Thursday, August 9, 2018

Ten Minutes' Rap Battle


Yesterday, I mentioned the sleeper is at the continuation high school. Of course, I had him in class. And, of course, he wasn't doing much in the way of working.

The class is computer aided drafting. They "draw" various objects in a computer program. But, this being the continuation high school, many of them don't really apply themselves to classwork.

Ten Minutes (I'm stealing Mr. T's nickname for him) had a buddy in this class. Elliot and Ten Minutes challenged each other to a rap battle. (I'm not sure who instigated this.) At least, that's what they told me later.

I became aware of the situation when Ten Minutes started rapping. Now, he wasn't loud, but in a quiet classroom, even a quiet speaking voice rapping is noticeable. First I dinged him on his language. Because, rap. Every third word or so was inappropriate for a classroom setting.

But then I understood what they were doing. Namely, they weren't doing the assignment. So, I put the kibosh on the rap battle.

They were upset. What? They couldn't talk? I said talking was fine, but not getting any work done... Oh, and there was the whole how-do-they-rap-without-cussing thing. They didn't see the problem. (That they didn't see why having a rap battle in class was inappropriate tells you quite a lot about these boys.)

Once they accepted the rap battle was called on account of substitute teacher, they had to figure out who won. They asked for my ruling. Which was rather ridiculous as Elliot didn't get a chance to compete, and I interrupted Ten Minutes' rap.

I declared a tie.

I told them that they could totally have a rap battle... after class, outside, and/or after school. If they did this, they did not tell me about it.

(It's amazing the things they have to do that suddenly aren't so important when they're not in the classroom.)

27 comments:

  1. Hi Liz - I admire you being able to constantly deal with them ... so so trying - cheers Hilary

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  2. You must have the patience of a saint! At least they weren't disruptive after you put your food down!

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    1. Nope. No saint here. Just someone with a wicked sense of humor.

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  3. You weren't going to allow a rap battle instead of the assignment? Whyyyyyyy? ;)

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    1. I know. I'm terrible like that. I actually expect them to work.

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  4. I bet that computer program was fun to do. Why they would choose rapping over that, I don't know. I guess anything to be obstinate and not do the work assigned.

    betty

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  5. They had free rein to draw on the computer and they'd rather rap? And get in trouble for it? No wonder they are in that class.

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  6. Too bad there isn't a class on rap battles. Of course, if they took it, they'd probably end up goofing off doing something else...

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  7. *shakes head* You handled it well though so yay!

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  8. You think on your feet very very well.

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  9. They are on their way to their careers....roofers

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  10. Yowza. I'd go crazy being with kids all day, even the better behaved ones. ~nods~ Thanks for taking on the job.

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    1. I look for the humor. And listening to them talk amongst themselves tells me much about what's popular with teens nowadays.

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  11. You're so much nicer than me. I'm sure I would've said something like this is a classroom, not The Voice. :)

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    1. I've used that one. "This is not choir class." I have to change it up a bit.

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  12. What a pity there isn't a subject on rapping. I can just imagine the language!

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    1. It would be something a choir teacher could do. But they don't have choir at this school.

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  13. How did you keep a straight face throughout this? I'm sure I'd have been shaking with silent laughter - especially when they asked you to determine the winner!

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  14. I would have ruled in favor of the one who didn't compete. lol. Because his rap was the quietest and most school appropriate. :)

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    1. Ah, good point. But playing along would have just encouraged them...

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