When she was 12, a seventh-grade student found herself at odds with the rigid teachings of her Catholic school.
Curious and questioning, she quickly realized her questions about sex and morality made her teachers uncomfortable – especially Mrs. M, her religion and sex education teacher.
It was her final year at the Catholic school. Faith had never resonated deeply with her, and by seventh grade, she was disenchanted and full of questions that adults seemed unwilling to answer.
Here’s The Original Post:
Sex education in junior high wasn’t just about biology. It was a method to instill doctrine. Mrs. M opened her first class with, “I’m just as embarrassed to be here as you are,” which the student interpreted not as empathy but as a woman humiliated by having to teach the subject.
The class had an anonymous question box. When a student asked about female orgasms, Mrs. M responded, “The woman’s orgasm is not necessary for sex. Sex is for procreation.” Alarmed, the student asked her mother for clarity.
Her mother explained that sex should feel good for everyone and encouraged her to continue asking questions, emphasizing that a teacher who cannot answer should perhaps not be teaching.
Things escalated. Later, Mrs. M taught that homosexuality was a sin and gay marriage was wrong.
The student, who had a gay uncle and felt same-sex attractions herself, politely asked, “Why is gay marriage wrong?” Mrs. M explained, “Because they cannot procreate, and procreation is the purpose of marriage.”
The student spent the evening considering how to challenge this logic without being disrespectful. In the next class, she asked, “If a woman is infertile, but loves the man she’s marrying, does the Church approve the marriage?” Mrs. M, naturally, said yes.
She followed up with, “But she can’t have children, and marriage is for procreation. Why can she marry, but two men or two women who can’t procreate cannot?”
Unknown to the student at the time, Mrs. M was infertile herself. The question struck a deeply personal nerve. Mrs. M’s face turned red, and she shouted, “This is NOT a debate class!” before sending the student to the office.
Her mother intervened. Mrs. M demanded suspension, but her mother refused. A compromise was reached: the student would complete assignments for religion and sex ed outside the classroom, with grades based solely on written work.
Rather than seeing this as a punishment, the student viewed it as an opportunity. She dedicated herself to mastering the curriculum, completing every assignment meticulously and conducting independent research.
By the semester’s end, she had earned 95% in sex ed and 98% in religion. The final exams, multiple choice and taken under supervision, were graded without bias – both returned at 100%.
Mrs. M, forced to grade every paper, could do nothing as the student’s curiosity and diligence shone. What had begun as a conflict became a testament to intellectual perseverance.
Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:
Reddit users shared similar experiences:
The consensus: curiosity is not a sin, even if it makes authority figures uncomfortable.
Lessons Learned
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Curiosity matters. Asking difficult questions is essential for learning and growth.
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Persistence is key. Respectfully challenging authority can coexist with success.
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Success speaks louder than anger. Excelling academically despite resistance demonstrates resilience and determination.
In the end, the student proved that knowledge and critical thinking can triumph, even in rigid environments. Mrs. M may have harbored resentment, but the student’s excellence stood as a quiet yet undeniable victory.
