While doing the last post on Clara, I was reminded of one of the worst kids I ever had and he was in Clara's class.
He was called Clubber and the name suited. Clubber was a mean, sneaky, bully to the kids in his class. It was hard to nail Clubber and catch him in the act but I had many kids who were complaining. Clubber was just miserable. He would poke kids with a pencil or pen. He would put his foot on another kids desk. He took things from kids. He could think of many things to irritate other kids. He seemed to pick on the girls and leave the boys alone.
Many days I would keep Clubber after school. When I was ready to leave I would have a discussion with Clubber about the issue of the day. I'd get to a point where Clubber's lower lip would start to quiver . That was my sign to quit. I didn't want to get this guy to cry and then he could have an excuse to do something bigger and better.
Clubber was also a town nuisance. Clubber was a confirmed smoker at age 13. He also didn't have any money. So he was a nuisance in the stores as he was stealing cigarettes.
Clubber also knew every lock in town that wasn't locked. In those days Pool rooms were closed on Sundays. The pool room manager happened to go in the pool room for something on a Sunday afternoon. He found Clubber in the pool room all by himself playing pool. In a quiet town the pool room back door was never locked.
If there was a way to be miserable , Clubber knew about it.
I'm not a negative person when it comes to people but today's negative post gives you some idea of what we had to deal with.
Teaching is a hard job and there seems to be no end to the trouble one kid can cause.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that you stopped when his lip started to quiver, I'd probably be so mad I'd want to see him cry.
I'm an optimist and think that if he cries he'll behave.
DeleteI wonder how his life carried on afterwards
ReplyDeleteNot good I would think. the last I heard that in his early 20's he did an armed robbery of a bank.
DeleteThere must be a Clubber or two in every school. Take care, have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteWe are much more aware of bullying and are trying to do something about it.
DeleteI wonder what kind of life he had, both back then and since then?
ReplyDeleteThat would take a couple of posts and too many I thinks. In his early 20' s he did rob a bank.
DeleteI wonder what ever became of this child? In my teaching career, there were a few like him too. Such sad lives and so difficult to reach. I wonder about them too.
ReplyDeletethere's the odd one that changes their life. Many continue with some form of bullying.
DeleteI wonder whatever happened to him. Both at home to make him that way, and what did he turn out to be as an adult?
ReplyDeleteI could write a post on your question but alot of it would be "I guess"
DeleteWhat an interesting post. The fact that Clubber could cry was a hopeful sign, wasn't it? Such a timely topic. Some local teachers at the school when my grandson goes addressed a school board meeting. The behaviors are out of hand, which makes teaching virtually impossible. Kids swear at the teachers on a daily basis, ignore what they are asked to do, fight in the halls. The teachers write them up and send them to the office but there is no follow through. The kids come back to class and are more out of control than ever. That same day, I walked home from school with William. A group of girls walked with a boy. A couch had been put to the curb for pick up. Before my very eyes, they jumped on the couch and then flipped it into the street, and kept right on going. They knew I was there. It did not matter. Middle school kids, no more than 14. If I would have caught up to them and scolded them, I can guarantee you that no one's lip would have quivered.
ReplyDeleteThese behaviors are all too common. We have much to do to improve our society.
DeleteNow I'm wondering what became of him. He must have been having such a miserable child to act out like that all the time. There was someone like that in every classroom I was ever in.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I know about him is that in his early 20's he did an armed robbery of a bank.
DeleteI imagine the guy has probably spent his life in and out of prison.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd be more than right. He did get caught for armed robbery.
DeleteYes, we are all wondering what happened to Clubber...
ReplyDeletethe only thing I know about him is that in his early 20's he did an armed robbery of a bank.
DeleteMakes me wonder about two things - where he came from and where he went to - I don't suppose either of those places was very happy.
ReplyDeleteYou're quite likely right. I think the family moved a lot.
DeleteLike everyone else, I immediately wondered what became of Clubber! Do you know?
ReplyDeleteI don't know but I do know that he did an armed robbery of a bank in his early 20's.
DeleteA trouble maker with probably a very sad ending.
ReplyDeleteYou are quite likely right.
DeleteI don't see this as a negative post, Red. You shared a story from your life experiences/memories. A story that is unfortunately timeless and knows no geographical boundaries. Bullies exist everywhere and have throughout time. As others have written, I wonder about Clubber's background and what became of him as he grew older.
ReplyDeleteI only know that he committed an armed robbery.
DeleteIt seems to me that Clubber must have had a difficult time at home. It seems to me he was acting out in school to make up for the lack of control that he might have been experiencing at home. I wonder if there was abuse or alcoholism or something like that. I suspect keeping him after school, even when he knew he'd face a lecture, was probably a safe space. In any event, it can't have been easy for either of you.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of the safe place bit. His parents were older and ran a restaurant so were busy long hours seven days a week.
DeleteI think every small town has one. I know mine did.
ReplyDeleteAnd those people are probably still bullies.
DeleteI think most teachers have had at least one "Clubber". One of mine that comes to mind is Ricky. I often wonder what became of him.
ReplyDeleteAs you know these kids start the bully thing when they are very young.
DeleteI wonder about his home life, that made him so mean. And I wonder how he turned out.
ReplyDeleteHis home life was not good or normal.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising to see several of the comments from former teachers indicate they had a Clubber. Add me to the group.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that some people feel they have to be that way.
ReplyDeleteAs mother of three I had encounter such kids when kids were little.
ReplyDeleteI like gz said wonder how his life was carried out in future.
As teacher too i saw such few kids who were test for all around them. But what hurts most when their parents came to school to defend them
This is a Real challenge of being a teacher
ReplyDeleteI also wonder how he turned out...in prison or a politician??
ReplyDeleteI met a few clubbers in my time at school. Most of them it turned out had very unhappy home lives. I wonder how yours turned out?
ReplyDeleteThis is so hard. We've all had troubled kids like that. I still remember one child who was held back and put in my class. He was always fine with me. I knew he was trying his best to behave, but I also know how humiliated he was to be held back. Our custodian was from the same neighborhood and used to tell me Sheldon would be a toe-tag guy when he grew up. Took me a moment to realize what he meant. I did see his name in the crime section of the paper many years later when he was in his early twenties. I wonder what happened to him after that. It's sad to remember these children, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOh gosh.... I just looked his name up. He's been given a 15 year sentence for drug trafficking.
ReplyDelete