Sexually Harassed in the Workplace...

...by the kids.

If I had known that by accepting this job, I would be living out the fantasy of every pedophile on the planet, I would have reconsidered. The things I have seen unfold in my classroom (and Ive only been here a month in a half) are disgusting, troubling, and humorous. They are disgusting because unlike some of you, I dont enjoy seeing half naked kids. They are troubling because it makes me nervous that many of us, myself included, were the same way. With this mind, I dont know whether to worry for what these kids are doing or just accept it as a stage. Finally, most of it is humorous because of the situations that initiate or result from these instances of inappropriateness.

Heres whats happened, mostly in my Kindergarten class, since I got here: I have seen multiple boys engage in what I would classify as make out sessions. Thats right, one boy has kissed two different boys on the lips on two different occasions. According to the video I made of it (joking), it was not open mouth. The same boys have also kissed each others hands as well as my hands.

Twice I have turned around to see everyone in my class pulling their pants away from their stomachs and looking down everyone's. Why? I dont know. Im hoping out of sheer curiosity.

I have also seen the two girls in my class pull their tops up, sometimes at each other and sometimes towards the boys. While I dont think that any of them are entertained sexually by this, they all find it hilarious. Even though both girls have been talked to twice about their actions, I still catch them every once in a while contemplating a third performance.

They all love butts. They love the word, they love their own, they love mine, and they love touching everyone's. Before every picture I take in the class, I have to remind them that it is not appropriate to turn their butt towards the camera. Still, as the pictures show, they insist on flaunting their backside. As for my butt, it has been squeezed, patted, and has narrowly avoided penetration by a 5 year old finger. Again, I pray that this is a stage because I am not getting paid for this.

The most uncomfortable for me, however, occurs in the bathrooms. Every time I use the urinal and there is another boy in the bathroom, he stares at my crotch as I pee. Every time. Its gotten so that I wont go unless I can have the farthest urinal that allows me to angle myself towards the wall and away from the piercing eyes of the kids. The other guy teachers say they dont even use the urinals for this reason, they use the stalls.

The worst, however, has not occur ed in my classroom. Another teacher, Robin, has been here only a day longer than me and she might have the worst class in the school. She has a kid that exposed himself to her once, and when she brought in a Korean staff member to help discipline, the kid threw water on them both. That was not the first time that happened either, the same kid pulled his pants down on his last teacher and tried to pee on him. I have no idea why he hasnt been kicked out yet.

As for the humor side of it, their excuse, at least the kissing boys, is always "I like boys." Because of their limited vocabulary, Im pretty sure they cant express themselves fully, but they are adamant that they like boys, especially when I ask them why they dont kiss the girls. Kids are funny like that. As for what preceded these exhibitions, it seems that it is often a competition of sorts. For the instances involving the girls and everyone looking down everyone's pants, there is usually a slew of Korean spoken right before and then nakedness ensues. What is said, I dont know, but my guess is its something like "look what Ive got."

Have a good weekend everyone!