6 Ways not to get -2s in Middle School

Surviving Middle school at Prakriya Green Wisdom School is like playing an intense game of Jenga - one wrong move, and everything (only your self-respect and dignity) comes crashing down. With teachers armed with green pens and the ever-present risk of a -2 lurking around every corner, survival requires skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck. Let me be your guide, for I have survived the entire middle school without having any negative integers on my changemaker chart.

Stay Awake in all your Classes

Resist the urge to hibernate during any lessons. While dreaming of an ongoing cricket match is tempting, understanding algebra might be more immediately useful. You know, Algebra could help you simplify cricket predictions. For example : A simple equation like 5y = 50 would help you to predict a test match between England and another cricketing country for Day 1 ( if England is batting first ), where ‘y’ is the number of wickets that have fallen from England’s side.

Respect School Property

Damaging (this includes writing, scribbling and doodling, did you understand that artists?) or stealing school property not only leads to -2s (or -5s depending on the situation) but also disrupts the learning environment for others. Treat the school's resources with care, even though it is not yours!

Complete Your Homework

Avoid the classic "my dog ate my homework" excuse. Completing assignments on time keeps those "-2" marks away from the changemaker chart and shows that you're responsible.

Embrace the 'Acha Baccha' Look

Comb your hair, wear an ironed house kurta, and talk with your throat cleared. Teachers appreciate a neat appearance, and it might just earn you some +2s.

Be Punctual

Frequently submitting your homework late can result in disciplinary action - this may be either a diary note or a -2. Submitting on time shows respect for your teachers and classmates. In case you haven't completed your homework (which is not ideal), you should at least complete it in school, i.e before the class starts and not during it!

Keep Your Shoes On

Though it may sound fun, chucking your shoes( or your friends ) out the window isn't the best idea. It's better to keep the footwear on your feet and not in the schoolyard trees.

Follow these rules, and you’ll graduate to high school with dignity instead of an army of -2s. I survived Middle school without -2s by not doing these 6 crazy things, but do you want to? Your choice!

Written by Karthik S, an 8th grader from Prakriya Green Wisdom School

This article was written for and published in Community Corner, a student-run publication curated by the 8th, 9th and 10th graders of Prakriya Green Wisdom School, Bengaluru, as part of the Editorial Board Training Program