[Oz-gifted] Re: oz-gifted Digest, 1. Ability grouping (Kristy)

[Michelle Gabriel]

HI K,
I liked what you said about grouping by behaviour.  The thing is
sometimes one becomes a thug due to the fact that schools never learnt
to hone the "leadership ability".

When I was at school I was a goody two shoes until form 1 (grade 7) when
I got a conduct mark for continually forgetting my sports uniform.  I
was organisationally impaired (still am - although others would not
agree as I have now learned how to use lists and diaries without which I
would do nothing - but I digress) 

The teacher got me up in front of the class and berated me for my
tardiness.  If she thought she was going to embarrass me in to
submission she was wrong.  What she did was embarrass me into thinking -
well if they think I'm bad I may as well be bad and so she started me on
the road of being naughty! My theory was if you are going to get into
trouble you may as well make it worthwhile. 

Over the years I had the form 1's go on strike and refuse to go to their
classes (I was in form 3), I had the school change the rules 3 times as
they tried to put me in detention but I was able to point out that there
was no rule written that said what I did was wrong. I climbed out the
windows in French class, super glued a teacher to a chair and many more
little pranks. I learned to play them at their own game.  

In grade 12, I was well known as a good swimmer and also amazingly most
of the boarders actually thought I was kind.  I knew most kids in all
grades - I liked talking to people - no matter what their age.  Anyway
the school system was that the kids of the high school put up who they
wanted as school prefects and captain.  I was picked by the kids.
However, the teachers in their wisdom thought I was a bad egg and
decided that I was not be to put on the list.  (Mind you I don't blame
them:-)

I was however allowed to be sports captain (ironic as it was forgetting
my sports uniform that started all this).  I always thought the school
should have been able to see that I had leadership ability and guide me
to use it for good rather than evil. I think they would have been
surprised at how good a prefect I would have made:-)


I actually enjoyed school, didn't do very well at it due to my
organisational disability but after school I cam into my own.  I'm proud
of who I am now and what I have achieved and probably the best thing
that every happened to me was forgetting my sports uniform!  Otherwise I
may not have honed those leadership skills I may have stayed that good
little girl who and followed the rules:-)

I always wonder if the thugs are just children than are not understood.
You see to the teachers they probably thought of me as one of the thugs,
but to many of the kids I wasn't.


Michelle G