Saturday, September 13, 2008

Not all lessons are created equal

I teach Sex Ed. I've mentioned that, right? It's not my job title, but it is a rather popular part of my classes. This is the second year teaching CAPP (Career and Personal Planning) for me, and I really love it. I still miss teaching English, but I am getting to know the students on an entirely different level now, and it's fun. Fun for me, fun for them. Anyway.
This fall, I teach CAPP 10 for two periods, and Family Studies 11/12 for one period. You cannot graduate unless you pass CAPP 10, and Family Studies is required for students who are part of our Teen Parent Centre. This means I get a lot of repeat customers. Kids come in thinking that CAPP is a throw away class, we will watch movies all the time, and they will just miraculously get 100%. Some kids are in the class for the third time. Some get through CAPP, but end up seeing me again for Family Studies. Such is the case for Girl Student. Let's call her....Jane.
Jane did NOT pass CAPP last year. She often argued with me about the validity of my course, and the methods I used. She said sex ed was boring, and everyone knew it by now. Career plans meant nothing, since she already knew exactly where her life was going....she was going to be a famous fashion designer. She didn't bring paper, because she didn't need to take notes. Her fabulous memory would do the trick. Jane did very few of the assignments, and always had a creative excuse. I actually enjoyed having her in the room, because she spoke her mind, and was totally open with her opinions. But I knew she was not going to pass. Toward the end of the term, she was skipping out so much I assumed she had dropped the class.
September 9th, I met a brand new Jane. She came into my Family Studies 11 class quietly, and sat down. After the general chitchat of "howwasyoursummerminewasfine" variety, Jane took a deep breath, and grinned.
"Mrs. F.? I remembered exactly what you said in your class last year, and I used your advice! I even told my mom, "This is how my teacher said to do it." I waited until we were in the car driving, and I started to talk to her."
I was tickled pink that someone was actually listening. Wow! I gave advice! And Jane heard me! I made an impact! I...
"And then, Mrs. F, I told her I'm pregnant."
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Damn it. She must have skipped out on Birth Control day.

3 comments:

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

ahahahhahahhahahh holy fark that is funny!

Your posts are always so hilarious, but that one made me almost pee my pants!

dogsled_stacie said...

Oh wow, now that I know you teach sex ed, can't wait to hear more about the class!!! Ah, I mean, the students and stuff, not the material in class... you know what I mean!

Anonymous said...

"Sex ed is boring and everyone knew it by now." Uh-huh.

She really DID fail that course, didn't she?

Poor, foolish know-it-all know-nothing kid.