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I started writing this blog in 2008, toward the end of my first year of teaching. These posts about my experiences as an NYC Department of Education teacher have been (and continue to be) assembled over a period of several years. They don't necessarily need to be read in chronological order, but my very first post, "Context" (March 2008) might be useful as an introduction into this lunacy. While most of my stories highlight the ridiculousness of being a public school teacher, I should note that I love my students and care deeply for them. So as you read, please keep in mind that I do in fact have a soul, as well as a heart; and that heart of mine brims with pride every time I think about my students' talents and breaks with pain every time another one gets screwed by the system.

April 3, 2008

Boys are stalkers

We started a new reading unit today: Social Issues. So, in preparation for the unit, we sat down in an oblong square-type awkward formation on the rug to have a class discussion about one social issue in particular. Gender.

First, I asked my students to reflect on what it means to them to be a boy, what it means to be a girl, how they perceive boys, and how they perceive girls. After they were writing furiously for 20 minutes, they discussed their opinions in their groups and then we finally moved to the rug for the big kahuna discussion. The whole purpose of this was for my kids to understand that as they read social issues books, they need to consider a) how they feel about the issue, b) how the issue is often portrayed in the world (aka, the media, in their communities, in books), and c) how the author has chosen to portray the issue.

So, Deezireh, as usual, with her cocky little attitude (although, really Deezireh, when you're 12, and you've failed 4th grade twice now, and this is your third time here, do you really think you need to have an attitude?) starts off the conversation, "I think boys are stalkers."
"Deezireh, what do you mean by this?"
"Well, you know, like, when you be walkin' down the street, they be lookin' at you, all like, heeey, and then they be following you and they be whistlin' and stuff.... and they like, you know, they give you them looks, like 'how youuu doin gurrrl, you fiiine.'"
"I see... I mean, I'm just curious, where are you getting this from? Because, I don't see any of the boys in this class doing that..?"
"My father. He does it all the time."
Others chime in, "yea yea"

WOW.
The rest of the classroom discussion goes similarly. NOT A SINGLE child mentioned what I was expecting.. you know, the generic, "Girls like to shop and boys like to play sports." Instead, all of the comments I got were adult observations, habits they've noticed from their parents: nagging, getting drunk, dancing up on each other, clubbing and coming home late, being called 'hoes'......the list goes on.

Should I have known better?

This is 4th grade!!!! Where did their innocence go?!?