Teaching elementary grades was delightful. When a student conquered what had been a challenge, his joy and confidence filled his face. Every subject moved seamlessly into the next, connecting and connecting and connecting. I loved it. Well, nearly every moment of it. An injury to my right elbow took me out of public school. Long story, painful and sad. A private Christian school associated with my church asked for help in improving everything. In many ways, it was similar to cleaning out a closet and replacing every single thing with new items. But that isn't what I discovered head on: Middle School. I taught fifth through eighth English and Science. Fifth/Sixth comprised 12 students, maybe 10 at times. Seventh/Eighth was much the same. Something was wrong, something was different. What had been so fun now was a struggle, theirs and mine.
What was wrong? Why? Then the answer popped up right in front of me: Sex. That was all that seemed to occupy their little lustful minds.
When a girl once--and only one time, as her parents were called--wore thong underpants, the boys turned into cartoon figures of lust. When a boy smiled and kinda flirted, girls giggled and huddled together.
Since classes were small and never changed, sex moved from one subject to another. There was absolutely no way to change this. None. Never. Maybe that was the way it was supposed to be.
YouTube with traditional graduation march, as composed by Edward Elgar
Graduation could not have come soon enough for students and parents alike. That cap-and-gown walk into the gymnasium was dignified, with a few smirks and sly looks. We are outta here!
There were at least three girls that I knew for sure were in the family way, had a bun in the oven, knocked up, and pregnant. Not that this wasn't a surprise, being who they were and their reputations. AND there were many more who were anxiously watching the calendars, crossing each day off, and waiting. This, again, I suspected and heard the gossip, since no girl keeps that secret to herself.
Meanwhile, there were some parents with grim faces, clenched jaws, and hands balled up in barely contained fury. These were girls' parents, who had seen the evidence bulging out. Others were the boys' parents who forced confessions after talking with girls' parents.
AND THEN there were parents who discovered that their boys had made side trips to other schools, and this was a drama in itself.
Each of those parents were thinking: we raised up our kids right, in the fear of the Lord!... Whenever church doors were open, we sat in the pews singing hymns!... We went to church, youth group, church camp.... We had family devotions every night!...We prayed with them, saw them saved at the altar. We did not talk about sex, because that would give them permission to "do it". HOW could this have happened?
Well, I will tell you why this happened: All dating venues were off bounds since they were evil or sinful.
Bowling alleys? They served beer there. Movies? Oh, heavens no--all those actors were sinners and who knows what the hidden messages might exist. Miniature golfing? Just the two of them? They need chaperones for that, too. Eat out? Are you kidding? We don't have money for that! Dancing? That stirs up lust and invites the devil in.
All that was left was parking in a cornfield and making out, which means to kiss passionately and grope body parts. Oh, there were many many cars in a field, leaving farmers to wonder who smashed down corn stalks. All it took was a promise and a kiss, plus I'll marry you if you get pregnant.
When graduates marched out the gymnasium door, some knew that next week, they would be marching down the aisle, wearing a wedding dress in a lovely shade of ivory.
Traditional Wedding March, Mendelssohn, as played by Diane Bish Addendum: This was in my 1969 graduation. Life was different then. Birth control was for married women. Pills prescribed were to them. Buying condoms often required driving to the next state over. Yup, this issue was a non-issue, due to many factors.
