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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (66685)	12/14/1999 8:44:00 PM
From: nihil	Respond to of 108807

I agree that band and athletic teams are great molders of youth. I know that adult leadership and parental support of these programs are essential. A group of kids by themselves rarely accomplish anything. One of the great memories of my youth, however, is the Atlanta Science Club, started by boys, hosted by parents who allowed us to build laboratories in their basements (and no doubt shivered in fear upstairs.) We were fortunate to have two adult chemists who, pretty much behind the scenes (and without compensation) helped us learn. We took college level courses in chemistry and biology, took exams, and gave each other certificates of completion. Our parents, especially my father, supported us, but not financially. One incident in particular stands out. When our senior adviser brought his business colleague to help us out, it turned out (not publicly) that the junior been fired from a school for (allegedly) making sexual advances to teenaged boys. My father, a teacher himself, discussed the issue with the junior adviser. He was satisfied that there was no "danger (there was no suggestion of violence)." He reassured the other parents, and the man continued to work with us at least until I left town. I never heard that anything happened. I've often thought about that. I think many grown men who love to work with boys (teachers and coaches) are strongly homoerotic. I think in most instances they never express themselves overtly. I think many women who like to work with girls are homoerotic. I think this is a natural phenomenon, and should not be interfered with by the community. (Of course there are limits, and parents should teach their kids about the problems without frightening them). I was several times exposed to sexual approaches (especially by my music teachers) but I was neither shocked nor responsive. I was not afraid of them nor did I avoid them. The idea of ratting on them never occurred to me. Besides, my father would have thought I was overreacting and acting immaturely. My father thought that I was extraordinarily beautiful and charming, and had prepared me well to deal with excessive admiration from older males.