Today, during a test, a student continued to loudly complain that he did not like his pen and accused me of not caring about him because I would not give him a new writing utensil. This student has continually caused problems by lying, whining, complaining, and being lazy in my class and all other classes he has (that’s the benefit of teaching in teams).

I snapped a little bit, but he needed to hear it. I told him he was a baby and that he whined, complained, and lied too much. He was understandably upset so we went outside to discuss these issues privately.

I asked him if he noticed that he was the only student in the class, which had been a problem class, that had not turned his grade around in the last month. To the class’s credit, they have gone from my worst class to one of the best.

“Dude, you don’t know what my home life is like.” He said. For a second, I felt guilty and mean. Then he continued to talk.

“My parents, they yell at me, and they took away my phone and xbox because of my grades.”

Really? I told him there are students who only eat when they come to school and do not know where they will be sleeping tonight.

“But, dude, you don’t understand, I’m being tested for ADHD and anger issues and stuff.”

Ok, I told him. So are half the males in this class and this school.

“But I’ll have to take medication.”

So do a lot of my other students. So did I, in high school, and was 3rd in my class. And I came from a single parent home. And had a job. And played sports and was involved in other activities, which he is not. I know these problems you have suck, and it’s hard, I understand that, but everyone has really difficult problems in their lives. You have to deal with it and stop making excuses. He was speechless.

After class he tried to joke around with me. It was ok.

BUT LET’S BE SERIOUS, HE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT HIS HOME LIFE WAS HORRIBLE BECAUSE HIS PARENTS TOOK AWAY HIS CELL PHONE AND XBOX 360.