Fun Class Activity

Teaching, like police work, editing, or tax auditing, unfortunately, is one of those professions that attracts bullies. Not that all teachers are bullies; many are very dedicated, and some of the best people I have known were teachers. I am a teacher myself, as well as an editor. But it is worth remembering that the Pharisees of the Bible were teachers.

Some of the textbooks I have seen are hair-raising.

Take today. I ran across an activity in an English book (Fun Class Activities, Pearson, 2000). Students are asked to match the “chat-up line” with the correct response. The chat-up lines are made visually appealing by being grouped around a drawing of a clean-cut blond young man holding a bouquet of flowers.

Here are the questions and responses, “correctly” matched up:

Q: Do you think it was fate that brought us together?
A: No, it was just bad luck.

Q: Would you like to join me?
A: Why, are you falling apart?

Q: Your face must turn a few heads.
A: Yours must turn a few stomachs.

Q: Can I kiss you?
A: OK. But mind you don’t burn yourself on my cigarette!

Q: What do you think of the music here?
A: Better than the company.

Q: I’d go to the end of the world for you.
A: Yes, but would you stay there?

Q: Could you give me your name, please?
A: I don’t think Amanda would suit you.

Q: What would you say if I asked you to marry me?
A: Nothing. I can’t talk and laugh at the same time.

Q: I think I could make you very happy.
A: Why, are you leaving?

Q: How did you get to be so beautiful?
A: I must have been given your share.

Kind of puts all the males in the class in their place, doesn’t it? Just imagine a similar exercise based on systematic put-downs of blacks or Jews—let alone women.

And we wonder why boys are falling behind or dropping out of school.