Thursday, February 7, 2008

Not clear on the concept-- a post of comic relief

Monkey's school (a non-denominational Jewish day school, if you haven't been reading long) had a big program in preparation for MLK day. For a week kindergartners read stories about MLK, civil rights, Jackie Robinson, protest marches, separate drinking fountains, and probably other things Monkey forgot to mention. For most of the week preceding MLK day she went around singing "If you miss me from the back of the bus..." and our dinner conversations were often about segregation and injustice. Last day of the week before the holiday, the whole school had an event-- all classes came together and made large banners with their hand prints and words like justice, equality, kindness, and fairness written on them. The banners hanged in the school hallway when I came for pickup that day, so that was pretty self-evident. What I didn't realize is that they had a sort of a civil rights march recreation in there, with all kids making their own signs to bring to the event. Monkey's came home a few days ago with a bunch of her other school work from recent weeks.

 

If you are not great at reading "guess and go" spelling, it says "Please change the rules!!!" What a polite little protester I have there. I think we might have to talk about the concepts of righteous indignation and demanding what's right at some point in the future.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, there's no telling whether Monkey might be willing to escalate if the polite approach doesn't work out.
You gotta submit to binding arbitration for your rights!
What would we like?
Justice!
When would we like it?
Quickly, please!

Tash said...

Certainly we have to teach her, "No Mustard, No Cheese!"

But really, that's pretty awesome. sounds like a lovely little school. And "please?" My wee one gets more indignant asking for something to drink.

niobe said...

I love the sign and the spelling of rulz, using the trendy "z" ending. And perhaps the "please" is a clever negotiating tactic, kind of along the lines of Gandhi's peaceful resistance.

Bon said...

she's so fabulous, Julia. more flies with honey, and all that...i've never mastered it, but i think she may have it down. ;)

Aurelia said...

Yep, I'm thinking peaceful resistance is the theme here. Just like MLK!

Magpie said...

Plith! Plith!

I love that.

k@lakly said...

I love the phonics! Haven't met your Monkey but I'd be willing to bet she can hold her own in any conversation!

Coggy said...

That is so sweet.
I think she countered the please with the three exclamation marks. Polite but forceful.

Lori said...

I was able to read the sign right away (former 1st grade teacher that I am.) :) Excellent inventive spelling!

I suspect the "please" as all part of Monkey's clever tactics. She's a smart one!

Amelie said...

Plith is great. Monkey is great!

Unknown said...

With all the grim news about our education, it really warms my heart that these lessons are being taught (and received). What a wonderful set of exercises for them in this very impressionable time. I love the protest sign, it's priceless!

kate said...

LOL! I have to write my own post about Chloe's MLK day...

c. said...

How polite! So funny.