A Totally-Tubular Eighties Sexual Harassment Video

In almost every job, you must go through the obligatory days of training and workshops to cover procedures, rules, policies, and all of the other "important" things addressed in these meetings, usually never to be discussed again (unless you've done something wrong).  Typically, these meetings are dreadfully boring, but have yummy food and coffee.  (Thank goodness for coffee, as it was needed today - it will be a long while before I am readjusted to work wake-up times again!) This morning's new teacher meeting was no different - lots of handouts on colored paper, many people introducing themselves (how on earth are we expected to remember everyone's name?), lots of boring talking.  Until we got to the sexual harassment part of the lecture.

Our very nice Human Resources Lady with the very thick Minnesotan accent took us through the normal discussion of not harassing students or other coworkers, then proceeded to show us a video discussing what was good, bad, ugly, and all of the legal perameters of sexual harassment.  Now, while the video was dreadfully boring, I was kept entertained by the actual people posing as sexual predators, the completely lame-fake-never would be uttered today dialogue between students and teachers, and the outfits themselves.  A few of the highlights:

1.  The woman narrating the video was a stereotypical 80's business woman - an oversized bright-blue suit with huge shoulder pads that held up her curly hair with bangs pouffed up at least six inches above the left side of her forehead, then perfectly cascaded down to the other side of her face.  It actually reminded me of my mother's hairstyle circa 1989.  (Sorry, Mom.)  

2.  In one scene, a very pretty female teenager (with similar hair as the narrator), who was wearing a bodysuit (do you guys remember those?) and pinch-rolled jeans, was coming on to a totally ugly, balding, fat male teacher with a too-short tie and black athletic sneakers. Seriously, would people even think that this chick would hit on this guy?  Never would happen. 

3.  Another male teacher was making unwanted advances towards a female student by putting his hand around her shoulders.  But, she was wearing a very Lisa Turtle-inspired blazer.  She would never even feel his arm on her with those shoulder pads protecting her!

4.  The video also addressed gender discrimination.  This might have been my favorite one.  A female student came in tardy to a classroom, where the male teacher harassed her.  Then, a male student (again, with pinch-rolled jeans) came in and got preferential treatment because he was the school's running back.  (I've NEVER witnessed this in Morris......)  Anyway, the best part of this scenario was that the running back used the word "yepper"!  Does anyone else remember using that word in junior high?  Yepper, I sure do!

While we new teachers should have taken the message more seriously, it was hard not to laugh at the very outdated video.  The school should be slightly embarrassed for showing it. Nonetheless, it made a tedious morning a little more enjoyable.  I hope tomorrow's video is equally exciting!