"A person who hangs out with you 24/7 and doesn't annoy you." (props to this kid)
"Someone you can trust."
"A person who is loyal."
After asking that question, we moved onto the opposite - "What makes someone a bad friend?" ... This is where the claws came out!
 |
| CAT FIGHT! |
"Someone who starts rumors about you!"
"A person who STEALS YOUR BOYFRIEND!"
"Someone who drinks [is a bad choice in a friend]."
"Someone who steals your money."
"Someone who lies to you."
The last question was "How do you make someone your friend?" ... And this is where I realized I am a giant Communication nerd because all my Interpersonal Communication information began flowing through my head ... yet these kids made it so simple.
"Give them your number."
"Play a sport with them."
"Hang out with them."
"Talk to them."
"Invite them over your house."
So those are the wise words of 7th graders that I heard as I subbed yesterday ... Sometimes my job makes me smile, even if I do need to yell from time to time. Usually in middle school. They just don't shut the heck up ... even when they are being profound.
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