The Penn-Lincoln Elementary children are learning expected behavior through rap.
Written by the principal, Joshua Hicks, the song allows kids to learn the behavior that is expected in what Principal Hicks calls a “common language.” He said, “In this building I wanted to have a common language for all of our students. So for instance, if the students are running down the hall, we can start the line ‘I walk down the hall’ and the students say ‘with my head held tall, have my hands to the sides and my eyes front wise.’ So it shows them what we expect of them as far behavior is concerned.”
The song’s topics range from raising hands to speak to respect from and for the kids. The lines of the song remind them what to do. Sixth grader Constance Morrissey explained, “When the teacher asks questions or to do something, I do it. And if we’re reading or when the teacher talks I ‘listen to the words that she speaks’ and like all of those different things because they remind me about school.”
A three minute song may seem difficult for a second grader to memorize but David Carnes was able to enlist some help. “My sister sang it to me,” he said, “Then I started doing it myself and I realized I was ready.”
About 30 kids know the song and more are learning it. Principal Hicks hope it lasts for years to come. He said, “I hope would it would attach itself to Penn-Lincoln and that as students learn it they still enjoy it and get excited about it.”
The lyrics and a recording of the song can be seen at the school’s website.
