Even though smiling in the hallways is not a written rule at the school district, it is something that Assistant High School Principal Benjamin Wenger has taken upon himself to enforce, according to several teachers. The teachers who spoke to Lebanon Daily News asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the school district.
While Wenger -- who has been accused of throwing around a sex toy in the office during school hours (along with High School Principal Jennifer Hassler and Middle School Principal Brad Reist) -- may care about whether or not students are smiling between classes, parents and teachers have bigger concerns. Both say Wenger and his fellow administrators don't care enough about the bullying and harassment taking place in the school district. Teachers are aware that a child without a smile in the hall can be sent to the guidance counselor.
Previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously.
"Just relax and let the hooks do their work." https://frinkiac.com/img/S06E06/728961.jpg frinkiac.com frinkiac.com
HAPPINESS IS MANDATORY. FAILURE TO BE HAPPY IS TREASON. TREASON IS PUNISHED BY SUMMARY EXECUTION.
[slow clap]
Today I learnt that there is not only a Lebanon in Pennsylvania, but a Palmyra.
You'll never guess how they pronounce "Lebanon" either.
They make some good bologna. Though it's best not to look into how it's made.
https://mcsbrent.co.uk/ is known in the UK for it's bizarrely draconian policies, including silence in corridors and mandatory walking on a particular side. I once read a blog post by one of their teachers where he was boasting of his pupils smiles and "great eye contact".
https://mcsbrent.co.uk/policies/ especially https://mcsbrent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Behaviour-201718.pdf :
"All Year 7 pupils are explicitly taught, and deliberately practice our silence, entrance, exit and toilet routines and rules in their first week at Michaela."
"1. A demerit is given as a corrective reminder if a pupil makes a bad choice, breaks a school rule, or for:
...
2. Misbehaving in corridors (running, wrong side, chatting)"
This one: https://hackingattheroots.wordpress.com/2016/03/19/turning-heads/
This is a Thing™ at some charter schools in the States, which I guess has also made its way over to Knife Crime Island. The day-in-the-life of a student at a charter school in Fall River (MA) is in turns creepy and horrifying. And apart from a snipe at the dystopian overtone towards the end, the author isn’t even editorializing—she is merely directly quoting the source material: the school’s application for a charter from our board of ed.
When I moved to the US, my view of public schools was initially heavily colored by season 4 of The Wire so I checked out some private schools for my 7 year old.
One of them gave me an experience I'll never forget.
I did a one-on-one tour with a guide, and at one point we entered a classroom of first graders already in progress. The teacher in the classroom didn't notice us, but some of the kids did and they immediately stood up, moved their chairs under their desks and waited. The others followed suit until everyone was neatly stood behind their desks. Once the teacher turned around and nodded, the whole class began to recite in unison a speech along the lines of:
"Welcome to our classroom. This is where we learn. We love attending Challenger School and are proud of our work. We are self-reliant and productive".
I can't remember the exact words, but I do remember it went on for at least 30 seconds, and would have taken some major classroom time to memorize. These were 7 year olds, and everyone was looking at me to be impressed rather than horrified.
At the end of the speech, everyone pulled their chairs out, sat down and returned to work as if I didn't exist.
It wasn't the creepiest part of the visit though.
That was when I met the principal, went into her office and talked to her whilst staring at the complete collection of Ayn Rand books on her bookshelf.
To ram it home, I was given a questionnaire to determine whether I was suitable to be a Challenger School parent. I think I still have it somewhere. One of the questions was:
"Your child forgets to bring their lunch with them to school. Should he (a) ask other children to share their lunch with him or (b) go hungry as a lesson in self-reliance?".
Sometimes you find that a Simpsons episode is not a work of fantasy.
(C) Find a weaker pupil, kill, cook and eat them, showing self reliance
Yikes! Sounds like the scariest scene in the criminally under-watched Snowpiercer!
I don't recall ever smiling deliberately while I was in school. Is that so unusual?
No, but then we obviously would be Juvenile Delinquents of the 21st Century.
And 'seen not smiling' would go on our Permanent Record.
From Wikipedia: