Poster Child

I noticed this poster in the hallway this morning. It said:

“Have fun! Join the Orchestra! Pizza!”

Now I have many thoughts about this poster, but there is this one that right now is just the loudest in my head. I don’t know why, but I’ll share.

Have you ever heard the saying that you can lead a jack-a-ninny to pizza, but you can’t make them play an instrument? Of course you haven’t. I just made it up. My point is that in the history of teens has feeding them ever gotten to really participate? We’re all aware of the old lure teens in with food trick, but that doesn’t mean that that will motivate them to play an instrument or say start a book club.

And for those of you that say that it’s up to me to motivate them once I have their attention I say, “come on.” Sure, I may reach a handful out of the thousands I’ll see in my teaching career, but for the most part I’m trying to influence a group of dolls with pull strings causing them to recite Screw that! and That’s gay! and That’s not fair.

Anyway, back to the food thing. Think about this: Even dogs will do what you want for food.

Even dogs—

Ah, but teens aren’t animals, right?