Rule 5: No drugs/alcohol, violence or swearing in scenes!

Before I became a teacher I didn't even think to make that a classroom rule.

But, after my 1st year of discouraging lightly and my 2nd year of discouraging strongly I finally made it a rule last year.

To this day, it is a struggle I have with students who want to have guns or fights, pantomime smoking or drinking, or add "harmless" swear words into their scenes.

I know I'm right in enforcing my policy. And certainly there are exceptions to every rule. But I am tired of it! Every class, kids manipulating the rule: "but fighting isn't violence," or "what if we do this..."

I'm trying to teach them creativity and all they want to do is recreate the violence and drugs they see on tv, in the movies, on the streets, in their own homes.

When a group comes up with a scene that doesn't break Rule 5...man it is good! I wish they could see for themselves how sloppy and silly they look trying to create a fighting scene. Then, compare that to a clever and creative scene that follows the rules. Only time will show that...and thus the battle rages on!

I would love to get suggestions and advice to help deal with this!!!