Rules learned in school can help later

John Kenlein, world history honors teacher at Lewis and Clark High School, told his freshmen Tuesday he’d answer their questions in one of three ways. He’d tell them the truth. Or he’d tell them “none of your business.” Or he’d tell them that their question was one that shouldn’t be discussed during school time, perhaps a question about personal religion and personal politics.

After Kenlein shared this with the class, I wanted Brittany Kennedy, 14, to write Kenlein’s words in her notebook and refer to them 10 years from now as she enters the world of work, because his question-answering strategy might come in handy. I shadowed Brittany her entire first day at Lewis and Clark High School. Brittany was the only one of 36 young people to return to us her disposable camera with photos of her life on it. The Spokesman-Review’s Diversity Committee gave them out at the Unity in the Community 2003 celebration. When I asked Brittany at this August’s Unity why she returned the camera, she said: “Because I’m responsible.”

So Brittany seemed the perfect person to help me investigate this premise: If you learn true responsibility your freshman year in high school, it sets up the rest of your high school experience, which then sets you up for college, which then sets up your career life. And on the first day of freshman year, they hand out all the rules you’ll ever need to succeed professionally.

Our day began at 8 a.m. in honors math. Ms. Rydholm explained her rules. At the end of the day, Brittany remembered this one: Do your homework every day, even though it might not be collected every day. Don’t procrastinate.

We next arrived in band. Brittany plays the clarinet. Mr. Jay handed out 20 class expectations, including “leave other people’s stuff alone!” And this: “Be dependable, responsible and a happy camper. If you aren’t one, be one.” In other words, fake it until you make it.

Brittany sat next to another freshman named Emily. Some upper-class girls sat in front of them. They looked at Brittany’s and Emily’s class schedules. One of the older girls said about a teacher on Emily’s schedule. “Get out of his class, he’s terrible!” But her friend disagreed. “No, he’s a good teacher,” she said.

I meant to tell Brittany: “See, make up your own mind about people. Don’t believe the gossip.” But then the bell rang and we rushed off to fitness class in the gym. The professional lesson here? Dress to the day. If you have any inkling that you’ll be asked to sit on the floor and touch your fingers almost to your toes, don’t wear low-slung pants. Brittany didn’t. Her jeans stayed up just fine.

Finally, lunch time. Brittany tried to connect with friend Kiki, but couldn’t find her in the crowd. She stood against a wall and ate a few pretzels and a candy bar. I stood at one of the tall tables in the hallway and a senior named Aigul Myrzabekova joined me. She’s an exchange student from Kyrgyzstan, and she felt out of place the first day in an American school. We had a delightful chat.

I meant to tell Brittany that in life you should sometimes eat lunch with someone who looks a little lonely. It’s amazing what you can learn. I meant to tell her this, but then we were off again, zooming down crowded halls.

In Brittany’s honors English class, we heard this from Ms. Slaughter who spoke in a soft voice that belied a firm message: “There is an expectation that homework will get done. If you don’t do it, you will get minus points. It hurts. And I want it, too.”

In science, the last class of the day, Mr. Ferney said: “Since you are now freshmen, you are in charge of knowing what you missed when you miss class.” It’s no longer up to your parents to track down those missed assignments, he said.

The school day ended. I asked Brittany how the day differed from her expectations. She said: “I thought I’d be lost!” And she looked so thankful she hadn’t been. She tucked all the rules she collected Tuesday into her backpack and flew out of the classroom into the future. She never looked back once.