13 year olds. Need I say more?

Well, I guess I could. These children these days are so disrespectful and pompous. Arrogant, immature and irresponsible. There is always someone there to hold their hand or even to do work for them when they decide not to do so for themselves. There are no consequences for NOT doing it themselves. And they have absolutely no sense of self responsibility in actions, behaviors, attitudes. When you call them on it, it's someone else's fault. Most likely yours.

I have one very terribly awful 8th grade class, and one not quite as bad. I can't force them to have fun by doing hands on science activities, and I can't make them shut their mouths. But I can force them to do boring book work like copying the text word for word, or answering chapter questions. This, strangely, quiets them down for a short amount of time. But it makes me feel like a bad teacher. I WANT them to do the fun things, because it's more fun for me too.

It boils down to this: there is no follow through in the school's infrastructure to deal with children with a complete and total lack of respect for adult authority.

I like the 6th graders. Sweet, respectful and excited to learn.