subbing juvie

I got to substitute for half a day in Lenawee's version of juvenile detention. It broke my heart. Even though I know the kids were put there for some heinous things they've done, I could still very easily see the child in them. There was an innocence that stayed on the surface. Even though I was told a few times, not to turn my back on them, not to leave the room or let them leave the room by themselves, if it hadn't been for the two story fencing, I wouldn't have known I was in a prison. They played. I was subbing gym. The first hour was girls p.e. I took out some super balls I had brought and the game was "keep them moving" the girls squealed like... girls. Second hour was the hardest - boys P.E. detention unit. Something for me to think about next time I have to sub for a detention monitor in a regular school. I can tell those little assholes "this isn't detention, this is a free pass out of your classes for the day. Detention is where you have to ask permission to do everything or you get locked up in a little box for a day." Of course I wouldn't say that because most kids have no idea how long a day is. I taught the detention boys how to play "fruit basket". They thought it was lame, but they were all smiling while playing. I think there willingness to learn and play the game came from being locked up, but the advantage that gave them is they got a chance to see that doing something innocent and lame could be fun. I told them since they cooperated with me and kept an open mind about the game I would let them play whatever they wanted, which of course was basketball. One guy asked if I would be on his team the same way a third grader would. I really had to work to get the lump out of my throat. I told him I wasn't very good, but for some reason he still wanted me on his team. Of course there was probably some dark plot, just in case it wasn't the genuine affection I felt.

The second half of the day was easier from a teaching point of view, I was the primary teacher for the first two hours, then I handed off to the regular teacher the last two (classes are taught with teams). I talked to the regular teacher while the boys were geting ready in the locker room (open unit is less strict than detention). We were talking about recidivism at this age. He said a lot of the kids here today he has known since they were old enough to come here. On the average about 3 years. (I'm already plotting) "why do you think they come back?" I asked. He replied "If you saw some of the places these kids go back to, you wouldn't have to ask that." Well, actually I kind of figured that was the answer.