sticks and stones...

[merchimerch]

Having spent the morning trying to enculturate 4th graders with notions that harsh words never deserve physical violence in return, I was pretty shocked at Zidane's half hearted apology on the news today.

He apologized for setting a bad example for children and in the same statement claimed that he wasn't culpable, since it is the one who provokes who is to blame. I have a HUGE problem with this. How can you apologize for setting a bad example and then set an even worse one in the same breath? His statement is really just a big "but he started it!" argument, which doesn't fly with 4th graders and doesn't fly for hot-headed soccer players.

Lets review: even for celebreties, harsh words and name calling is never an excuse to resort to physical violence. I don't care if he insulted your mother, sister, or all the women of France, it is not worth head butting over.

Comments

[mehitabelmmoss.livejournal.com]

With my middle-schoolers I had to explain that while provocation was wrong, I had to punish based on what I caught, which was usually the retribution be a frustrated student. They didn't get that either. Would've preferred to have gotten the instigators also but the bad kids are the sneakier ones.....

LA housing...

[thesaruswrex.livejournal.com]

I will be out of town, for the week of Aug 23 to September 6th roughly. You and R are welcome to it... But you may need to answer phone, as I am the manager, and sometimes, (like 3 times per month), I have issues to deal with, like emptying trash... (g)

Re: LA housing...

[merchimerch.livejournal.com]

We will probably take you up on this offer, especially if we haven't gotten a place completely nailed down by the time we leave.

I'll keep you posted on our developments

Re: LA housing...

[thesaruswrex.livejournal.com]

good stuff... can do. Smooch!