The Last Day to Tattle

What has bugged me most this school year has been the tattletales.

tat⋅tle⋅tale  /ˈtætlˌteɪl/ –noun 1. a talebearer or informer, esp. among children.

Nothing makes this group of children happier than to tell on someone else.* And not because they honestly see wrongdoing and want to correct it. They are only interested in getting others in trouble, and they enjoy it. One boy can't go 15 minutes without a tattle.

But usually it backfires on them, because there's always backstory.

Take last Tuesday's Biggest Tattle: Girl tattles on boy. But wait! I asked her what was going on before that. Guilt flashed in her eyes. "Well, I was... I was...grabbing him." As in grabbing at his arm and pulling on him, which he confirmed. And I've told her before to keep her hands off other kids! Because that's one of the school rules: KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF! So I said, "What he did wasn't right. But you started it. You both apologize, and stay away from each other." We'll see how long that lasts.

An Ongoing Tattle: "They're playing tag on the structure." But wait! The tattler? Was also playing tag. I hear this tattle all the time. Tag violates the "Keep Your Hands and Feet to Yourself" rule. Tag drives me crazy. I've told them over and over again not to do it. So Thursday I kicked everyone off closed down the structure for the day. Oh, the excuses! One boy admitted he was playing tag, but said, "They MADE me." Really? If you know you're not supposed to do it, just say NO.

So do you want to tattle on anyone today? Go ahead, I'm used to it. But beware, it could come back around and bite you in the you-know-where!!!!

And at 11:55 this morning. I am done listening to the tattlers! Whoo-hoo!

*A teeny-tiny footnote, because I am generalizing an eensy-weensy bit. There are a few students who will bring something to my attention because they know it is important. And I respect them for it and show it. But they've been rare this year.