Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Impressive moment

Today one of my 13 year old students fainted in class. When I asked her what had happened, she told me she was dizzy because she hadn't eaten all day. I remembered I had heard her complain about being fat before (she's such a pretty, well proportioned girl!) so I took her outside for a chat.

I didn't have to ask anything, she just started to talk. Dad had finally moved out of the house last Saturday, after breaking up and getting back together with Mom several times this year. Two of her friends had told her she was getting chubby. She's insecure and she wants to be a model. "That's why I don't eat Miss, because if you don't eat you don't gain weight." She also told me she's thrown up after meal time twice, but that her mother found out and got mad with her.

We had a good talk for about half an hour in which I explained a few things about how the digestive system works. And about the importance of food when you're a growing teenager. The funny thing is that I just watched a documentary about eating disorders last night, so I was able to give her accurate information.

She gave me permission to talk to the counselor, as long as I didn't tell her home-room teacher or her parents. Well of course not. Counselor (who is also her health and science teacher) will look her up tomorrow for a chit-chat.

She said "but Miss, you're spending half the class time on me! Why would you do that?". I told her that I like it when my students know lots about music and are able to sing well, but that my first priority was that they were happy and healthy. At that she just said "thanks" and smiled.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice story... unfortunately there are a lot of girls that think that way and has digestive diseases. You won a little battle, but... will the war will be won someday?

Anonymous said...

Goed van je dat je een gesprek bent begonnen. Het is belangrijk dat ze weten wat ´eating disorders´ voor invloed op het lichaam hebben.
Goed gedaan!

Anonymous said...

Wow.... good for you.... I think it's a very sensible thing you did and will help your student big time... She will remember this talk and it will help...

Anonymous said...

Goed gedaan.

Hopelijk is ze zelf straks sterk genoeg om er overheen te raken, maar aan de begeleiding zal het iig niet liggen ;-)

falleri said...

Goed zo Nic. Dat zouden meer mensen moeten doen. Maar ja, meestal wordt het niet eens opgemerkt.. In ieder geval kan zij nu in de gaten gehouden worden. En dan maar hopen dat ze ervan af komt. Zoiets zit niet alleen maar in haar hoofd..

Anonymous said...

Zo, goed gedaan hoor! Goede daad!
En wat toevallig dat je net de avond van te voren daar een programma over gezien hebt!

grts Lonneke

Angela said...

Need I say more? You are a born teacher! Well done Nic!
thnx again for visiting my blogs
hugs
angela

Anonymous said...

Kijk jij bent dus een TEacher die nog om haar leerlingen geeft dat kan je denk ik niet altijd meer zeggen in deze maatschappij en het is verschrikkelijk dat zon jong meissie dat al doet he.... al die zakken et botjes op de tv zou verboden moeten worden!!!

Anonymous said...

Wat goed van jou dat je een gesprek met haar bent aangegaan, maar ook heel knap van haar dat ze het allemaal zomaar heeft durven te vertellen. Zo zie je maar weer hoeveel kwaad het heersende modebeeld doet. Dit zijn de redenen waarom ik zo achter de beslissing van Spanje sta dat ze geen modellen meer willen met een BMI onder de 18...
Ik hoop dat alles weer goed komt met haar.

Dutchnic said...

@everybody: thanks for the compliments. You all make me blush! I just did what I thought was right and made sense..
I saw the girl again yesterday and she told me she had eaten normally for 2 days. Thank goodness I found out on time!