There are moments where I feel like I really am teaching. Surprisingly, they don’t happen often. Between the morning routines, the review, the paint spills, recess time, field trips, class presentations, if I catch a single glimpse of a child experiencing an ‘ah-ha!’ learning moment in a day, I feel lucky.
I got up this morning to teach one of my favorite groups of kids. A grade two class of eighteen very unique students who often make me laugh out loud. It was the block before lunch when one of my favorites came up to me and in a very serious voice asked me why “Rock Ohmamma” was on all the radios this morning. With my own mind still very much on the election, I was more than happy to tell them all to put away their free time books so we could have a talk (I had to talk about the election to SOMEBODY).
It started out simply enough. I asked them if they could tell me who the Prime Minister of Canada was. One girl shouted ” Stephen Bush” (fail), but the rest knew it was Stephen Harper. I asked them if they knew who the President of the United States was. Again, most of them got this. Then, I asked if anyone knew who the NEW President was going to be. That’s when things got interesting.
“It’s Oven! Oven is the guys name!”
“No, it’s that black guy”
“He’s not a black guy, he’s a brown guy”
“He can’t be the President if he’s a brown guy, people there don’t trust brown people.”
“Batman? Badman? Oven Badman?”
“NOO! It’s Rock Ohmamma! I heard it on the radio”
“Brown people can be President I think so maybe he is gonna be the President”
“If he’s a brown guy, why do they call him black?”
“They call him black because his skin isn’t normal”
I suddenly felt like I had just opened the largest can of worms. The single Native American student in the class was particularly concerned- he identified himself as having the same skin color as Obama, but couldn’t figure out why his skin was considered brown while Obama was considered black.
I looked at the clock, scraped the lesson we were going to be doing (I’m there for the next two days so I know I can squeeze it in somewhere else) and we all sat down on the floor and started talking. We talked about what ‘normal’ meant and brainstormed different words we could use instead. I asked the kids who had felt that “people there don’t trust brown people”, what made them think that. They surprised me by how much they knew- talking about times when people had to use different bathrooms and “different places to get drinks of water”. I asked them why they still thought people weren’t trusted. They said they didn’t know, but no one had told them ‘brown and black people’ WERE trusted, so how could they be?
I asked them if they knew how someone got to be President. Most knew, Canada had just had it’s own election so they had heard all about voting. We talked about how special it is to vote- how you only get to pick ONE person. I asked them if they knew what happened after voting, how they chose who got to be President. They said that they counted up all the votes and who had the most was the winner. (I considered a brief tutorial in the electoral college but decided against it, you know, time constraints).
Then the girl with the ghost earrings said “Well, if Ohmamma got all the votes, then people must want him to be the winner.”
“Yeah, because everyone was like crying on the tv, but good crying like excited and stuff.”
“Then he’s got to be getting some trusting from everybody if they picked him”
Sometimes I think teaching is knowing when not to talk. This was one of those times, so I stayed silent and just listened.
One of the girls in the class who was wearing two skirts (she couldn’t decide which one to wear, so she wore them both) said: ” Well, maybe people know that anybody can be a helper no matter what they look like. Like, I have glasses so I can be different than Matthew but still be just as good as him. ”
Which promoted Matthew to reply with my favorite line of the day: “So people must be trusting Ohmamma to be a good President even if he has no white skin because he’s going to still be good. Because skin is like glasses but just you can’t take your skin off.”
Matthew’s words hung in the air, and for once they all were silent. I saw a 18 “ah-ha” moments take place. In that second each of them understood what I’ve seen many adults struggle with. That skin color is as arbitrary as hair color, or height or glasses. That skin color is not an indicator of a persons worth.
Then, Erica in the pink dress farted and eighteen students stopped being philosophers and political masterminds and instead burst out laughing and began to make farting sounds with their hands.
As they should.
(Also? Please check out this excellent post on the election)
Ah, from the mouths of babes. Thanks for sharing this. And yeah for you having such a great “conversation.”
