"Troublemakers" by Carla Shalaby

In her book, "Troublemakers", Shalaby finds herself engrossed in the counterproductive ways that schools handle children who cause trouble. Whether that be physical outrage, talking back, or even slight disobedience of expectations, educators and administrators deal with this behavior negatively, confining the student into an academic life of limited options. During my time reading, I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated Shalaby's vivid and impactful use of imagery, molding these societal issues many turn blind eyes to into crude metaphors. Spinning the rudimentary argument right around, she makes us think about what we might learn from those having conformity forced upon them. We tend to think we have to teach the person who does wrong a lesson, while helpful in many scenarios, children can teach us more of a lesson than we do them. Well, that's at least what I got from it, I don't know.

I pulled three quotes from the excerpts; One encapsulates her entire thesis into a statement and two are hard-hitting metaphors that paint a picture of what is being done to these "troublemakers":

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"What is the role of education in the lives of children carrying the burden of this witness, breathing these poisons into their delicate lungs?" (xvii)

The innocence of a child is a gift frequently taken for granted. A life a person gets to live only once, their environment and the people occupying it being the driving factor for the duration in which a child may enjoy this blissful life. As educators we want our students to live in this innocence of imagination and curiosity as long as they can, protect them from what the outside world might be doing to knock them off this track. With this, however, comes the idea that we must not let our children remain naïve to the world; To find a balance of awareness and nurture is the ultimate goal of the picture-perfect teacher.

"We cage the birds singing most loudly" (xx)

External fits of rage tends to be a common form of expression for children who become frustrated, confused, and/or berated by superiors. All of which, frequent actions by teachers whom lack a sense of perspective for their “troubled students”. When a young student attempts to communicate their issues in a way that makes sense to their young mind, adults often interpret it as another day of acting out, sending them to the principal’s office soon after. The caged bird metaphor is directly parallel to how teachers treat the students who cry out for help. By caging up those who verbally attempt to open up their minds to us, we contradict our quintessential roles as an educator.

"This book is interested in Anthony...and in kids like him, but not what to do with him. I am concerned instead with what we might learn from him about what to do..." (xxxi)

With another use of figurative language, Shalaby displays the sole purpose of her book: Provide a voice of truth for those who failed to understand those that cry out for help, the “troublemakers”. Additionally, she adds the other main idea at the end of this quote by articulating her idea that these students shouldn’t be scolded or pummeled with reprimand, but rather a source for which we can better understand the mind of those we wish to enlighten. Students are just the ones who learn in the eyes of the naïve, but the important lessons lie within the words and actions of those we think need our help the most.