Slaughter in a US university...

April 17, 2007 — Cho Seung-Hui, 23, the Virginia Tech student who police believe is responsible for killing 33 people at the university he attended.

Everyone is wondering why this keeps happening in the USA. Why is it so easy to buy weapons in that country? How is it possible that tragedies like this one are not enough to make the government enforce a law against weapons? Who is earning money with the business?...

Another problem that worries me is bullying. Some teenagers live a life of fear and despair during their school years and some of them carry in their memory the episodes of violence and humiliation all through their life. There are some who suffer from depression while still at school or afterwards, because the image of themselves is affected and some are not able to overcome the trauma. Some others become killers... Teachers and parents must pay attention to the signs...

(Click on the title to read more about this in the ABC News link.)

(pinture from the internet - ABC News)

Sex at school

There is a survey about sex at school published in the Sábado magazine which says that 11% of the students in high school have already tried sex during breaks and when they don't have classes. The article mentions that it usually happens in the playground, toilets and in some places like behind some buildings and at the gym. I admit that this was a surprise to me. Especially the confessions of some students who talk about having sex without condoms in the school facilities. I thought that some hot kisses and naughty hands were the furthest that you could go with so many people around, but I was mistaken.Our school has got separate toilets and the buildings don't give enough privacy to the couples, so I believe that this only happens in other schools with other types of facilities. However, I would like to know your opinion about this. Again, the discussion over classes of Sexual Education comes to my mind, because I have been facing a lot of ignorance among younger students as far as sexuality is concerned. This week, for example, a young girl told me that kissing a boy was oral sex and it was the only thing they could do at school, because everybody was watching... I couldn't believe my ears. I must say that in the age of information there is still more ignorance than knowledge and we should, as teachers and grown-ups, do the best possible to inform these teenagers and make them aware of the need to have responsible sex and relationships. Parents don't talk about this, in most cases, and teachers think that it's not their business to inform. What do you think? Should children and teenagers grow up like this?...

(picture: cover of Sábado magazine)

Another term before Summer!

Dear student,

Did you rest and had lots of fun during this small two weeks break? So, I think now you are ready to start working hard again in order to have reasons to celebrate in the end of the term! Days are getting bigger, the weather is warmer and the terrible winter is far away. Enjoy the sunny days and give your best in your studies so that you can have some memorable holidays in the Summer! Remember: these may be the best days of your life! HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK for the final track!