The gum‐chewing 10th grade student with teased hair eyed the quiet line of seventh grade girls seated nervously across the table from her in the mid‐school library. The 10th grade student was their “teacher” for the next 30 minutes, leading a discussion about AIDS. “So,” she asked, chewing between phrases, “You girls know about latex condoms?” She then rattled off a series of questions and teaching points about AIDS — “African green monkeys,” “unprotected sex,” “shared needles.”The 10th grade student was contributing to her inner city high school class project, run in conjunction with the school‐based clinic. She was sharing her special knowledge about AIDS, taught by the clinic staff, with younger children as a service to her community. What this novice teacher was lacking in professional delivery she made up for in enthusiasm for both her subject and for her
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