Tough Questions of the Seventh Grade Kind

A few weeks into the current Pathfinder year, the seventh-grade kids I work with snickered when a nonsexual term with a slang sexual connotation came up in conversation. I told the kids to stop laughing and that they were too young to know what they were laughing at. Recent events have confirmed this to be true.

 While reading the book of Acts, we read a passage that discussed circumcision. One of the kids asked me to define circumcision. I responded with a vague answer about a covenant between God and Abraham that affects only males. One of the boys cut in and stated, "Miss, they're in health education this year. You can tell them." I ignored the boy and told the kids to ask their parents if they wanted to know more. Unsatisfied with my unresponsiveness, the same boy pushed the issue. "Miss," he stated, "isn't that where they remove the . . . you know. . . (in a very low voice while looking down at his suddenly fidgety hands) balls?" He proceeded to explain how the vet "circumcised" his dog. I wanted to respond by saying, "Well, there's a good chance you're circumcised, so do you really think that is what circumcision means," but I didn't. Instead, I quickly explained that the proper term is testicles and that his dog was neutered, which is different than circumcision.

The cards we made

Last weekend, I took the kids to a nursing home to sing and pass out Valentine's cards.  While at the nursing home, two of the boys in my group found an empty cigarette box in an ashtray.  On the box was a breast cancer awareness picture showing a woman with only one breast.  It was an actual picture of a bare-chested woman.  The boys, being typical boys, were very closely inspecting the picture.  When I approached the boys, they pointed me to the picture.  This time, I was ready for their curiosity about all things sexual.   I explained that some women with breast cancer must have the affected breast removed and that the picture was a warning about the risks of breast cancer.  One of the boys responded, "Isn't that called menopause?"  Ha! These kids are so confused.  I corrected the boy, telling him that the removal of a breast is called a mastectomy.  Then I flipped over the cigarette box and shuffled the boys along.

This group of kids has asked me some tough questions, which is good because it means they are comfortable enough around me to be open and honest.  The humor that their questions generates is just an added bonus.