No sissies allowed

My 7th graders learned about Ferdinand Magellan last week. After discussing the difficult journey Magellan and his 270-some men made (only 18 or so, Magellan not included, survived) we talked about what qualities a good sailor/adventurer/explorer would have. We also discussed qualities a good sailor (etc.) would not have.

My last two periods of the week are 7th grade Humanities. I teach two sections of the class, and this particular section is a lot of fun-particularly on a Friday afternoon when we're all ready for the weekend. It's a wonderful way to end the week. They're exceptionally bright, funny kids so we end up giggling almost as much as we end up learning. One of the girls in this class called out "seasick!" for qualities a sailor shouldn't have and I misheard her.

"Sissy?" I repeated.

There was a new burst of giggles.

"No! SEA. SICK." she corrected me.

Then I had to explain to half the class what a sissy was, and they decided that good sailors probably also shouldn't be sissies.

I then gave the kids an assignment-make a "help wanted" poster for Magellan, asking for sailors to go on the journey to find the East Indies by sailing West. The posters were due today, and from this class I'd have to say at least 3/4 of the posters clearly state that sissies need not apply.

One boy's is particularly funny. At the very bottom of the poster it says, in red, "P.S.: Sissies and women are NOT invited!!!!"

OK, then.