There’s an article about Weblogging in today’s Tennessean. It sounded ok. However the bulk of the article implies that the majority of webloggers are high school girls.
Speaking of weblogs, it is always a bit surprising for me to find out who exactly reads this. I really don’t post anything here very interesting. I get referred to as “JeffWhittle.com” all the time, probably due to that shirt I had printed up. But I get the picture that no one really goes to this website. But it is surprising when I find out some people actually do visit here.
As far as the frequent comment that I should be a writer – I don’t think I could ever be a writer. Throughout my life I was trained to write what the teacher wanted to hear. I composed great flowery essays with wonderfully worded language for English class. However none of it was how I really felt. If the teacher had picked out the short story to read, I always said I liked it, no matter what. I always said the author wrote very eloquently, even though I dreaded the very act of reading the essay itself. Writing this log is an outlet for me. Since I’m not forced to write it due to some English assignment, I don’t dread writing it at all.
Tonight in Bible class the 5th and 6th graders studied the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. After going over the lesson, the teacher asked if there were any questions. One of the kids asked “What’s a virgin?” I gritted my teeth when that question was asked. (Keep in mind I am a coteacher and not the one who was standing up in front of the class at the time). I thought the teacher handled that question well. He said it was a pure woman, an accurate definition in the context of the parable. This isn’t a sex ed class, so it wasn’t the time or place to tell the kids exactly what a virgin was. I also heard some other kid whisper to another kid “I’ll tell you later….” as if he was street smart enough to know what the term meant. There’s a kid like that in every bunch.
So next week I’ve actually got to teach. It’s on the great footwashing episode of Luke 22. So at least there isn’t any controversial vocabulary which the kids would be asking questions about.
So I’ve got a list of churches to call in regards to this lottery movement. We are trying to push these yard signs and the anti-lottery movement in general. I volunteered because I have alot of time on my hands right now. However to be completely honest, the lottery referendum is not something that is causing sleepless nights for me.
Oh yeah. That roll of film we found at church? It was from the church’s Tuesday Thursday school. Apparently the firemen visited one day and one of the parents took pictures of it. I gave the roll back to the director of the Tuesday Thursday school and let her deal with it.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
My Redneck Past Keeps Nipping at My Heels
The teacher should have told the student to talk with his/her parent(s) about it. It is a major pet peeve of mine that everyone passes the buck with regards to “sex ed”. The parents and churches refuse to let it be taught in school, they don’t want it taught in the church, and parents won’t do it. Everyone dances around the subject and uses metaphors or symbolism that only frustrates or embarasses the person who is sincerely asking someone that he/she trusts will give him/her the truth to his/her question. So, like this kid, they all wind up learning from their friends who, in most instances, aren’t much more informed than themselves. Then, they wind up with an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually-transmitted disease and everyone stands around moaning about how society is losing its morals. The question should have been directed to the appropriate person(s) to answer: their parents. If their parents wouldn’t answer them, then the parents, child, and the minister/pastor should have met with the child and spoken frankly and honestly about sex with him/her. Maybe they would then be able to talk intelligently to their friends when they have questions that no one else will answer.
I’ll get off my soapbox.
bob
P.S. — Don’t interpret this as anger directed towards you, Jeff. It definitely is not.
No anger was intrepreted in this. I get your point. I may devote a future entry to this subject, since there’s alot of views I could take on this.