A Highlight Of My Teaching Career --- Pupils I remember (5)
By M.-L.
@MALUSE (69413)
Germany
February 28, 2018 11:44am CST
Today I'm going to tell you about an 18-year-old handsome and charming boy (interesting that I remember this!) who had chosen the A-level course of English. (I'm not going to explain our school system. That would go too far. Suffice it to say that I taught pupils between 10 and 18/19 years).
He was cool and laid back and stinking lazy (a German expression). But his efforts were enough to guarantee him an average mark in English. Yet, they were not enough to pull him through in his other subjects. One year before his final exam his marks were so bad that there was danger of his not being admitted to the final exam at all.
As he wasn't stupid, I scolded him openly and appealed to his intelligence. I asked him why he risked failing the exam and having to repeat one year at school. Just a little bit of studiousness would save him. I worked myself up (which I hardly ever did in class) and said, "You must have suicidal tendencies."
He smiled at me, rolled up his pullover so that I could see his t-shirt on which were the words SUICIDAL TENDENCIES! His classmates nearly fell off their chairs laughing. Thanks to google I can tell you that this was a crossover thrash punk band (whatever that means) formed in Venice, California, in 1980. I had never heard of it and still know nothing about it. Serendipity is the term for such a coincidence!
The story does not have a happy ending. The boy failed the final exam, did not repeat the year and left school. That means he had no chance of studying at university. I met him some time later by chance. He had begun an apprenticeship as a cook (?!) in a restaurant but found the working hours too exhausting. He was looking for something different but hadn't found anything yet. He deeply regretted his laziness. Well, that was at least something, but it was too late.
I don't know what has become of him. Of course, it's not said that he has become a bum and is living under a bridge. He may be successful and happy. But he could have had an easier start in life.
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If you click on the green bar at the top of the page, you can find my other posts on the topic.
15 people like this
12 responses
@sabtraversa (12936)
• Italy
28 Feb 18
That's funny and scary at the same time! 
There can be several reasons why a student becomes lazy and fails classes, they should probably be led to good psychologists and helped to find an answer for their behavior. Most students don't even know why they are like that, but the answer is likely to be in the family, environment and in the values/morals of the individual.
I must also admit some teachers aren't good enough at motivating students into studying their subject. 
Dropouts are quite common, I wish there was more support for these people to recover.
Also because I'm one of those. 
There can be several reasons why a student becomes lazy and fails classes, they should probably be led to good psychologists and helped to find an answer for their behavior. Most students don't even know why they are like that, but the answer is likely to be in the family, environment and in the values/morals of the individual.
I must also admit some teachers aren't good enough at motivating students into studying their subject.
Dropouts are quite common, I wish there was more support for these people to recover.
Also because I'm one of those. 2 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
28 Feb 18
Oh, dear! You haven't got il diploma di maturità? The problem is that at this age young people think they know exactly what they want and what is good for you and refuse to be told by older people what they should or shouldn't do.
This boy could have repeated the last year. I really don't know why he didn't do it. Obviously, his parents couldn't influence him, either.
2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12936)
• Italy
28 Feb 18
@MALUSE True. In the end, I don't think one has to be good in school just because that would allow them a good job, it's also about gaining knowledge and feeding one's curiosity.
The school system is probably a little too hard on the students, just like work is, but a fragile young mind can easily surrender if it feels there's no instant reward or whatever.
The thought of receiving a compliment or a good grade might not work for everyone.
I was one of the best students, always had great grades, but I couldn't keep it that way as I gave up doing homework since primary school. In middle school I gave up owning notebooks.
I dropped out in high school but I don't regret doing that, I just wished the process of recovery and maturity was faster and allowed me to get back on track.
I blame it on my perfectionism. People convinced me I was lazy and untidy, but later I realized my desire for perfection was what made me quit doing tasks, I was never given the time to make my work or notes look good. Now I accept the fact things can't always be perfect, but it could be too late.
And the fact I got good grades added pressure and made me anxious, as I couldn't always perform well and I was afraid I was going to disappoint my parents or teachers.
It might sound strange, but that's how it was, in my opinion.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
28 Feb 18
@sabtraversa So, at which stage of your life are you now if I may ask?
In Germany, it's never too late. You can always go to evening classes and then get your final exam.
2 people like this
@MashaVickina (2184)
• Russian Federation
28 Feb 18
I like reading such stories about others' experience
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
28 Feb 18
@MashaVickina Oh, thank you very much! There will be more in the near future.
1 person likes this
Crazy how ironic it was that he had a shirt on with that bands name with what you said. I can see why everyone laughed.
@topffer (42156)
• France
28 Feb 18
Excellent, I guess that you were the only one to not laugh. I have always been a lazy student at the back of the classroom. In my Lycée they had divided the students in 5 classrooms according to the level. They put me among the prized specimens, and I was forced to work to stay in the lead pack. I was not working to please the teachers but because of my big ego. I can perfectly understand this student. If you had tortured me during my last year of high school you would have not seen me often in your classroom. I hope he found a job that interested him.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Mar 18
I think sometimes kids are not encouraged to show their possible potential @MALUSE . By the time they reach a certain age, they don't have the determination or mental strength to think they have the capabilities.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
1 Mar 18
Hmm. I don't see it in this way. The boy was of age. That means that he 'knew' what was good for him. Obviously, not doing anything for school was good for him. From the onset of puberty reaching a young one's brain can be difficult and the more parents and teachers say, the more determined he or she can become in their stubbornness.
1 person likes this
@OreoBrownie (3755)
• Commerce, Georgia
2 Mar 18
@Maluse it's hard to find a good job without an education?
@xFiacre (12597)
• Ireland
28 Feb 18
@maluse My school was full of lazy, uninterested boys who resented authority and had no intention of ever working, expecting the state to look after them. Quite a few in my class ended up in jail even though we had teachers with your attitude who tried to enthuse us and warn us. I of course was a hard worker except in mathematics.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
3 Mar 18
OH my fancy you coming out with something like that and then the words on his T shirt. How hilarious. You should write a book! Life of a German teacher of English! I am sure your funny stories would sell!
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
1 Mar 18
I like that teenagers are the same the whole world over. We may have cultural and language differences but our teenagers will often display the same attitudes!
