I truly do not think these students have ever heard the word "no". It has become a daily occurance that a kid asks me if they can leave before the bell, or can they turn their homework in late or something else. If I tell them know, they pout and then sit down. No more than a few minutes later, they are asking me the exact same question, to which I respond the same way, no. Without fail, they ask again, the exact same question. By this time I become rather frustrated because I have already said no twice, and I am not going to change my mind after a third time.
I almost feel that these kids are accustomed to their parents giving in after a few minutes of questioning. From what I understand of the socio-economic culture of the school, the kids are very well off and usually get what they want. I do not know what is going on at home, but I can only imagine that these kids do not hear the word "no" very often. When they do, they figure that they can ask again and the answer will change to a "yes".
Again, I feel this is one aspect that has some similarities to the trends in the US culture. I feel many kids in the States are not used to hearing the word "no", or their parents are not willing to upset them by saying it. Therefore, kids become rather spoiled and do not have respect for parents, teachers or anyone else.
I have noticed this lack of respect most in the lunch room. The kids leave plates and trash all over the place. Most of these kids have a maid, if not two and do not have to clean up after themselves at home. They see the cooking staff or the custodians at school and think that it is their job to clean up after everyone. I do my best to catch kids leaving without cleaning up, but I can't catch everyone. I do see this a little bit in the classroom as well, with kids leaving papers all over the place and trash just laying around.
Again, this is not too much different from the culture and attitude of students I have noticed in the states. Some things are not so different across the world. Teenagers will be teenagers no matter where you are on the globe.
Aaron
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I think you are correct in several of your remarks: 1. I am not sure the kids hear "no" at home much, again maybe part of the culture.
2. Ah, the lunchroom! How well I recall that scene from when I was a high school principal, doing lunch room duty, and the kids had to constantly be reminded to clean up--they usually trashed the place. 3. Kids in the USA seem to just keep pestering their parents and keep asking, until the parents finally give in because they are tired of saying "no."
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