birthdays, farting, and fashion

I'm noticing some differences between this high school and the one I attended. Granted, I graduated eleven years ago, so there are bound to be some big differences right there. But I think the following distinctions are probably a little more , and mostly related to gender:

1. Birthdays. First of all, I've noticed the attention given to birthdays. Girls tend to like celebrating each others' birthdays. When I was in school (all-male Catholic high school) we didn't give a shit about celebrating birthdays. It just never happened. Nobody ever got their locker decorated by their friends. Nobody walked around all day trailing a large bunch of helium balloons. It just didn't happen.

2. Farting. In my school, farting was epidemic. All bodily functions were epidemic. The young men of my generation spoke more through their anal sphincters than they did through their vocal cords. It got worse than that, even. I remember the strange and still-unsolved mystery of the "Phantom Pooper". <sigh> I shudder to remember that dark chapter in our school's illustrious history. Anyway, this stuff was disgusting, but it was everywhere. Now, in a co-educational environment, I haven't seen (or heard) any of it. Not a peep, so to speak. I guess if you get a reputation as a farter, you won't get dates. And since most of the dating pool is sitting in class with you, it's best to keep that sphincter puckered until later.

3. Fashion. This one's a little tiresome. I don't like the idea of putting students into uniforms (a little too much like prison, if you ask me) but it's also kind of sad to see everyone get so caught up in the fashion scene. Especially the ones who get left behind because of the fashion scene. (There but for the grace of Corey go I, you know?) Anyway, too many little fashion princesses (and princes) running around for me.

Additionally, I'm gradually learning about the immense growth surge that happens somewhere between Freshman and Sophomore year. These two groups are like two different animals. Since my own students are mostly seniors, I'm learning to understand their level of emotional and intellectual development. Then I substitute for a freshman class, and it's like a different world. Amazing.

But I wonder, is it just the loud ones who are demonstrating these differences to me? I mean, I was always much more "mature" than my classmates, but that didn't mean our class was mature, because I wasn't the one blowing sounds out of my ass. So maybe I should be careful to make such broad generalizations between the two groups.

Posted: Fri - October 17, 2003 at 01:33 PM

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birthdays, farting, and fashion

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