Kids Say the Darndest Things

So, I’ve had some funny experiences in my few short weeks at my new job that I’d like to share.

We have this program on the computers at school called LanSchool. I think it is literally the best thing ever invented. Basically, it allows me to see all the computers on the network and monitor students’ activity. I can shut down programs, send messages, blank screens, etc. It’s like ultimate power. It’s even awesomer when I tell someone to get off Solitaire or something and they say, “Hey! How’d you know I was on that?” I just say, “I can tell.” Then, most of them try to see if they can get around the program (which they can’t). Or, they start writing me messages on Word documents to see if I am reading their stuff and will answer back. Strangely, they get a big kick out of me taking over their computers.

A boy came in the other day to check out a laptop for a teacher. He said, “Do guys every try to flirt with you on the computer?” I said, “Uh...no.” And he said, “Oh, because my buddy said that he was writing stuff on his computer to try to flirt with you the other day.” I said, “Huh, well I didn’t notice. And, that’s pretty lame.” He agreed.

As I was leaving work on Wednesday a girl stopped me in the hall and said that she thought I was cool for telling people to stop playing games. She said, “I never have the guts to tell people to stop doing things, so it’s nice that someone is willing to take charge.” I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or what. I don’t like telling people to get off games, but I kind of have to.

One thing I’ve learned though is how good people are at rationalizing everything they do. In the elementary school I worked at before I realized that these kids can come up with excuses for everything. That doesn’t change in high school, they just get better at it.