This Fall, the 8th grade is experiencing OWL - “Our Whole
Lives,” a course that encourages our teens to quite literally bring their whole
selves to Temple Israel. This course introduces topics, values and
conversations that matter in their lives. So far we've covered: consent and boundaries,
privilege, relationships, being cool, cliques, flirting, gender and gender
roles, and transgender issues. The goal is to build trust in the grade by
encouraging conversation and providing opportunities for the teens to be
vulnerable, and say what they really think and feel. Our hope is that by giving
them the chance to talk about the issues that are most pressing in their lives,
they will bond as a class and Temple Israel will be a safe place in their lives
where they feel comfortable and cared for. Some excellent moments this semester
have included: flirting advice from the book of Ecclesiastes; “drawing”
our social cliques and discussing teenage social hierarchies and community;
privilege scenario role plays; and gender boxes and activity that helped us
examine gender stereotyping and social pressure.
There have also been some excellent debates in the second
hour - In Matt’s group we had a recent discussion of whether James Bond is a
positive or negative role model for males; in Suzie’s group we have discussed
catcalling, feminism, and joined a group of 9-12th grade girls to ask and
answer our pressing questions.
Best wishes,
Mike, Suzie, and Matt
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