I really like the young boys that I teach.
This has nothing to do with the fact that quite a few of them are so cute, that I find myself wishing that I was twenty years younger.
Nah, this isn’t going to be a lust-filled post where I admit to harbouring inappropriate thoughts about my charge.
I’m just so filled with hope when I talk with them.
With all this talk of male marginalization and the fact that the universities are reporting that the boy-girl ratio of enrolment continues to be really low, it’s a wonderful thing to see them so interested in school work.
Of course I’m not saying they’re perfect. Oh no! They’re the typical caribbean young males, mischievous and loud sometimes and projecting the expected machismo behavior when among their peers.
I’ve discovered that despite the bandana tied around the head, the baggy jeans that threaten to trip them up, the occassional carving in the head, the self-assured swagger, they’re really pussy-cats when you talk to them on a one and one.
I recently gave them an exam and even though most of them passed with a decent grade, they were a few who didn’t do as well as they should. It was quite a satisfying to see them coming to me, requesting that I go through the questions, expressing concern about their grades and showing signs of distress, vowing that they’re going to do well in the next exam.
This experience has also confirmed that being the tactile person that I am, I wouldn’t last very long in the US educational system that frowns on any action remotely resembling displays of affection. I couldn’t help thinking that this evening as I reassuring pat(or was it rubbing?) a few of them on their shoulders.
What I find quite fascinating is that even though there are females in the class who didn’t do as well as expected, they didn’t seem overly concerned. It was the boys who crowded around my desk, jostling each other for a chance to discuss their grades, banging their heads even as they ask “Miss, is what kind of grade that? Oh Jeez, I need to resit the exam!”
My cynical male friends have basically come to the conclusion that it’s the not grades they’re interested in, but a chance to get close to the lecturer. I can’t quite discount that theory since a few bold ones have made ’soft advances’ - calling me up to ask about some aspect of the course only to cheekily end the conversation by telling me how ’sexy’ I look.
So hard being a hot older female! It’s a burden I’m willing to bear if it results in our boys passing exams.
9 responses so far ↓
Adrian // November 13, 2007 at 10:47 am
I must concur with your male friends.. they just want to get close to the hot lecturer
Sounds like teacher has the hots for them too.. shame on you.
bakannal // November 13, 2007 at 11:19 am
i think i’ll side with ur cynical frenz…bannas always huntin. welcome back.
bobby // November 13, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Girl you burning the tires hard out there. No i understand your new found youthful exuberance … you got this likkle pep that is easily detected in your post …. Mama Hot again .. fling and swing it and enjoy the moment yuh nah go young forever.
Gela Words // November 15, 2007 at 12:57 am
Bobby, what yu mean that ah not going to be young forever??? What yu really mean?? :@
Jamaican Dawta // November 15, 2007 at 7:47 am
This was such a heart warming post. I’m glad that our young men are showing an interest in their education and future. Hopefully, this will lead to even greater things.
And yes, what a burden. But someone has to do it, eh? lol
Esteban Agosto Reid // November 30, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Your post is quite interesting with regard to the pedagogy of boys.One is of the perspective that the boys in your class(es) are interested in their grades/education.Nonetheless, boys will always be infatuated and attracted to “sexy” and beautiful female teachers who/that are also excellent and brilliant teachers.Hence,they will exhibit a high degree of interest in their clasess, if thought by such teachers.I can speak categorically in this regard with respect to my female physics teacher in high school.Physics, a discipline one was extremely marginal in or at, but when assigned a beautiful and excellent pedagogue, my industry and interest in the discipline increased significantly, and of course my grades improved immensely.I guess there could/may be a scientific correlation.Interestingly,and understandably,it is a rite of passage for young men embracing manhood to be infatuated and attracted to erudite and knowledgeable female teachers. Again,an excellent post,and one is pleased to know and also reassured that there is hope in terms of reversing the marginalization of our boys in Jamaica as evidenced by their performance and interest in your class(es).RESPECT!!
Gela Words // December 2, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Thanks Esteban. Welcome. Don’t you have a blog?
Esteban Agosto Reid // December 4, 2007 at 11:36 am
GELA, I do not have a blog! I am thinking about designing one in the medium term.Nonetheless, I enjoy visiting the various websites for various and sundry information.I find yours quite interesting.RESPECT!!
fiyah // December 5, 2007 at 12:14 am
I remember being attracted to my Spanish teacher back in the day… but my way of getting her attention was by misbehaving in class. Go figure. Times change.
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