LIttle Brains at Work

(If you are having trouble seeing the pictures, click to go directly to The Pithy Python)

Two little girls, about age six, were sitting on a bench in the hallway waiting for their teacher to open the door.  An elementary mother walks by and into the headmaster's office, a women in her late 30s.  One child looks at the other and asks, "Is this old people's day?"
(Thanks to Jennifer "Cupcake" Cook for this one.)

Two other little girls. around age 7, were checking out.  Lauren asked one with a broken arm, "When do you get your cast off?" And her friend replied, "Soon! And I will get my full best friend back with NO HARD PARTS!" (Makes you wonder if the friend has been conked a few times by the cast.)

The Lettuce-Eaters

Ken, a teacher of 6 and 7 year olds, came up to the library to tell his class about a change in schedule immediately following their library time.  "Today you can head to the playground for fresh air break, or you can go to the lettuce tasting table and have salad." And all the kids exclaimed with some variant of, "Yay! I know what I'm going to do! I'm going to go taste salad!"  That should warm many a nutritionist's heart. And certainly Tania's, who has worked so hard with so many classes in the Farm-to-School endeavor.

A mother came by this week to get books for her 8 year old who was recovering from abdominal surgery.  She told me that the surgeon came in to chat with her son afterwards, asking the boy where he went to school and what his favorite subject was.  He answered, "Well, it's not exactly a subject but..." and he went on to tell the doctor why library is his favorite part of school.  He said that, unlike at his old school library where he always felt rushed, he gets time to think, browse, and ask me or friends for advice on what to read. He was a new kid this year and I have so enjoyed watching him use this library in a thoughtful way. And hearing that made me glow all day.

It reminded me of NPR's Story Corps project, National Teachers Initiative, featuring adults who contact and interview favorite teachers from when they were young. The first time someone suggested I do this was the late David Mallory, who ran magnificent teacher development seminars at the Westtown School.   I vividly recall the group, after five days of lectures, films, seminars and discussions, meeting for a wrap-up. A roomful of experienced and gifted teachers were reduced to wiping their eyes or even sobbing.  When I told our headmaster, Paul Bianchi, about it, he remarked that teachers are some of the most wounded and criticized members of our society, and a week of affirmation must have touched their hearts.  So here's one interview that touched my heart: a neurosurgeon successfully restored a patient's ability to speak; the ecstatic patient asked him about his favorite teacher and then said, "You make sure you call that teacher."  The teacher's response is so moving: he says that day, that call, ranks up there with the birth of his children as a lifetime highlight.  Click here listen to the story and others like it. And then go call or write your favorite teacher.  Your words will be treasured.