If I get the mothers approval may I dispose of confiscated fashion magazines?

1. 53

   banthefashionmagsposted 15 years ago

   If I get the mothers approval may I dispose of confiscated fashion magazines?
   
   I am a High School All-Girl Algebra teacher and I have a few girls in my class that like to bring their Latina,Glamour, Cosmo, and other fashion garbage magazines and read them while I am teaching the rest of the class. Ihave spoken to the mothers and have gotten permission to dispose of this trash when confiscated. What I do is ask for the girl(s) to see me after class and I shred the magazine(s) right in front of them. Though they still bring this trash, should I continue taking up the mags? What would You do in this Situation?
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Leticia

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2. 74

   sasanquaposted 15 years ago

   Hi Leticia,
   
   Since the girls are still bringing the magazines in, I think it would be best to come up with another strategy. Some of the girls may even find it funny to watch you shred their magazines, hence keep bringing them in to antagonise you!
   
   There are a few things I can think of that you may find useful:
   
   1. Make the lesson as interactive as possible, to gain the attention of your students. Get the students doing activities where they need to walk around the room (e.g. work stations, solving problems on the white/blackboard, games that involve standing up etc)
   
   2. You can actually incorporate fashion into the lessons! For example, you could give an assignment where the girls need to use algebra to solve fashion-related problems. The assignment could have a scenario about someone starting their own clothing business and needing to solve problems.
   
   3. Use the magazines as a reward. Collect all the magazines at the start of the lesson. Explain to the girls they can have them back after a certain amount of time. Start with a short amount of time, and then increase this over the lessons.
   
   Let me know if any of this is helpful! I hope it is. Good luck!

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3. 61

   dabeanerposted 15 years ago

   Keep shredding.
   
   And, how about asking the mothers to cut the girls' allowances so they will not have the funds to buy those stupid magazines?
   
   Oh, never mind, they will just sell their bodies for cash to dirty old men like me to buy the mags.  :-)

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4. 91

   rebekahELLEposted 15 years ago

   it sounds like they are enjoying playing a game with you. parents probably give them money, so that isn't an issue tearing up their magazines. the issue here is control and they will do everything they can as long as they keep getting your attention.  perhaps you can speak to them and agree that the shredding doesn't seem to be the best solution, so if they continue bringing them into your classroom, they need to put them on your desk at the beginning of class and you will give them back at the end of class. let them know it is your job to teach them and the magazines are not allowed during class time. be matter of fact and non judgmental. sounds similiar to preschoolers who sneak toys into the classroom.  I ask for it, put it where they can see it, and give it back at the end of the day.  after a while they would stop bringing them in.  hope this helps.

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5. 68

   SaiKitposted 14 years ago

   Though they are students, they are not less than humans. If they are adults whom you consider to be real human beings or at least your equal, would you confiscate their property and destroy them in such humiliating manner?
   
   What you are doing, is teaching a message of conformity/slavery to the kids.
   
   Maybe you don't realize it, you are acting no differently than a Nazi warden.
   
   Kids are already been forced to be in a certain place at certain time for YEARS, and they have no choice to choose when it comes to teachers, who are supposed to be there to sell their service as teachers, but in reality they try to be the bosses because they can.
   
   It doesn't matter if the school or teachers are bad, kids got stuck with them.
   
   Earn their respect instead of forcing it.

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