Yesterday was our Wing Inspection for ROTC. Finally weeks of sitting in the classroom with the lights off and a laptop and projector on my desk were over! I'm pretty sure that I can tell you what's written on the majority of the slides in the briefing, as I stared at them day after day after day.
When I got to one of my classes yesterday a few kids decided to "mock" the teacher, and she sent them all to the dean. Eventually the dean came to talk to her, the two of them stepped into the hall obviously trusting my class to remain silent. Of course, that never really happens in any classroom, does it?
As soon as they walked out of the classroom the usual talkers in my class decided to open their mouths. Big surprise. A couple of girls were being obnoxious, as usual, and overall I was getting frustrated. I mean, my teacher was in a pissy mood and gave up all this *look* when she'd told the dean that we would stay quiet. What a subtle message. NOT.
There are only about four ROTC students in that class, myself included. One was on a field trip, the other was sitting quietly, and it just figures that there would be one in the obnoxious group of people. Only the last kid seemed to have an issue with the fact that I told the class to shut up. He wouldn't come right out with it and stopped talking as much, but he didn't stop talking completely.
Maybe it's just me being irritated with him, as he talks the majority of the time ANYWAY *and* kicks my chair often just because he knows it irritates me, but I found that downright disrespectful that he would talked after we received a semi-subtle "STFU!!!" message from our teacher. I would rather not get in trouble because someone else can't keep their mouth shut. That would be pretty freaking crappy.
In the middle of all of this he (or maybe it the horrible, obnoxious girl behind him) sucked his teeth at me, and I told him not to do that. Sometimes it's unintentional, but other times... Well, after class I told him that if he ever sassed me again (and I mean both the talking and the teeth thing) that I wouldn't hesistate to report him to Chief for insubordination.
Then I got to thinking about one of the slides that our Vice Wing Commander had in the slideshow. This particular slide talked about our cadet disciplinary board and how there had not been very many of them throughout the entire year. She also mentioned that cadet behavior usually improves on Wednesday (which was yesterday).
...
I certainly don't think that is completely true.
Seriously, yesterday in another one of my classes I was talking to one of our drill team guys about PDA (public displays of affection) and he mentioned that he would get yelled at for even shaking his girlfriend's hand while in uniform. The he said that one girl in the ROTC program makes out with her boyfriend every day in the hallway, Wednesdays included, and that he sometimes reports her but nothing ever comes of it.
I have to wonder if people really take the ROTC uniform seriously, whether they're in it or not.
And I have to wonder why some people mock those in ROTC. It's not like all of us plan to join the military one day or something, if that's their thinking. Or maybe they just laugh that we (at least, the majoirty of us) take pride in the discipline that we exhibit, particularly on Wednesdays. It might be that many of us take pride in ourselves... Maybe they just think we're stupid, but if that's the case then why shouldn't I think they're stupid? For swimming, or playing football, or soccer, or baseball... you name it.
Those were just examples, by the way.
Earlier this year one of our (ROTC) students was involved in a fight. Some guy and his friends surrounded him, called him names like "fag," and beat him. Because he was in uniform, though, he didn't retaliate.
The next day he did, though. Not in uniform, and just at the one guy who started everything.
Of course, then the guy who started the mess decided to come back to school with a baseball bat.
I really don't know what I'm asking, or maybe why I'm asking.
Of course, after tomorrow evening I will be done with wearing my ROTC uniform.
... Maybe I should go apologize to that kid in my class. And explain myself? Knowing my luck, though, he'd just go back to the same stuff. Maybe it's how some people are?
I have less than 10 days left in school. Maybe I shouldn't worry about it quite so much?
Or maybe not.
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