TIPS FOR JUNIOR HIGH PLEBES

Part of a series of stories I wrote while living in Wisconsin in the 80s

During a unit about friendships, the eighth graders at church composed the following letter to upcoming seventh graders:

Dear Sixth Graders,

Now that you have graduated from sixth grade into Junior High School, we, your older and wiser eighth grade friends, want to protect you from a few seventh grade pitfalls - in the name of friendship and all in good sport, or course:

·        Don’t start rumors about eighth graders.

·        Keep your nose out of eighth graders’ business.

·        When you go out for cheerleading and basketball, be kind to all team members.

·        In Sunday School, don’t goof around.  [The Sunday School teacher had a little input here.]

·        Don’t do your own seventh grade dance, because the eighth graders won’t come.

·        Eighth graders pick when, where, and what the dances are about.  You’ll get to do it next year.

·        Don’t give away your locker combination.

·        Keep your locker clean so Mr. Kiener won’t give you a warning.

·        Don’t chew gum in Mr. Eddy’s class.

·        Don’t fall asleep in Mr. Eddy’s class.

·        Become friends with your parents.  They act different when you’re in Junior High.  Use adult messages.  If you want to go to a movie, don’t say, “Can I? Please? Everybody’s going!”  Instead, say, “I would really like to see this interesting movie.  We’ll car pool.”  Another example:  Don’t say, “Everybody’s wearing this.”  Your parents will know that’s a bunch of bull.  Instead, say, “I’ll pay for half.”  That’s an adult message.

·        Be friends with people you like, even if they’re ugly.

These are the facts and figures of being in Junior High.

Yours truly,

The Jr. High Sunday School Class of ‘87