Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Is that private?

If you're wondering about the title and how appropriate the upcoming anecdotes might be, you're on the right track. Hopefully you've been keeping up with things and are familiar with my student named Victor. He is a special kid...in my heart and in spirit. So the story begins...

We were in the hallway. I was talking about hallway expectations (silence and standing in a line) when Victor started on his questioning rampage. I answered the first few and then when he went to hug me...this is something he likes to do to teachers--hug all of a sudden (kind of like pouncing on his prey). We're working on "personal space" and how that is not okay. He continues to hug randomly. And when I say hug, I mean wrap his arms completely around you and squeeze a little. I have to pry him off sometimes, as I see my aid doing as well. Well, our hugging and questioning session needed to stop because we needed to follow those hallway expectations. This is when his questioning took a turn for the worst. Please remember that Victor is one of those students who must have his questions answered. It's part of his charm and will not settle until he has all the answers he wants.

V: "Is there okay to touch?" (point at one of my breasts)
Me: "No, that's personal space. It is not okay for you to touch."
V: "Is that personal space?" (pointing to the other breast)
Me: "Yes, it is also personal space and not okay to touch."
V: "Is that private?" (point to the original breast)
Me: "Yes! It is part of my body that you may not touch. It is inappropriate to touch people in their privates or anywhere they think is personal space."
V: "Is that private?" (pointing to the other breast)
Me: "Yes, that is also private. I need you to get back in line. This is my space and you may not violate it."
V: "Is that private?" (pointing somewhere else...just think about it)
Me: "Yes, it is very private."
V: "Why are they called our privates?"
Me: "Because they are only for us. We don't show or touch our friends there."
V: "What happens if I touch you there?"
Me: "I WRITE YOU UP!"
V: "What do you mean?"
Me: "I mean I will write you a referral and you will go to the principal's office. That is not okay at all. It's not okay for teachers or your friends."
V: "What happens when you get a referral?"
Me: "You are aware of what happens. I need you to return to line. We can talk about this later if you would like."

I never thought I would have to have this conversation with a 4th grader, because they are usually aware of these things by now, but...Victor doesn't fit into the mold of the other 4th graders. If I hadn't had this conversation with him, he might have gone around touching and asking other people if their parts were private and in their personal space. It's never a boring day when Victor is in class.

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