I work with alternative ed students. Not many of them care about anything except their next party, much less show any emotion. So when Brandon (fictitious name) made the statement that he hated the newbies at the school, I asked why.
"They don't give a shit about anything!!!" He blurted. "I mean it! They just don't care about a thing! I HATE them!!!"
So I asked him if he cared about anything. He said "yeah, sure! I care about my friends!"
So I asked him if he cared about tomorrow. He just looked dumbfounded, a usual look amongst his peers! " What do you mean?" he asked.
"I don't mean the future, I mean Wednesday, tomorrow! Do you care about tomorrow?"
"I dunno." he replied, just like the rest of his classmates who were finally listening. We were supposed to be talking about the economic state of Michigan due to the precarious situation with the auto companies and how this affect their decisions regarding their career choices.
"What are your plans for tomorrow, Brandon?" I asked.
"I dunno."
"Are you coming to school tomorrow?"
"I dunno."
"Do you care if you come to school tomorrow?"
"No." Brandon replied.
"Then, to me, you are no different than the newbies."
He sure didn't like the comment, but I now had the attention of the rest of the students.
"A decision that will determine the future of Michigan can come tomorrow. This decision will decide if we become like a third world nation or if we will have a chance to make it through this depression." Boy, I had them now. I had to explain what a third world nation was and this was a World Econ class.
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I'm sorry but for the most part, the "kids" you work with are worse then the special education kids. At least the Special Education kids aren't learning because they're having a difficult time. The kids you work with can do the work they just don't care about themselves or anyone around them. I would love to be a fly on the wall at that school, and give some of them a piece of my mind.
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