Just as soon as I finished up the ceramics assignment (Mr. P is back at work--yeah, I think it's fast, too), I was back at the continuation high school.
It was a chaotic day as their ASB was building a haunted house in the middle of campus (for a Halloween carnival they were doing--keep in mind, this was last week), and every student wanted to go out and "help". And the counselor was calling out various seniors for some test they had to take.
It is on this day that a staffer from the state assembly was on campus looking for applicants for the young legislators program.
This group was not all that interested. I could tell. I was in their faces to stay quiet and respectful as he spoke. (There are some on that campus that would totally have been into this. Unfortunately, none were in my class at the time.)
At the end of his presentation, he asked if any of them would like an application. I was shocked that five of them raised their hands.
He left, and the class went back to playing Krunker and generally ignoring their assignment. (I had already fought that fight, going up to each of them in turn and urging them to do something.)
The period ended right before lunch. They left at the bell, leaving behind those applications. All of them.
Now, that they weren't interested didn't shock me. What shocked me was that they bothered to get an application, and then they left them behind. Why ask for an application if they weren't going to bother to take it with them?
I suppose they saw the essay requirement on the back and figured it was too hard. Sigh. (I know that many teachers on that campus would have gladly helped them put something together if they had asked. As I would have, if asked.)
Kids are baffling.
ReplyDeleteThat's one word for it.
DeleteHi Liz - sad ... and baffling as Daria says ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThe essay will do it every time.
ReplyDeleteAt least they were introduced to the legislative system. They will someday remember?
ReplyDeleteMaybe. They do have a government class. They're familiar with the concept.
DeleteThey want to look good in that man's eyes. One of my co-workers asked for something our boss was talking about which shocked me because she didn't care two hoots. After I asked if she was going to do this and she laughed and said no. She said she just wanted to look good and gain a couple of bonus points. These kids will grow up & do the same thing
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense. Although, they'll never see this guy again, so I wonder why it mattered to them.
DeleteYou're right, it probably was the essay. And the fact that it would never occur to them to do something like ask a teacher for help.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they thought the person was handing out something, so they raised their hand to get free stuff, like how people will take flyers on the street. Then, deciding it wasn't going to give them anything cool, they abandoned them?
ReplyDeleteThose that are selected get a free trip to Sacramento. Okay, so it's not San Francisco, but it's still a good eight hours away.
DeleteSigh. We need ot get them more engaged in the political system
ReplyDeleteYeah. Not these kids. Wrong school. I could get a good discussion going at the traditional high schools.
Delete:( Why would they bother to raise there hand only to leave it behind *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI know!
DeleteI will say they asked for the applications for attention and approval. It's scary to think they will someday be in charge of our country. But then again, can it get any worse??
ReplyDeleteNot these kids. I've met the future leaders. They don't go to this school. Trust me when I say the future leaders are doing just fine.
DeleteThat's good to hear!
DeleteMaybe they were being polite to ask for an application?
ReplyDeletebetty
Do you think they felt they should to show interest? You know, trying to be nice?
ReplyDeleteI also wondered if they were just throwing the poor guy a bone. No harm done, I guess?
ReplyDeleteNo, not really. But yeah, that could be.
DeleteThis seems to be a theme there; deciding that something just isn't worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteIt's a theme at that school. That's pretty much how they ended up there.
DeleteMaybe they were interested until they saw how much work was involved. Or maybe they talked to their friends in class who discouraged them from applying. *shrugs* You never know with kids. Just sorry about the wasted paper. Maybe next time they should do an online application instead.
ReplyDeleteYeah, either of those could be true.
DeleteI agree with you, they probably saw the essay part and said, NOPE!
ReplyDeleteI know one of them did, but as for the others... Well, maybe.
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