Sub Notes: How Times Have Changed Part I

I subbed for years when we moved all over the country due to my then-husband’s job—once we lived in three cities in just over a year’s time—and then I stayed home for several years while the children were small and we moved around due to his job some more. When I went back, changes had taken place. A lot of them. I guess some might lament that fact—and the truth is, some of the changes were negative. But there were quite a few positive ones, too.

Children today are familiar with other people’s differences and much more tolerant of them. They can be proud of who they are, how they look and who they love. I’m not sure why, but they are cleaner. They wash their hands. No one has B.O. Severe acne is all but nonexistent. Some are medicated, yes, but that can be a great thing. If they have mental issues, those issues are better understood. It’s likely they’re addressed rather than bottled up and left to ferment.

Boys are allowed to be nurturing. They can like the color pink, and some are open about the fact that they do. They can like cuteness. They can announce that they’re going into nursing or elementary teaching and feel proud of aspiring to a great job.

It no longer seems nerdy to be smart. In fact, it’s not just another asset, but an important one. The ones who are in shape are in better shape than we were because they play more organized sports. They are fit and hard-bodied. They push themselves more. They are goal-oriented, in touch, plugged in, and on the ball. They are sophisticated, motivated, and educated. A master’s degree is the new bachelor’s. Some would say it’s too much, but I do admire the work ethic some of them have.

Last week I got to talking to a boy in the library. He told me he was off on paid vacation from his fulltime job that he works in addition to fulltime high school. He gets about five hours’ sleep per night, but he is headed places and proud of himself for it. And rightly so.

Another boy checked out Beowulf for a little light reading. He said he’d read it a few times before.

And the girls…! That’s another story. Or rather, blog post. Please consider staying tuned.

Sixth Grade Boy: "I have to pee."
Me: "Can you think of a more school-appropriate way to ask that?"
Boy: (After some thought) "I must urinate?"