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Just because Mr. Stambaugh "is being discriminated against based on a fundamental biological characteristic that he did not decide for himself" doesn't mean he should give more than the basic information to a student, especially a 4th grader. A teacher is not there to "stat(e) who they are," but to help a student to the best person they can be. Yes, that includes learning to accept others as they are, but there are better ways to do that than in a conversation about the teacher's personal life. As a teacher, you have to walk a fine line between being yourself and being who your students (and their parents, who, after all, are paying your salary, at least indirectly) need you to be. When in doubt, less information is the wise choice.

Also, you say "all the other reasons why people don’t get married are based on conscious choice,  personal preference or individual circumstances, that can all generally be controlled by the person." I'm sorry, but there are plenty of "individual circumstances" that can't be controlled by the person - age, physical attractiveness, personality, inablility to be in more than one place at a time, etc. And do you really believe that "personal preference" can be controlled, especially when it comes to relationships? Sure, one can control how one acts on their preferences - for example, "I prefer hot fudge sundaes for dessert but I only indulge once a week" - but that preference doesn't go away just because one wants it to. Realistically, one can't expect a potential mate to perfectly match a list of preferences, but if the available and interested "contestant" doesn't come close, is it better to "settle" or be true to yourself?

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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"That's just the way that things have worked out."

Then re-direct.

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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There is such a thing as too much information. When I'm asked by a student if I'm married, I don't recount my relationship history. I just say "no, I'm not." End of story.  This was true when I was a regular classroom teacher as well as now that I substitute.

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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