Brenda Torres Figueroa

Models of Teaching-July 2011

How do you introduce important issues without being another authoritarian presence in your students lives? December 1st, is recognized around the globe as the International Aids Awareness day. Around that time we begin the process of gathering resourcesto the theme of AIDS prevention and youth, that are adaptable to our particular content area related. Is not an easy topic to present in any social, cultural and political context, particulartly because we often use data provoded by the Department of Health many youth of our school were raised with the idea that HIV is an issue exclusive to gay men, eventhough of the increasing population of youth of color with HIV. As a teacher is complicated to introduce a topic on which you do not have any personal relationship with it. So I wanted to undo every previous knowledge I had on the condition and, of those who had affected the most. I also researched teen oriented websites to see how they dealt with the topic through their forums and exchanges. I came across the film KIDS by Larry Clark created in 1997. --KIDS is a disturbing portrayal of teenage life, AIDS, and the Kids of New York City. Controversial in its content, . Primarily the story consists of Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick) a 17 year old slacker whose mission is to de-flower as many young girls as possible, whilst unprotected. Things turn bad when an old flame finds out she has tested positive for HIV and the only person she has had sex with is Telly. She chases through New York to find him but is too late as he has already de-flowered yet another innocent pre-teen. The past year, I presented the movie KIDS to my students. And this is an example of the questions presented before, during and after the presentation. WARM UP: Create a list of things that happened in your life in the past 24 hours Think work Compare and contrast which similarities or disparities the KIDS portrayed in the movie has with kids/youth you know or even you? Explain. What you think is the ideal audience for this film? Children, Teens, adults, everyone? Explain why What kind of social commentary the author of this film is trying to portray? Does watching this film change your perspective on any issues related to HIV/AIDS, drugs, alcohol, violence, sex or other? Explain why

What do you think is the moral of this story? Write a different ending for this film.

Exit ticketCreate a list of things you are looking forward to do in the next 24 hours.

How do you avoid trampling on students insights, points of views and experiences?
I did not conducted an open discussion of the content of the film with none of the classes. Students were requested to write for a period of fifteen minutes their insights of the film. All the reflections were written down anonymoulsly on paper. They kept their papers as well. I asked during the next period if anyone wanted to share their insights, only two female students did and their comments were in the context of deciding or not to use drugs and alcohol and the extent of the consequences that ranged from unwanted pregnancies to different types of STD's and HIV.