Sex Education 101

Today was the "Growth and Development" program for our 6th graders. I volunteered to go with Mr.M ( who is 33 years old) to supervise the boys during the big talk. Our nurse, Kathy, always does a wonderful job, but even under the best of circumstances everybody is uncomfortable. No matter how good the program is, I really don't think the kids get much out of it. This should be called Sex Ed "Lite". The average 11 or 12 year old brain just ain't in learning mode during the big talk. It is the I-hope-I-live-through-this-and-not die-of-embarrassment-mode.

As much as the media likes to talk about how sexually active young people are today, I have to say that I just don't believe it's true. What is true is that people talk about sex more, but I just don't think that the kids are more sexually active. If kids were more sexually active there wouldn't be this incredible anxiety every year at "G&D" time.

Furthermore most of the polls are so much baloney. Did you answer those honestly when you were in school? When I was in school none of my firends were having sex ... even the pregnant ones. Today who would admit they weren't.

Sex Education in school is so in adequate that it wouldn't even make for a mediocre teen sex comedy, which is probably where most kids actually get their information about sex. Yikes!

So, where did you learn about the birds and the bees?

Field Trip to Arizona State University with 6th graders

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, I'm off to Arizona State University with 90 sixth graders. The program is called "College Bound" and was started by one of the former teachers at our school. She ended up meeting her husband, who is a professor at ASU, as the result of this program.

The idea behind "College Bound" is to give the students a chance to see the campus, dorms and to meet some of the professors in the science department and to observe some experiments. The kids especially like the experiment where things blow up. That is always a hit.

My only problem with this otherwise wonderful program is the exposure to condoms. Yea, you read that correctly. In the restrooms, in the vending machines, all around campus are ways of preventing pregnancy and social diseases. Ironically, tomorrow is the (wonderful) Growth and Development classes. *Sigh* As one of my teammates pointed out it's probably good for our kids to see these things. I suppose. *Sigh* It does provide enough giggles for months to come. Just think back to when you were in sixth grade. I can already guess who will makes some purchases, too.

"What did you learn on the field trip to A.S.U., honey?"

"I can buy condoms there, Mom."

Oh, goodie.

Name the Names

Most everyone has seen someone famous, or maybe even shaken their hand. My husband shook John F. Kennedy's hand. I am upping the qualifications though. Have you had an actual conversation with a famous person?

Here is my list of famous people with whom I have had a conversation.

As mentioned:
(1.) Al Capp - cartoonist and creator of the series "Lil' Abner."
(2.) Barry Goldwater
(3.) William Kunstler - defense for attorney for the Chicago Seven
(4.) Phone Conversation with Mike Royko of the Chicago Tribune
(5.) Phone Conversation with Ben Stein

Those are the only actual famous people that I recall actually having a converstation. I went to college with Phil Jackson but he thought he was better than anyone else way back when, and he surely wouldn't have talked with me.

Would you pass this blog on to others? I am curious to see who has met whom and what their impressions were?

Rich and Famous? No thanks.

Did you go to school with anyone famous? Me neither. I know a couple of people who have been "minor" celebrities, but the big time? Naw. I have met some famous people. I met Al Capp when I was in college. Somehow I was chosen to introduce him when he spoke. He was a crabby, dirty old man. I was host to Barry Goldwater when he came to speak at the elementary school where I taught in Gilbert, Arizona. He was one of the classiest, funniest, most humble and charming people I ever met. Polar opposites.

At sometime most people probably daydream about being famous. I know I have. Most people think of famous as in "rich and famous". I think I'd like the rich part, but the famous part seems to have a lot that isn't good. Would you want to be Donald Trump? Yuck. There is one creepy dude. How about Paris Hilton. Just what is she anyway?

Even the rich part has catches. I recently watched a two-hour program on the E! channel about lottery winners and how the money destroyed their lives. It was over-the-top with the tragedy of money ruining everyone's lives. I'm sure there are lottery winners who have done just fine.

I think I would like to be "comfortable" as my grandmother would say of people who did not have to work, but I do love teaching. It won't ever make me comfortably rich, or even a little famous. It has brought me a lot of joy, and that's probably most important.