2004-06-09
horny kids and suspicious teachers
DEARABBYTROBY: My daughter, "Chris," is 14. She'll be graduating from eighth grade in a couple of weeks. Over the last few months, I have been driving her and a group of boys and girls to the movies on Friday nights. This has evolved into a romantic relationship with a 15-year-old boy, "Bob," who lives close by and is in her class. In her junior high school, this is described as "going out."I know they kiss. They also dance together at a local hangout on Saturday nights. I could refuse to drive them to the movies together, but they would probably meet there anyway.
Chris has a level head on her shoulders. She's a good girl and active in our church. We talk openly together.
AbbyTroby, can you guide me in this? I trust my daughter, but I am also aware that 14- and 15-year-olds have a lot of raging hormones. Please advise. -- WISHES KIDS CAME WITH HANDBOOKS
DEAR CAME: Lend your daughter a hand before she leaves on dates. I'd also strongly urge you to invest in some 16th century medieval chastity belts for your daughter. It may be too late, but perhaps you should just tell her that there are many dangers for her if she gets involved in sex and that if you find out she's a not a virgin, you'll disown and possibly kill her, history has shown that to be an effective method. -- TROBY
DEAR
ABBYTROBY: From fourth to ninth grade, I attended a small Christian school in Delaware. It was a great experience because the teachers and the students were able to really get to know one another.One of the teachers, Mr. C., was one of the best a student could ever hope to have. Learning was fun in the subjects he taught, especially U.S. history. Can you imagine taking a class of 20 on an overnight camping trip to Gettysburg?
While talking to my mom, who was a co-teacher with Mr. C., about an upcoming business trip to Asheville, N.C., Mom mentioned that Mr. C. lives there and encouraged me to try to find him. Well, it turned out that Mr. C. was the only Mr. C. in the Asheville phone book.
We spent a wonderful afternoon reminiscing about his days as a teacher and mine as a student. Although I don't remember much about the subjects he taught, I will never forget the time he spent with us -- laughing while we played football on the playground, crying when a classmate passed away. He was always there for us.
One of his favorite lines was: "Don't hurt him! He is the only one we have like him!" Now that I work with children, I find myself using his favorite phrase.
AbbyTroby, please encourage your readers to take the time to look back and thank those teachers who made a difference in their lives. They helped to make us who we are today, and it would be rewarding for them to see the fruits of their labors. -- GRATEFUL IN NORTHERN OHIO
DEAR COLUMN USURPER: What the fuck is this? This isn't your column, I give advice, I don't take it. Also, I think you'd be interested in knowing that Mr. C. is undoubtedly a pedophile. An "overnight 'camping' trip"? Come on. I wouldn't be surprised if he caused that student's death, either. -- TROBY