Next entry in the "It's ridiculous what's acceptable in public schools today" contest:
Students at a Palo Alto middle school learned more than school officials ever expected when a recent "career day" speaker extolled the merits of stripping and expounded on the financial benefits of a larger bust.
The hubbub began Tuesday at Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School's third annual career day when a student asked Foster City salesman William Fried to explain why he listed "exotic dancer" and "stripper" on a handout of potential careers. Fried, who spoke to about 45 eighth-grade students during two separate 55-minute sessions, spent about a minute explaining that the profession is viable and potentially lucrative for those blessed with the physique and talent for the job.
According to Fried and students who attended the talk, Fried told one group of about 16 students that strippers can earn as much as $250,000 a year and that a larger bust -- whether natural or augmented -- has a direct relationship to a dancer's salary.
He told the students, "For every two inches up there, it's another $50,000," according to Jason Garcia, 14.
Yeeks. The school admins insist the only problem here was that the substitute teacher who was present didn't stop Fried from speaking on these topics, although Captain's Quarters would beg to disagree:
Parents demanded an explanation from the school, who blamed the episode on a substitute teacher not cutting off Fried when he went off on his tangent. Left unanswered is why a 64-year-old man thought that such a topic fit within the confines of a middle-school discussion. He had listed the topic on his handouts, so the subject didn't come from the students in the class. It seems that Fried has a little problem and probably lacks the judgment to be around minors.
Yes, as in, eighth-graders. Would you like to hear that your eighth-grade daughter had been told that it would be a good idea to start saving up for breast implants? Didn't think so. Nor would you have wanted your early-developing daughter to have felt self-conscious in class. (The refreshingly obscene Right Thinking From The Left Coast says Fried's comments could have been worse, had he wanted to spread equal-opportunity job tips.)
Reached at his home, Fried said he understands that some may have felt he crossed the line, but he stood by his overall conduct. His remarks were part of a larger presentation entitled, "The Secret of a Happy Life," which he's given at the last two career days. The talk is aimed at inspiring kids to find happiness by settling on careers that they love to do and are especially equipped to perform.
Given what Fried thinks is appropriate career advice for eighth-graders, that last phrase could be interpreted a few different ways, don't you think?
Posted by kswygert at January 14, 2005 11:23 AM