Sometimes I think I need an intervention.
I can't stop.
I tell myself "you can control yourself....you don't need it every day...."
but who am I trying to kid?!
I'm a total addict.
I can't stop looking at classroom pins on Pinterest.
I love all the great, creative ideas. I love all the inspirational quotes. I love the funny teacher memes. I *LOVE* all the pictures people post of their classrooms. But, I don't always love everything that I come across. There have been many opinion blogs that I have read that I totally disagreed with. Usually I just "tsk tsk" to myself, or rant to my husband, and then I move on. I try to steer clear of comment boards after a few too many waste-of-time useless arguments with perfect strangers.
But this one just drives me so bonkers, I can't even help myself.
I have come across these ideas a few times, by a few different authors, on a few different blogs or websites.
It is laying out some "rules" for decorating your elementary school classroom. Yes. Decorating. Like, freaking HGTV or something.
I know, I know....maybe the author doesn't mean "rules" like....well, rules. Maybe they just mean tips or pointers or ideas. Well, if that were the case, I suppose they could have selected more appropriate vocabulary, like "tips", "pointers", or "ideas". Call me a stickler, but I believe in saying what you mean.
And it isn't just the word choice. It's the overall tone. Condescending to those of us who might not have perfectly coordinated tripled borders on every bulletin board in the classroom.
*GASP*
And no, I can't say that I have the exact same shade of blue paper up on every coverable surface in my room. I'm sure *that* is the reason for that child's attention difficulties. Like he just can't focus on what I am saying because the lack of a perfectly cohesive colour scheme is really just distracting to a 5 year old boy.
You know what....the rooms look amazing. I am woman enough to admit to a bit of jealousy.
There. I said it.
I wish my classroom could look that nice.
But the thing is, I'm just a little busy.
I can't say that classroom decor is at the top of my priority list.
I'm not saying I am a better teacher than these Martha Stewart/Super Teacher types. I'm really not.
I have no freaking idea what kind of teachers they are. I hope they are fabulous, creative, caring, dynamic teachers where students feel loved, respected and nurtured every day. I hope kids leave their classrooms at the end of each year feeling inspired, encouraged, and like they have succeeded.
Truly.
But could we cut it with the "you must carefully select your palette" and "blend colours that are neutral and calming, with touches of masculine and feminine colours so that no one feels left out...".
Seriously. My eyeballs simply cannot handle any. more. rolling.
These teachers would BARF everywhere if they came into my room with my cutesy borders, cheesy themed decorations and mismatched furniture, not to mention the giant MESS on my desk. No, my baskets do not all match. No, they are not made of natural fibres. And no, I do not care.
*quotes are fake, made-up quotes that loosely paraphrase all the classroom decor nonsense that has been getting under my skin for the last few months. This is not a direct personal attack on anyone.
Thursday 28 May 2015
...or maybe it's just a dress code...
I am growing weary.
Every day there seems to be another story in internet-land news about some poor North American teenager who was disciplined after she chose to break the rules.
It's so sad, isn't it?
How awful...how dreadful...how unfortunate...the luck of this young lady who is just trying to "express her individuality" whilst "rejecting anti-feminist rape culture" and is just so tired of being "sexualized" in her short shorts and crop top. After all...her body is her business, right?
Yes. Your body is your business.
Yes. Rape culture does exist and it is disgusting.
Yes. The way one dresses can absolutely be one way to express your individuality.
Except...
I do not think that any of this has anything to do with school dress codes.
I just don't.
A school has every right to have and to uphold a dress code, just as most workplaces do.
A school is an institution of learning. Schools have a mandate, a purpose. Students attend school to learn and to prepare themselves for success (on many levels) in adult life. Schools have other rules in place, besides the dress code. Rules like, you cannot smoke in the building. You cannot cheat on exams. You cannot physically assault someone just because you don't like them.
Students do not have to like the rules.
They do not have to agree with the rules.
They do have to follow the rules.
Students do not have to like the dress code.
They do not have to agree with the dress code.
They do have to follow the dress code.
All of these protests and petitions and angry statements by young dress code offenders (and often their parents) sound a lot like temper tantrums to me.
But I *want* to wear my
short shorts/crop top/halter top/leggings-as-pants/
clothing-that-exposes-my-undergarments/
inappropriate t-shirts.
It's not fair.
I don't like this rule.
I'm going to wear it anyway.
What?!
In trouble??
A consequence?!?!
How unjust!
How discriminatory!
How sexist!
How anti-feminist!
Now listen to me rant and rave while I give some excuses about why *I* shouldn't have to follow these silly rules.
This is my message to these young whiners;
"Perhaps the dress code isn't actually about you.
That's right, young people of today.
Everything is *not* all about you all the time.
I know, this goes against everything you have been told since the moment you graced the world with your precious little special-snowflake self.
Perhaps the dress code is not intended to be a soul-squelching, individuality-extinguishing,
iron-fisted dictatorial law meant to break down the youth of today
into cookie-cutter robots devoid of creativity.
Perhaps it is not trying to say that you are merely a body,
a sexual object that distracts young men from their learning.
Perhaps it is not meant to reduce young men to a slobbering mass of cave-men
who can't seem to control themselves or behave appropriately.
Perhaps it is not intended to further entrench rape culture and perpetuate the lie that
"if she dressed like that then she was asking for it".
Perhaps the dress code is just a dress code.
Maybe you need to understand that there is actually a difference between
the beach and the classroom.
Are you going to math class right now....or a pool party?
Maybe your teachers and administrators want you to understand some things about the world.
You know, things like.....the fact that there are rules out there.
You don't always get to do exactly what you want just because you want to.
There are different expectations for different settings and you need to understand
how these things work.
You want a job at a fast food restaurant?
Guess what? You have to wear a uniform.
You don't like it?
Too bad.
It doesn't allow you to express your true identity to the world?
Um...
Suck it up, buttercup.
You want Mickey D's to give you a pay-check, you best put on that stylin' uniform, and get to work.
You want to express yourself?
If the clothing that you wear is the most important way you express yourself, there's your first problem. And if you can't find clothing that expresses your individuality and covers your midriff at the same time? I hate to break it to you, but we ALL have a belly button. Yep. Every last one of us.
Express yourself in something useful and meaningful like persuasive writing, slam poetry, painting, songwriting, dance...just to name a few.
Now, I love the spirit of activism.
Really, I do.
But...
Do yourselves a favour. Do the world a favour.
Start channelling that outrage toward things that matter.
If your clothing and your physical appearance is really what matters most to you,
I think it might be time for some soul-searching.
You are not what you wear.
You are not how you look.
So I suggest you quit your whining, put some clothes on, and get moving.
You're late for class."
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