I have forbidden two students in my class from bickering, because it makes me crazy.
Last week I hear singing coming from the general vicinity of the normally bickering students. I listen closely. It’s the two bickering students, taking turns singing what sounds to be an improvised song of sorts.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Singing insults at each other,” one says.
“Why?” I ask.
“You told us not to bicker, so we decided to sing at each other when we’re mad. It’s not technically bickering.”
The two were smiling from ear-to-ear, pleased with themselves for this clever circumvention of my rule.
Best of all, these two constantly bickering students put their heads together and devised and executed a plan specifically designed to annoy me.
Naturally, I forbid them from signing insults at each other, but not before taking pride in their ingenuity and ability to come together to defeat their common enemy.