gave the circumcision lecture today - Page 2

[NamastePlatypus]

YOU SO ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get that word out!! People need to hear it somewhere and your voice is priceless!!!!

Wish I could give you an award!

[jee'smom]

Thanks guys! I do feel blessed to be in a postition where I can teach important topics. I live in Pennsylvania, a very conservative state, in a VERY conservative area. The neat thing is that these are teenagers and they are so receptive to hearing new ideas. I've never gotten in trouble for teaching what I do. I tell my students that "I teach Anatomy and Physiology of the human body. The WHOLE human body. We treat the teaching of penises and vulva/vaginas the same as stomachs and ears. I teach FACTS, not opinion. If you would like to hear my opinions on things, you may ask me after class." (Of course they get my opinion from the way I talk about things... but...) How can anyone argue facts? and BTW, let me tell you, it's a fine line I walk when I teach the function of the foreskin (the gliding motion during sexual intercourse, etc.) I do it very factually. They are so awesome about it. No snickers, no giggles, they just sit and listen with interest, then we have a discussion afterwards. I think they just appreciate someone talking to them about genitals and sex and laying it all out on the line, instead of sugar-coating everything, or beating around the bush (so to speak!)

[jee'smom]

Originally Posted by Blarg

Jee'smom, you are my hero! I cannot adequately express the sheer force of positive feelings I feel toward you and what you're doing. You just make me happy inside. :-)

(As a side note, you may already be aware of this study, but if not you may want to take a look, as it may be helpful in some way in your curriculum: http://www.nocirc.org/touch-test/touchtest.php)

I've never seen that, I'll have to read it later when I have more time. Thanks!

[jee'smom]

[QUOTE=paquerette;8221871] :bouncers :

How're those kiddoes of yours doing? And the new bellybean? Hope everything's going well.[/QUOTE

They're doing great, thank you for asking! This one's a girl (named Kalia)... we can't wait for her to come!!! and I hope the little Honey Bea's doing great also!

[jenP]

Originally Posted by jee'smom

Thanks guys! I do feel blessed to be in a postition where I can teach important topics. I live in Pennsylvania, a very conservative state, in a VERY conservative area. The neat thing is that these are teenagers and they are so receptive to hearing new ideas. I've never gotten in trouble for teaching what I do. I tell my students that "I teach Anatomy and Physiology of the human body. The WHOLE human body. We treat the teaching of penises and vulva/vaginas the same as stomachs and ears. I teach FACTS, not opinion. If you would like to hear my opinions on things, you may ask me after class." (Of course they get my opinion from the way I talk about things... but...) How can anyone argue facts? and BTW, let me tell you, it's a fine line I walk when I teach the function of the foreskin (the gliding motion during sexual intercourse, etc.) I do it very factually. They are so awesome about it. No snickers, no giggles, they just sit and listen with interest, then we have a discussion afterwards. I think they just appreciate someone talking to them about genitals and sex and laying it all out on the line, instead of sugar-coating everything, or beating around the bush (so to speak!)

I wish you had been my biology teacher! Well, luckily I read read Mothering so found out the horrors of circ before I ever had kids, but if I had had kids when younger I wouldn't have even thought twice. Or once. In fact, I didn't even know there was such a thing as circ, because I had no idea there was such a thing as a foreskin! Great that you teach about ALL body parts.
OT: the other huge gaping hole in my anatomy/physiology education was everything in "Take charge of your fertility." When I read that book, I was SO MAD that no one ever mentioned that before! All they ever told us was "you're gonna get your period, here's some coupons for kotex." When I think of that OB/GYN who was convinced I had an infection because I had a lot of clear/white streaked discharge (just in for a regular checkup)... which I later found out was regular cervical mucus; I was probably ovulating that day and that idiot doc didn't even recognize cervical mucus!!! And I didn't recognize it either, because I had no idea the changes our bodies go through in cycles of fertility.
Anyway, AWESOME that you teach about functions of the foreskin. Just getting word out that foreskins exist is a great thing.

Jen

[vaughnmama]

Originally Posted by jenP

I wish you had been my biology teacher! Well, luckily I read read Mothering so found out the horrors of circ before I ever had kids, but if I had had kids when younger I wouldn't have even thought twice. Or once. In fact, I didn't even know there was such a thing as circ, because I had no idea there was such a thing as a foreskin! Great that you teach about ALL body parts.
OT: the other huge gaping hole in my anatomy/physiology education was everything in "Take charge of your fertility." When I read that book, I was SO MAD that no one ever mentioned that before! All they ever told us was "you're gonna get your period, here's some coupons for kotex." When I think of that OB/GYN who was convinced I had an infection because I had a lot of clear/white streaked discharge (just in for a regular checkup)... which I later found out was regular cervical mucus; I was probably ovulating that day and that idiot doc didn't even recognize cervical mucus!!! And I didn't recognize it either, because I had no idea the changes our bodies go through in cycles of fertility.
Anyway, AWESOME that you teach about functions of the foreskin. Just getting word out that foreskins exist is a great thing.

Jen

Amen to all that. There are so many things that I never knew about my own body, or the male gender either, until I was about 30. My poor boys are circumcised because the lack of education for me and my husband...and the vast majority of Americans. I wish I'd had a teacher like this awesome lady too.

[TigerTail]

those kids are the next wave of intactivism. they aren't so afraid to speak their mind, the stuff that passes at mainstream sites won't last. it's so obvious if you haven't been brainwashed, and they will do more than we could ever hope to.

[jee'smom]

Originally Posted by jenP

OT: the other huge gaping hole in my anatomy/physiology education was everything in "Take charge of your fertility." When I read that book, I was SO MAD that no one ever mentioned that before! All they ever told us was "you're gonna get your period, here's some coupons for kotex." When I think of that OB/GYN who was convinced I had an infection because I had a lot of clear/white streaked discharge (just in for a regular checkup)... which I later found out was regular cervical mucus; I was probably ovulating that day and that idiot doc didn't even recognize cervical mucus!!! And I didn't recognize it either, because I had no idea the changes our bodies go through in cycles of fertility.
Anyway, AWESOME that you teach about functions of the foreskin. Just getting word out that foreskins exist is a great thing.

I do talk about cycles, understanding your fertility, and cervical mucus (I try to get them to think about why a woman's cervical discharge would be abundant and slippery at the time of ovulation.) Instead of just teaching facts, I like when they synthesize/analyze the info for themselves, it leads to great discussions as they all try to figure stuff out about the human body! (Like I said, I do this with the whole human body... why is the ear shaped like it is? Why are your olfactory receptors (for smell) located in the upper part of your nose? etc.)