Mr. Cranky Pants

Not too many days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a person who, most obviously, disliked kids. I say a pleasure because I hope I had an impact on him. He just seemed to have an intense dislike for kids, teenaged kids. Over a cup of coffee, he grumbled about how he couldn’t understand why a place like P.E.A.S. (Prince Edward Alternative School) existed or wondered if it was even necessary.

His theory, of course, was “If kids want a good high school education, they should pull up their “deleted expletive” pants and suck it up in an ordinary classroom. If they can’t handle the heat, then they should go get a job someplace and they’d find out employers won’t give them any alternatives when things get tough.”

Yikes! Talk about missing the point. I offered “The kids in P.E.A.S. were there to get ready for college or university or work. And their current needs couldn’t be met in a classroom where an already overburdened teacher’s attentions were divided one too many times. He told me I might be blown away by what goes on in schools these days. I asked if he was suggesting that all kids in high school classes had problems or made problems. That could be a problem. He didn’t answer directly, but he went on to say he knew they were rude and obnoxious and annoying. Indeed.

To say I was disheartened by his simplistic attitude would be a bit of an understatement. It’s hard to navigate in a smallish community without encountering the “dreaded” teenagers. I’m not saying there aren’t any bad kids out there. I’m sure there’s one or two who could stand to be drop-kicked to the curb but, there’s always more to it than meets the eye. Life isn’t all “Ozzie and Harriet”.

As he slurped his coffee and glanced at the clock and suggested kids can’t even get to classes on time. I told him the P.E.A.S. kids seemed fairly capable of minding the time. What I really wanted to say was, it sounded like he could have benefited from an alternative learning environment. It might have given him a better perspective on life as a kid with “alternative issues”. He had as much baggage, it seemed.

And, as the first of the students came into the cafe for their large coffees and hot chocolates, I told him it didn’t hurt to treat kids with a bit of respect because what comes around, goes around. And, as student number four asked, with pleases and thank yous” for a brownie, to help get him through the day, I said, “We should consider ourselves fortunate to live in a community that recognizes the extraordinary needs of its youngsters and allows an opportunity to grow and learn in a more forgiving and protective environment. Kids need respect and a bit of space around them. P.E.A.S. kids need fewer distractions and teachers who are always on the lookout for “alternative issues” and the teachable moment.”

I wonder if our cranky customer was on time and on task, every single day of the year. I’ll bet dollars to cinnamon buns he isn’t. I wonder if he expected me to treat “the kid customers” with disdain rather than with the same respect I had afforded him. I wonder if I’ll slip him a decaf, instead of regular, the next time he comes by to spew about the way the world has let him down. Maybe not. He doesn’t realize how much like “the kids” he really is.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca