How Stupid are They?

Today I had some visitors in my classroom. Second period a girl was kicked out of her class for being a wiseass to her teacher. The teacher asked to put her into my room rather than the office. Sixth period another girl was placed in my room by another teacher for repeatedly using foul language in the classroom. I even had a problem with a young lady in one of my classes who consistently ignored everything I asked her to do unless I got right into her face. Is the full moon out tonight????
My kids were amazed at the stupidity of these people. Antagonizing someone who has authority over you is stupid. Unfortunately some students have to learn that lesson the hard way. Even more unfortunately, some never learn that lesson. High school is a time to learn and create lifelong memories. Causing grief to others and yourself makes for bad memories and a painful time that will often carry over into greater problems in adult life.
What incentive does a teacher have to cut a kid a break who has been antagonistic during the school year? I can answer that in one word- NONE! It is like poking a tiger with a sharp stick, except the student won't be physically mauled. Only his reputation will be mauled.
I remember one kid in Pennsylvania who jumped onto the hood of his own car in front of the high school with some sort of a weapon and wanted the Vice Principal to come out and fight him. What a smart thing to do! After the police were called, he became a nonentity on the school campus. I hope he is getting along okay as the "village idiot".
I ask kids why when they dislike a certain class or teacher, they deliberately fail the class. It only means they will be in the class again. The response is invariably a shrug and a quizzical smile that says "So what if I act that stupid. I'm just a kid."
Some kids outgrow their stupidity. Too many don't. As long as there have been schools, kids have been getting kicked out of classes. I will just keep an extra chair in the back of my room for visitors. At least that way they won't be cluttering up the office.