I purchased privacy shields from Really Good Stuff  http://www.reallygoodstuff.com/) couple of years ago to use in my class.  It helps keep the talking to a minimum.  I don't know if it prevents cheating.  They cheat anyway when they can.  However, in all the years I have had these shields, I only have had one student write on them.  As I was passing down the rows  just now, I noticed all the nasty words that have been written on the sheilds.  There have been holes dug into the cardboard and the sides have been bent up.

I am so disappointed.  I really like this class and yet, they are the ones who have done this horrible thing.  I am afraid to look into the dictionaries and find all the awful things they have written, underlined, drawn and extrapolated on. 

What I don't understand is Why?  Why do they feel a need to destroy other people's things?  Why do they feel the need to write shocking things on items that they know everyone else will see?  Why tagging?  Why the unexplainable need to  vandalize everything? 

When I asked my class, one of the boys just laughed.  I am sure he is one of the students doing this.  I just want to know why?  I don't go into his room at home and write on all his stuff.  I don't have any desire to destroy anyone's things.  I just don't understand this urge to hurt people by writing on their property.