If you were a prince...

[MM27]

I had a conference today with a parent of one of my not so well behaved students and the parent told me that this child is a prince in Nigeria. I so wanted to ask this question, but I bit my tongue. If you were a prince (or a princess) in your country, why would you leave that country to come to a place where you are nothing? It's an honest question. It just baffles me.

Oh, and by the way, the parent only brought it up because they were trying to excuse the childs poor behavior and convince me that I should treat him differently because he is royalty

 

[FireDancer]

Did he bring that check he promised me last year?

 

[MM27]

Did he bring that check he promised me last year?

You know, it's funny because this kid is one of the biggest thieves I have ever had. Maybe that's where he learned it.

 

[NC State]

The answer to the childs problems starts with the parents actions (the lack of). There is no way I could be a teacher...thank you for hanging in there.

 

[kathie859]

Was the parent SERIOUS

Congrats on being able to mind your tongue...I'm not sure I would have said that the child is "nothing"; however, I would really like to know how one goes from princely status to "ordinary joe" and why a "prince" would be held to a lower standard of behavior. Seems to me that royalty requires discipline

A strange story for sure.

 

[laurie31]

To first answer your question - I believe those with the means to do so, whether royalty from another country, or wealthy people here in the US, will do whatever it takes to get their child the best education available.

However, I would have serious doubts about your student being royalty. Last time I checked, for one to be a prince, one must have a father or mother who is royalty. Was this mom a queen? A princess? Or just a royal something else?

If he was really royalty here to get an American education, it seems he would be expected (by the parents) to have a higher standard of behavior.

 

[akcire]

I'd ask to see the kids diplomatic passport, you know the one that is issued in fantasyland.

Here is a list of the Kings of Nigeria, there are many even though the country is a republic not a monarchy. So which one is your student's father?

http://www.kingdomsofnigeria.com/kings.php

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Wow, that kid is going to have problems when he grows up. Of course, the parents can always send him back to Nigeria when he becomes too much of a problem. I’m sure Nigeria would love to have their missing prince back!

 

[monkeyboy]

I used to be the Pope of Greenwich Village

What do I win?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I once had an employee in NYC who swore to me and everyone that would listen that he was a prince from Nigeria. To say that he had entitlement issues is a vast understatement. I never looked into his claims because I just didn't care.

Edited to add: He had a son and lived in Queens. Do you teach in Queens?

 

[SnowWhite607]

I am a teacher and I would have burst out laughing. Good for you for keeping it together.

 

[punkin]

Apparently there are a LOT of Nigerian princes. It just doesn't mean the same thing there as it does here.

 

[MM27]

I once had an employee in NYC who swore to me and everyone that would listen that he was a prince from Nigeria. To say that he had entitlement issues is a vast understatement. I never looked into his claims because I just didn't care.

Edited to add: He had a son and lived in Queens. Do you teach in Queens?

Nope, North Jersey. We have a large Nigerian population in my school.

 

[LunchladyDoris]

Um...huh?

If he were a prince, wouldn't you have been informed?

 

[agnes!]

Well, which one of his parents is descended from royalty? His princess-momma or his princely-daddy? Where are the family's diplomatic passports? Aren't princes and royalty held by many to a higher standard of behavior? How long did the 'prince' live in Nigeria where he was apparently treated differently than most folks? Is being a prince some kind of a genetic excuse for anti-social behavior? If so, how come the parent seemingly turned out ok?

Actually, I am kind of *serious*. Not that it matters if he actually is or not, but maybe you should be armed with some of these types of questions when the parental units are called in again (and you *KNOW* they will be....) and you can shoot down their claims of justification for poor behavior.

I think that this prince should be matched up with the Nose-Picker kid, sounds like their parents like to make excuses....they'd be BFFLs.

agnes!

 

[minkydog]

Hmm, is being a prince in Nigeria somewhat equivalent to being a descendant of Pocahantas in America?

 

[RitaZ.]

So, now that his royalty status has been disclosed , what is the parent going to do to address the son's behavior problems?

 

[tinker&belle]

In college I was an aide in a preschool classroom that had a child that was one level below a princess in her country's caste system. It was challenging to say the least. The parents thought no rules applied to them, they wouldn't let her play, get dirty, make friends, etc.

I tried not to judge since it was another culture, but it was a challenging situation.

 

[laurie31]

I think that this prince should be matched up with the Nose-Picker kid, sounds like their parents like to make excuses....they'd be BFFLs.

agnes!

 

[IKNOWITALL]