In case there is any doubt that educators have the most difficult job in America.....

too much too soon

I've witnessed two bizarre humorous slightly disturbing situations already since I've been back at school. A colleague of mine was alerted by a student that there was "something in the boys' bathroom that should not be there." When said teacher went to check it out, he finds a DVD entitled "Good Assternoon" with some fabulously trashy naked girls on the cover. He of course used extreme caution in disposing of the item without actually allowing it to make contact with his skin.

Episode #2 - Another teacher-friend of mine is handing out textbooks to her class when a girl returns hers to get another one because that one has "something in it." Being the smart teacher she is, my friend waits for all the students to leave before investigating the issue, and what did she find? A condom. Not just any condom, people - one that appeared to be used.

I laughed at these situations heartily, partly because they didn't happen to me. We all made our fair share of comments. ("eewwww," "at least they used protection," "at least they had their English book with them")

But then later I heard some freshmen discussing A Night in Paris (aka Paris Hilton's film debut) with more information than they should know at 14. My point in telling you this? I feel archaic making this comment, but kids know way too much way too early these days. Many of the students I teach are probably more knowledgeable about sex - kinky sex - now than I was at 20, 24, who knows, maybe even now. My worry is that kids are not mature enough to deal with it.

The same kids who gasp and freak out when I refer to literary characters as being sexually active are having sex themselves. A lot of it. Is there something weird about that?

Curiosity is a natural thing, and I know I teach kids who are literally a bundle of hormones, but it seems as though they are learning too much too fast, and they don't know how to handle it. A quick search for statistics will tell you:

• In the next 24 hours, 2,795 teenage girls will become pregnant.
• More teenage girls are having sex than boys. (maybe they feel more pressure to act grown up, satisfy upperclassmen who flatter them...I don't know.)
• According to the CDC, 65% of new HIV cases this year will occur in people under 24.
• Currently, 32 states do not require any type of sex education.

My point is....is there really a problem here or are people like me just reading something that's not there? If there is a problem, who is a fault? Parents, schools, the media, the kids themselves who are not taking responsibility?

Weigh in. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Need. Sleep. Already.

Quick update - I will post something a little more reflective over the weekend.

• I have 146 students. At the moment, all of the Jennies, Christies, and Maddies are looking just alike, but I'll manage to figure it out soon.
• I have 32 ninth graders in one room during the last period of the day. Enough said.
• I am already loving British Lit....and that's when we are only on Beowulf. I'm getting a good vibe from my students in that class, and I think it'll be a good year.
• I wore new shoes on the first day of school. BAD idea - lots of blisters. (But let's be honest, I looked cute.)
• I must have done something horrible in a past life because I am looking at year number 2 of being the yearbook advisor.
• I have 95 summer reading tests to grade right now, but instead I am blogging and thinking about starting a new fluff book. I have no shame in the fluffy book department right now. Reading Beowulf and grading papers leave me sorely needing some fun.
• Okay. More later. I'm off to have a glass of wine with my chick lit.

A Sad Farewell

My summer is over.

I know for you non-teacher folks out there, it's "so what, you cry baby with 9 weeks of vacation in the middle of the year." But seriously, it is a very difficult adjustment.

This week was full of little tasks I had to complete to be ready for the year ahead. A highlight was definitely spending my Georgia Teacher Gift Card. (I totally thought that was an election year ploy, but it's back and I'm grateful for that!) Every teacher in the state of GA gets to spend a $100 Visa gift card on classroom supplies. My tally: lots of fun bulletin board stuff, 5 reams of colored paper, bright and cheerful post-it notes, class sets of highlighters, fun grading pens, a wire sorter for my desk, and sticky-tack to hang posters. I really love shopping for office supplies. Weird, I know. The ridiculous thing is that I will spend more money when you include hand sanitizer, tissues, instructional supplements, etc. throughout the year. Crazy!

Anyway, this time of year is always bittersweet for me. In one way, I am predominantly really sad to see summer go and return to my 5:30 a.m. alarm clock and Sunday night panic of the school year, but at the same time I like the "fresh slate" feeling of August. I feel lucky that I am in a profession where I really get to start over every 12 months. New kids, some new material - change is always refreshing.

An fair warning, though. This blog will soon include less discussion of books read for fun and more discussion (begging for advice) on teaching and reading and writing dilemmas. Thanks to all of you for your comments this summer as I have delved into the blogosphere. It's been fun, and I am determined to keep it up as the mad rush of the semester begins!

The best part of going back? Back to school shopping, of course. I'm acquiring some hot pink ballet crocs that should be here any day. I'll definitely be posting a picture.