So... I guess in a few days I will be in England. Hanging with Becky, kicking it brit style. In the meantime I have a few people to hang with, namely Jess V, Lace and Illy...
I got a list of things to do... like make some cds, buy some mints, pack a bag, pick some books, 2 days of work.
I would also theoretically like to play one more game of CIV V before I go, but that doesn't seem to be happening... maybe if I get the other things done tonight.
What to report... we are in evals time for winter trimester. Its weird it brings out the best and worst in people.
Its amazing how some things cut through to the character of a person.
I spent a few hours thinking about things my students had said and that I had overheard...
One was a student showing disbelief and contempt when he thought another student had said something about it being sad that a rapist had died. The student had misheard the other, I don't know what they were actually talking about, probably therapists or something... but since yesterday it has been a topic around school since a sex offender was seen in the parking lot talking to some of the middle school students.
Protecting my students is of course a major concern, I don't want anything to happen to them and would do as much as I could to protect them, but the one students contempt got to me.
It was as if the person wasn't human... this mystery dead "rapist" was undeserving of any feelings of sadness, his family didn't matter, his friends didn't matter. It was "good that he was dead."
Similarly many of my students first reaction to hearing that there was a sex offender in the neighborhood was "I'll kick his ass". As if hundreds of sex offenders didn't live in our neighborhoods.
I guess it just bothered me how easily they could disregard this person's humanity because of their crime. I know its not the same thing, but it reminds me how easily a rapist can disregard their chosen victims humanity.
It scares me.
My reaction surprised me. Just a month or two ago I wanted to go out hunting for certain people... I wanted them hurt, humiliated, brought to justice. I still want justice... but I can recognize their humanity now too.
Similarly, it bothered me when I overheard a different group of students talking about how funny it would have been to see a woman embarrassed and humiliated, this was a different situation... I didn't catch who or what the situation was... but basically they wished they had been there to witness a woman's mistake or something... maybe it was a teacher... I dunno. I can understand their voyeurism, I watch failblog, the most embarrassing mistakes and blunders... but from a distance. In the moment, were I there I would be sympathetic, I would worry, I would want to reassure, or help... but that was not my student's reaction.
makes me think this shit is real
Now what to do about it?
No comments:
Post a Comment