Private Vs. Public-What's the Deal?

For the second year in a row now, my older daughter has participated in the school district's annual musical that is put on for 6th-9th grade students (middle school and jr. high). It's a fabulous program, and the director, a district employee, always does a phenominal job with the kids. Last year they put on "Suessical the Musical, and this year they are doing "Annie." The kids work hard, even the ones in the smaller roles, and it's fun for them.

Yesterday was Emily's first performance. There are two casts, and three performances a weekend for two weekends. Each cast does a Saturday matinee one weekend, and a Friday night and Saturday night performance the other weekend. Yesterday was a matinee performance for Emily. My parents came, and my mother-in-law came, and Stella brought a friend. The kids did a great job.

After the play, the grandparents all went their respective ways. We went out to dinner, and then to Dairy Queen, just to celebrate. It was during this time that Emily tells me that before each performance they do a "prayer circle."

What? Is this a private, religious school? No. It's a public school. So why do they insist on this? I could understand just group well-wishing, break-a-leg cast bonding thing, but they say Amen at the end. That is not necessary. Again, I hate this assumption that everyone thinks and believes the same way. I hate religion crammed down your throat.

If I wanted my kid to pray at a school function, I would have sent her to a private school.

Sometimes You Make A Difference

Here's an email I got the other day. It was a such a great thing to read on a Monday morning...

Subject: PLEASE READ THIS FAST PLEASE READ



Hey, remember me? Im vasiliy your (former) sixth grade student.



You thought (taught) me a lot of great things thanks for everything you did. I did not realized that when I was in your class. But now I did. I think your kids did not realize that now to. But some day they will. Middle school is not that hard. All you have do is your homework its 40 percent of your grade. And the rest of it is tests. They are really hard. You have to study a lot. I have straight As I’m 4.0 student all because of you. Let your kids read this message. Email me back when u are done.

I did email him back. I do remember him (it was just last year...). He was a nice kid who blurted out in class, but did get that under control. He was a former ELL student, and you can see from his email that he still has some trouble with the grammar. I'm glad a student can still be a 4.0 student who has challenges with English. And I did share my email with my class.

Out of the Mouths of Babes Pt. 2

A cold spell has hit us in March, and we are getting frigid temperatures. Yesterday it snowed pretty heavily, and this morning was below freezing and icy. I decided to wear my school fleece pullover, which I hardly ever wear. I wore black pants and a black turtle neck shirt underneath. The pull over fleece is sort of a cobalt blue color.

After lunch recess, I went out to pick up my kids. One student was at the head of the line, and walked next to me as we went into the building.

"Mrs. Teacher," she said, "You look like a blueberry!"

I guess maybe I should lose a few pounds.

Heartfelt? You Decide.

It's that time of the year again: grading time. As I was going through student files, I came across an apology note written to me from a fifth grade boy, who is a nice kid but tends to blurt out comments without thinking at the wrong time. Here's the note:

Dear Teacher,

I am deeply sorry I interrupted your story at the end of class. I was wrong to do that. It was foolish and childish. I am trying to be the best student I can. There are some ups and downs. The blurt I said was very bad because it interrupted one good story. I was dumb and wrong to shout that out. I understand it was wrong and I am willing to suffer any consequences that you will bestoe on me. So with further do I apologize and dissapointed in myself. I will try not to do anything like it again. If you will forgive me I am very sorry. I hope you think good of this letter.

Sincerely,
John

Perhaps Ruffage Will Help

Today I was reading aloud from a wonderful book called Maniac Magee. In one part, Maniac goes into a stinky, dirty house. One of the reasons it is stinky is because the dog in the house peed on the floor. It isn't Maniac's house, but he gets some newspaper anyway to soak up the pee. The story goes on to say that Maniac also sees something else left by the dog that can't be soaked up with a newspaper, but is stinky just the same.

Most of the kids understood: "Eeew!" and "Gross!" But some kids were still dumbfounded. And then someone asked, "Is that number two, or number three?"

Number three? Now, I know what number one is, and I know what number two is. What is number three?

Further discussion ensues about just how many "numbers" kids have, if you know what I mean. One kid also had a number four. Another kid had a number five. When one kid said he also had a number six, I had to stop it right there. This was just too much information-or not enough, really, because what all kinds of poop were they talking about?

Perhaps they just need to get a little more fiber in their diet. I'll have to bring it up at conference time.