Friday, September 07, 2007

They May Be Clueless, But At Least They Got Religion

My class is shaping up, slowly but surely. Each year, I forget how little they came to us knowing, and what a hard task those first few weeks are, teaching them all the little quirks and rules. I guess it's because at the end of the year, they're well-trained, and it's underscored by how far they get by the end of the year. Simple things, like knowing their own last names, or what their mama's names are.

I misplaced the little slip of paper that I keep with me that tells me how all my babies get home: these two to daycare vans, this one to the on-site afterschool care service, these three or four walk home with big brothers or sisters, and so on. One child, I could not, for the life of me, remember how she got home. So, I called her up to my desk to question her on the matter.

Mrs. KLee: "Sweetie, are you a bus rider?"

Cute Little Girl: "Huh?"

Mrs. KLee: "Are you a bus rider, a car rider, or a walker?"

*blank stare*

Mrs. KLee: "How do you get home? Are you a car rider, a walker, or do you ride the bus?"

Cute Little Girl: "No, I'm a Baptist!"

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh that is too cute. It does call into question what she thinks Baptists think about non-Baptists, though.

KLee, what grade do you teach? Is it Kindergarten? I guess I'm a little surprised that the kids don't all know their last names. The tot has known her first, middle, and last names since before she was 2.

(That was a post-Katrina thing. The stories of little ones being separated from their families were heartbreaking, so we made it a priority to teach her her full name.)

Anonymous said...

That is so incredibly sweet!

I wonder if they'd bus my daughter to your school next year?

Sue said...

Too cute!!

Karyn said...

Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear.

Jenevieve said...

Fantastic!

I had kind of the opposite experience teaching VBS one year. We were trying to discuss heaven with a bunch of 1st graders, and I asked if there was anyplace they really liked to visit. The kids answered predictably with "grandma's house" and "Disneyland". Then I asked if there was a place they loved so much they wished they could live there instead of their own house.

This one girl got a dreamy look on her face and said, "Oh, Target, for sure. I love Target."

I had to work hard to keep a straight face for her.

jo(e) said...

That's so funny!

Courtney said...

Real life conversation from my high school.

A-hole guy: "Are you a virgin?"
Prissy girl: "No, I'm a Lutheran."

Marni said...

So sweet! I want to hug her!

ccw said...

My MIL would simply love that answer.

That is too funny!!

Liz Miller said...

Oh my goodness! That is fabulous!