Star Pupil

Last week I dealt out an assignment to my class 8, 7 and 6 students about Parenthood. We spent the lessons talking about what makes a good parent, what makes a parent bad, the different responsibilities of being a parent and how the younger someone is as a parent the more difficult it is for them to meet these responsibilities. I’m trying to deter teenage pregnancy here people.

The assignment was a list of 8 questions that I asked them to answer and tell my why they answered them.

1. Do you like children?
2. Do you have the patience to raise a child?
3. Would you beat your child if they misbehaved or you lost your temper?
4. Are you financially able to raise a child?
5. Would having a child interfere with your future goals?
6. Would you expect your child to take care of you in your old age?
7. Would you be willing to devote a large part of 18 years to be a devoted parent?
8. Could you accept and love a child who was physically or mentally disabled?

Well after piles of the same answer over and over. “Yes, because children are a gift from God.” “Yes, because you must teach your kids to stop bad behaviors.” “Yes, because I will have a career and be able to raise a family.” “Yes, because children are a blessing.”

Blah, blah, bah….Then I came across this little gem.

1. Do you like children? No, they are disturbing and making a person to have headache.
2. Do you have the patience to raise a child? No, because I don’t like them.
3. Would you beat your child if they misbehaved or you lost your temper? No, because I would not have a child.
4. Are you financially able to raise a child? No, because they are unbearable.
5. Would having a child interfere with your future goals? Yes, because when she/he is sick I wouldn’t go to work or school instead I will take her/him to the hospital and that is wastage of my time.
6. Would you expect your child to take care of you in your old age? No, because they would make me be stressed and I can finally die of ulcers.
7. Would you be willing to devote a large part of 18 years to be a devoted parent? No, they could be pretending in school and I can be called by the head teacher, and being asked silly questions.
8. Could you accept and love a child who was physically or mentally disabled? Yes, coz it is not their wish to be like that, it is also my dream that when I grow up I would like to be a charity woman who will take care of people with special needs. 

She is my new favorite student. Not because her answers are entertaining, but because it is so rare to see thinking like this, it deviates from the norm here. She is my new favorite because she is brave enough to think differently. Plus she funny as hell. I gave her TWO stickers.