Monday, March 26, 2007

Love Miss Elisabeth

I have the greatest job eveh! After my classes, I walk a couple of blocks North where I am greeted by a crossing guard named Dan who points a speed gun toward the passing cars. Dan helps me cross the street and says to me "How are you doing today? School going good? Well, that's good. Have a good day!" Then I walk into North Elementary where everyone under the age of 12 calls me "Miss Elisabeth". I'm not going to lie: it's pretty cute. I tutor 10 little first and second graders in reading and writing. Then, on Thursdays I go help a little big kindergarten class where I am greeted as, yeah that's right, "Hi Miss Elisabeth!!!" Everyday, they all have little funny things to say.

Like the day for example, we had a brief encounter with race.

We were reading a book called "Sally's Daisy". In the book, Sally is drawn darker. The day that I brought the book to the kids, they all had a comment to say about Sally's complexion. "Is Sally like Indian or something?" I tell them I don't know and it doesn't matter because it has nothing to do with the book. One kid said "Well she must be Mexican, she's black like a Mexican." I stopped bring that book with me. It was that very same day that little Kenneth said in great frustration "Stupid eraser! It must have been made in China! Chinese people are so cheap!" while he was trying to erase his spelling word. It was also on that very same day that little Jaylee told me how she had a bunny once but a little boy ran away with it. "Yeah, he was Mexican" said she. What do you say to stuff like that? I try really really really really really really really hard not to laugh. But really, these kids are great.

Today I went to the library. I love the library. I get a lot done...most days. Today wasn't most days. I'll let this picture be worth a thousand words.

my home teacher

Good times at the library. Good times.

8 comments:

Annalie said...

Ha Ha, LOVE IT!!! hey, everyone's a little bit racist sometimes.

Lyle said...

Too often at that age, kids just don't seem to understand [especially growing up in such a majority race environment].

So did your HT count that as his visit?

Tim Parker said...

Oh man Annalie stole the words right out of my mouth. Avenue Q has just the right kind of quotes. I love it!

Anonymous said...

Your box is being sent in the mail tomorrow. I hope you enjoy... there is just a touch of just about everything... Also, let me know if you need dinero for sending my student his toys back to him.

sugar & spice said...

I love the picture! Kids are so stinking cute! I can't wait to be a teacher.

Cari said...

When do we get to see the pictures of "the fort"? Just wondering...

Shann said...

Dear Miss elisabeth. UPDATE!!!
Love,
Miss Shanna

jake roi said...

Amen Shann.

Oh - and, the radical reconstruction of the south after the Civil War was neither radical nor a reconstruction. - Discuss