Discussing Gay Rights With Korean Middle Schoolers

It's Thursday Society Class and we're discussing the U.S. Constitution and Constitutional Amendments. We somehow moved into hot topic constitutional debates in the U.S. and this is what trips me out:

South Korea is a pretty conservative country. They usually go the more traditional way in most things. Women are still expected to stay at home and be housewives, men are still expected to make all of the decisions for their families, and there are jobs that are "for men" and "for women." [Example: Teachers = women (if you never noticed it, just take a look around at how many male teachers there actually are at your schools) unless they are university professors.]

Anyway, like I said, it trips me out that Korea is a very conservative country, and yet, I was able to have a normal conversation with my 13 year-old boys about the hot-button issue in the U.S. right now; gay rights. Some agreed with equality while the others disagreed. I didn't want to push it too much because I know that I'd probably get in trouble if I did (although, what are they gonna do? fire me? pffft!). But the point of all of this is that we were able to, in a South Korean middle school hagwon classroom, have a civilized discussion in which we didn't always agree with each other, but we talked about our differences of OPINION and how those opinions differ from constitutional rights and freedoms that should be afforded to any human being. 

I'm quite proud of my middle schoolers. Not because I might have changed their opinions (because I don't think I did), but because they were able to understand human rights, rights as citizens, religious/personal opinions, and most importantly, that we can discuss these issues with each other like civilized people rather than yell at each other and try to stomp on each others' beliefs. 

Today is my last real class with them because next Tuesday we will have a snack party and then my contract at this school will be over. I will miss them sooooo much. These little guys (who are not so little anymore) are amazing human beings who will some day change the world. 

Marisol Teacher is sad, but also happy that she got to meet them, teach them, and learn a lot from them, too. 

<3