Installment+1

South of Denver (with apologies to Tom French.)

Chapter 1 - August 31, 2004

Chelsea is 14, but wise beyond her years - a classic "uber student." Jackie is a counter-culture wanna-be, dressing the part but unable to summon enough energy, even at 15, to do much more some days than keep her head upright. Mike is a class clown, whose big moment last week was volunteering to eat an incredibly hot pepper during a Spanish class fiesta last Friday.

In his words, "I have to admit. Later I felt a little sick."

These three students joined 19 others, all freshmen and sophomores, just two weeks ago in Rock Canyon's first-ever journalism class. Oh, and there's me, of course, their instructor. After advising newspapers for over 25 years, you'd think I'd seen it all. That I would have all the answers.

You couldn't be more wrong.

"You have a great opportunity," I announced on the very first day of class - on Friday, Aug. 13. "Little did you know when you signed up for this class, but you will be producing the very first newspaper in this school's history! Circle October 27 on your calendars. That's our day!"

They are excited. They are smiling. They are absolutely clueless.

They have a gleaming new facility - the building literally opened today. They have 20 computers (with no software just yet). They have an adviser who occasionally teaches other teachers about the intricacies of advising. But this creating a paper out of nothing is not going to be easy.

"You know what would be cool?" Megan, a bubbly freshman, asked last Monday. "You know kids our age are kind of shy? We could run a list of 'who likes who.' My friends would love it!"

Hmmmmm. "Well," I mumble, searching for rhetorical cover. "We can talk about our actual coverage later. Right now, let's concentrate on summary leads. For instance (I'm squinting at her computer screen), do you think beginning with the date of the first pep assembly is the best way to get readers' attention?"

Crisis temporarily averted. But I know the "dating list" issue will arise again. Did I mention that there are 20 girls in this class of 22? And that no one is 16 yet? And that I never had room for sophomores on the staff in my prior advising life? Oy vey!

But two days later, during a discussion of the importance of deadlines, I point out gently that several students seem to have not turned in their homework on the elements of news.

"Ladies and (two) gentlemen: what do you think will happen if somebody fails to get the football team story in on time, and our first issue appears with nothing on football?"

Chelsea, of course, has her hand up instantly. "The team would be mad!" She has an indignant look on her face. She clearly has never missed a deadline in her life, and is appalled that anyone would even contemplate such a thing.

I decide to press my advantage. "Look," I say, "it just won't go over with the team to tell them it's not personal. That somebody just dropped the ball, so to speak. 'Hey guys, it was an accident.' Let's take a vow that we will not piss people off accidentally in the paper. A good paper often makes people think, makes people mad. When we piss people off, let's do it on purpose!"

Chelsea looks startled. Everyone else laughs. Two girls in the back pump their fists. Mike shouts, "Yes!"

And I suddenly am feeling a lot better about this group.

Jack Kennedy

Rock Canyon HS

Highlands Ranch CO 80124

jkkennedy@comcast.net

jack.kennedy@dcsdk12.org

Note: This is the first of a series of columns on working with a completely untrained staff. It is cryptotherapy for me. It may occasionally provide something positive for you. It's all uncharted territory, that's for sure.