[Teachldsseminary] Unruly Students

Tue Oct 3 16:33:45 MDT 2006

I have a lesson that I have taught over the years to youth and young women classes whenever I have had students that are disrupting the class to the point of spoiling the class for the others.  It has always worked for me.  I am a rookie seminary teacher but a seasoned YW's leader and youth teacher.  I first gave this lesson several years ago to a very dysfunctional young women's group.  It helped bring about miracles. 

1.  Get a large wooden spoon and tape or glue gun it to a 2 to 3 foot dowel.  Essentially create a long 3' to 4' spoon.  (when I first did this lesson I made one spoon for everyone in the class).

2.  Have the kids either sit a one table or around a picnic cloth on the floor.  Bring in a sack full of yummy food -- candy bars, cookies, whatever your kids would love to eat. Dump the food in the middle of the table but tell the kids they can't eat any.  Not yet.

3.  Tell them in your own words the following story:  

Rabbi Haim of Romshishok was an itinerant preacher. He traveled from town to town delivering religious sermons that stressed the importance of respect for one’s fellow man. He often began his talks with the following story:
 "I once ascended to the firmaments. I first went to see Hell and the sight was horrifying. Row after row of tables were laden with platters of sumptuous food, yet the people seated around the tables were pale and emaciated, moaning in hunger. As I came closer, I understood their predicament. 
"Every person held a full spoon, but both arms were splinted with wooden slats so he could not bend either elbow to bring the food to his mouth. It broke my heart to hear the tortured groans of these poor people as they held their food so near but could not consume it.
"Next I went to visit Heaven. I was surprised to see the same setting I had witnessed in Hell – row after row of long tables laden with food. But in contrast to Hell, the people here in Heaven were sitting contentedly talking with each other, obviously sated from their sumptuous meal.
"As I came closer, I was amazed to discover that here, too, each person had his arms splinted on wooden slats that prevented him from bending his elbows. How, then, did they manage to eat?
"As I watched, a man picked up his spoon and dug it into the dish before him. Then he stretched across the table and fed the person across from him! The recipient of this kindness thanked him and returned the favor by leaning across the table to feed his benefactor.
I suddenly understood. Heaven and Hell offer the same circumstances and conditions. The critical difference is in the way the people treat each other."

I then tell my kids they have a choice -- they can be selfish, self serving and starve themselves, or they can feast, enjoy the bounty before them, and feed one another.  The choice is theirs. 

Thereafter, whenever someone really acts up in class, I just quietly hand them the long spoon, and at first say, "what it is going to be today -- are you going to starve and let the rest of the class starve, or are you going to join in the feast and serve your friends."  After a time or two, I don't need to say anything, I just bring out the spoon and everyone knows what it means.  It has always worked beautifully, not only in  helping with behavior in class but also in building a bond and a bit of Zion in and out of the classroom.

The first time I did this, I didn't tell the kids the story right away.  Instead  I gave them each a spoon, told them to pretend to have it tied to their hand, and told them to pretend their other hand was tied behind the back.  I told them the only way they could get at the delicious food was to use the spoon.  I then said, "Help yourselves -- enjoy the feast."  It took about two minutes of struggling unsuccessfully to get any food to their mouths before one young woman said,. "Let me help you -- I'll get a candy for you if you get one for me. "  Then everyone caught on started trying to feed each other.  That is when I  told them the story.  I also told them I was so pleased that they had discovered the secret themselves and that they knew everything they needed to know to make this group a piece of heaven on earth.  Since then, I haven't made such a production out of it.  I just make one spoon and tell the story.  The first time had the greatest impact -- those girls
 straightened up right away and truly became a unified and considerate group of YW.  But with each class, this story has had an impact.  So I keep making the long spoons and telling this story.  I just gave this lesson last week in attempts to help one of my students out of a class of 11 to stop high-jacking the class with his comments and snide remarks.  The class went over well, the kids got the message and my disruptive student has been great since then.  I now keep the long spoon nearby and haven't had to use it yet, a week later.

Sorry this is a bit long-winded.  I hope it helps.  I'm glad to finally have something to contribute.  I have gleaned so much from this list.  I am ever grateful for all the terrific ideas that come my way from this group of dedicated teachers.  It has made my rookie year as Seminary teacher so much more fun.

Loving Seminary in Wisconsin!