(no subject)

[nny]

Sometimes it is very very hard to deal with my job because kids are ignorant. And like. It is worse absolutely when adults are ignorant because part of my job is removing that ignorance and I totally get that. But sometimes it is very hard explaining to a kid that homophobia is not a character trait to be proud of, and listening to a kid say that they know that someone's sexuality shouldn't change the way they think about them but it does, it really does, and being told - and not just being told but seeing on their face and in the curl of their lip - that they think being gay is something that's disgusting and that's not right.

Adults mostly hide it better and sometimes it makes me think I'm in the wrong job.

Comments

[surexit]

Oh, ugh, that sounds really tough. ♥

[vivien]

I don't have advice. But I do have something to help.

Kids can also surprise you, sometimes

[weaver]

Sometimes it makes me really happy that these little bratty kids have someone as awesome as you teaching them, though. Like, if there was anyone I would be comfortable teaching kids how to think about things, it is you.

But I couldn't do your job myself. You have ALL my respect. <3

[mashimero]

Seconding this!

I think your job must be endlessly frustrating, and equally rewarding at times, and it must be tough, but I think you're a great person to be teaching kids. I hope the rewarding parts come more often and the frustrating parts less so for you! <3

[batyatoon]

*hugs*

If it helps at all, and it might: most of these kids almost certainly thought the whole idea of sex was disgusting and wrong when they first learned about it. And they're young enough that they might remember that, if reminded.

Another thing that might help, in constructive terms: if they do know (and I mean really know and not just know when to parrot back) that someone's sexuality shouldn't change the way they feel about them ... you can say something along the lines of "Look, it's really hard and takes a really long time to change your own emotional reaction, but you can be mature enough in the meantime to keep in mind that your reaction is something that's about you, not about them. And you can try your hardest to treat people as though you respected them even if you can't feel that respect."