Thursday, November 15, 2007

Thanksgiving in a Public School

OK. My daughters attend a New Orleans Public School. So, one would expect there to be a lot of PC-ness surrounding how the school operates. But, I've never found this to be the case. Sure, people are sensitive and respectful of diversity and difference; but in a very human and commonsensical way. No one goes out of his way to offend anyone, but no one also makes a big deal about the little things. People are just pleasant and friendly. For instance, at my daughters' school's outdoor morning assembly, which parents are welcome to attend, the day always starts with the Pledge of Allegiance that includes the words "under God." Nobody ever complains and everyone participates. It's just not an issue.

And just today, my youngest daughter, who is in Kindergarten, had her little Thanksgiving celebration where her class put on some cute little acts which was followed by a lunch "feast." Now, unfortunately, I couldn't make the actual event because of a work obligation, but my daughter did give me a preview of her class's performance. One of the things her class all did together was to recite some Thanksgiving poetry. My favorite was the following:

Our Turkey Gobbler

Our Turkey Gobbler feels so sad,
He stands around and moans.
Tomorrow there will be nothing left
But just his poor, old bones!
Imagine a bunch of kindergartners reciting this poem with the requisite hand gestures and bodily demonstrations of the poem's imagery. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when my 5-yr-old daughter "performed" this poem for me.

Whoever says that Public Schools are nothing but groupthink liberal PC brainwashing doesn't know what he's talking about.

As far as I can tell, at least at this particular public school, kids are having as much good ol' fun at public elementary school as I ever had at my parochial Catholic elementary school.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Each year (at the preschool my wife runs) they ask (and write down) each student how to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. Each "recipe" is put in a "book" that all the parents receive.

If you ever want a good deep down hearty chuckle, just try reading one of these "cookbooks!"

Huck said...

Hi, don_cos - That's the kind of cookbook I'd love to read! I guess you probably need to have kids and see the lovely absurdities of their irrational thinking on a regular basis to appreciate it, but I know I'd certainly get a kick out of reading these cookbooks!