In a classroom full of Third Grade Students stating the obvious or asking the obvious question is a daily ritual. It keeps one on their toes and absolutely reminds one, Why DO we do that, anyway?
Third Grade questions are usually the easy obvious questions such as: What page are we on? Any teacher knows how many times you say, "Please turn to page 59, Page 59, I need you all to turn to page 59,that's 5-9,........ please", and that page 59 is usually also written on the board! OR What's today's date? This is my favorite because in the classroom where I have been working, on a good day, the date is on the board in about four different places. AND Third Grade is also the time when the students start noticing their classmates and just about every Monday you will hear, "Did you get your hair cut?", usually said to the student who comes in with ALL THEIR HAIR BUZZED OFF.
There are times when the students ask the thoughtful obvious question for which there are no real answers. For these the standard reply is, "Because it's always been that way", or "I have no idea". Students always look at a teacher funny when they say, "I don't know" as if we have failed them in some way.
In actuality there are some questions for which there just seem to be no real good answers. We just seem to accept these things as the way it has always been or we don't really think about what the outcome would be so much if we did finally answer the questions in a different way or with a different action. I guess it's also possible, sometimes we just wish, maybe even hope, things were different and we ignore reality.
My list of obvious questions:
1. If we know we are a size 10, Why do we reach for the size 8?
2. If we know that "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world", (N.Mandela), Why do we continue to slash education budgets?
3. If we know that cigarettes cause cancer, Why do we continue to produce them let alone smoke them?
4. If we know that plastic bags take 1000 years to biodegrade , Why do we continue using them? (This one actually came from a student in third grade when discussing Earth Day and things we can do to help Save the Earth.)
5. If we know that too much Tequila is a bad idea, Why do we have that last Margarita? Of course this could be any type of alcohol but since it is Cinco de Mayo.....
6. If we know our kids are going to break curfew, Why do we let them go out? I bet some of you thought I was going to ask, Why do we set one? Just wait until you are a parent yourself, is my stock answer these days.
7. If we know that football causes serious brain injury, Why.....oh never mind on that one I know the answer and I still don't like it!
8. If we know laughter is the best medicine, Why don't we as much of it as possible?
What is your obvious question?
Magda
No comments:
Post a Comment