Teachable Moments

It’s been difficult to find humor in what I do lately, a talent that I find can get me through most days. People are always asking me if I have any stories about work, like I am a daily television drama they need to catch up on. And while my “stories” can be rather amusing, this isn’t TV. This is my life… my pathetic, 40 grand a year, needs a second job to survive, energy-draining, completely ridiculous life. Am I really teaching them ANYTHING?

Today I allowed my students to hear two speeches given by Dr. Martian Luther King Jr. The objective was simple: Allow students to listen to each speech and then compare and contrast Dr. King’s speeches.

The first was of course the famous “I have a dream speech” Ironically enough, many of them had heard of MLK but had never heard his speech. The second was a less familiar recorded sermon by MLK called “A knock at midnight.”

I am attempting to teach different levels of communication-that there is a right place and time for different kinds of speech. It might be “Ima be doin that” on the street but in school it’s “I’m doing that.”

After listening to both speeches, we had a class discussion about civil rights and why people believed in MLK. Some of the students commented on how it saddened them to see black people struggle for equal rights. I, of course, saw this as a teachable moment. I wanted my students to know that there are issues even today that people feel passionately about and even hold demonstrations for. I told them about the recent demonstration for gay marriage rights. I know what you’re thinking… I set myself up for what followed. But let me tell you… nothing could prepare me for the comments that followed.

“That’s nasty!”

“What is?”

“Gay people.”

I should have stopped it there.

“We could beat the gay out of them.”

Completely astounded by this student’s comment, I immediately went where I knew I shouldn’t go.

“What if someone suggested we beat the black out of you?”

He looked at me.

“You can’t say that!” He shouted

And then the question I knew they would ask.

“Miss Mac, do you think gay people should be allowed to get married?”

I took a minute to think how I should respond without being fired. I had already suggested that we beat the “black” out of one kid, so I figured it couldn’t get any worse from here.

“I believe in equal rights for everyone, no matter his/her race, religion or sexual orientation. I believe in a person’s right to make their own choices as long as those choices to not harm another human being.”

“Are you gay, Miss Mac?”

“No, I’m not.”

My answer seemed to quiet them. We ended class in silence. I couldn’t help but feel angry at their ignorance. There is such a fine line between innocence and ignorance at this age. I wondered what Dr King would think about one of them offering to beat the “gay” out of someone. I wondered if I would ever be able to teach them to accept other cultures, ideas and theories. I wondered if they would ever open their minds wide enough to learn and grow.