It’s times like that, I am reminded why I want to be a teacher so badly.
Perfect teaching moment. And what a wise set of kids. Especially the gal who farted to bring it back to 2nd grade laughter :-)
It’s times like that, I am reminded why I want to be a teacher so badly.
I love this post. Particularly, the farter.
That is like 8 kinds of adorable. I love it.
We asked my husband’s five year old niece who she would vote for and she replied, “The black guy.” We told her his name was Obama, and then asked her why she wanted to vote for him. She informed us it was “because he will take care of old people.” We laughed for a minute about how innocent and matter-of-fact she was about it, and then I realized she was really explained her opinion much more coherently than a lot of my co-workers when they talked about how they were voting for McCain….
This was the best election post I’ve read.
Awesome post. My two year old nephew loves saying bahmah!
It was the “anybody can be a helper” statement that made me cry for the 50th time today. Well said, little girl—well said.
Oh, come one now.
Do you think they’ll ever elect a guy with glasses?
Now I’m getting all warm and fuzzy all over again :)
But Stephen Bush?! Yikes. Girl is more right than she knows.
That is awesome how they came up with that on their own without any coercion from you! It blows my mind that so many people from so many countries have taken generations to even come close to that conclusion but 2nd graders figure it out within a school day. Priceless.
I love it. So much. It made me laugh out loud, and nearly made me cry.
Kids are awesome.
Really great post…. I sometimes wish I had become a teacher…
Wouldn’t it be kinda cool if Obama’s name WAS “Oven Badman” . . . ?
You totally get best teacher award for setting aside the curriculum — and talking about issues.
I know a woman, a teacher, who says she categorically refuses to discuss anything that is not on the curriculum including any elections that might happen because “Civic is in grade 5″. I told her maybe she was in the wrong line of work. “But I get summers off…”
For what it’s worth… I think you’re one kick ass teacher. :) On behalf of all those parents, thanks.
This post made my day. I needed it…and it’s not 8am. Oh my…
It blows my mind that kids are able to open their minds so much more than adults some days.
Thank you so much for sharing this :)
Way to make me tear up.
This is a great post. Really great.
Oh, Erica. Such a joker.
Great post! I rarely talk to kids so it’s great to find out about some of their thoughts through your blog.
this is fabulous– and it excites me that with each generation less and less racism will be present in the world.
This is SO awesome. I love the wisdom kids come up with every day. They just see things in so much clearer a light than we do, and they can really teach us something. You are so wonderful for teaching them, for molding their fantastic potential this way.
This is my favorite election post I think I’ve ever read!
And that was a teaching moment they will remember forever.
I love that little kids are so open to everything and everything, so unjaded by the world. I love “ah-ha” moments.
Oh I LOVE that post. What an absolutely brilliant conversation. It’s those sorts of things that make me adore teaching. What a privilege to share those thoughts with them.
As with all the others, I loved this post. It was just utterly…lovely. And sweet. And hopeful. And in a time of changing attitudes, it perfectly summarizes what’s coming.
Wonderful
Wow, this is moving. I am totally sending a million people to this post, everyone should read this.
Oh that is hilarious!Kids say the darndest things. Honest too. I love that they have not been ruined by the real world and keep it simple.
Sigh…
Wow, this is moving. I am totally sending a million people to this post, everyone should read this.
That is wonderful!
Wow, this is impressive. Teaching is not only knowing when to be silent, but also when to put the books down and address something that isn’t in the lesson plan. I think most adults will agree that some of the greatest life lessons they learned had nothing to do with school. And while the fundamentals we learn in school are absolutely necessary, it’s how we apply what we learn that makes it worthwhile. Good for you for putting the books down and letting your students learn from each other. If only all kids had a teacher like you.
That made me tear up a bit. I’m glad their “ah-ha” moment was such a great one.
Great, awesomely wonderful post!
[...] is bright November 6, 2008 Filed under: Stumbled across… — MissAnthropy @ 8:44 am This gives me true hope for the future. [...]
What a fantastic post!
I wish some of my teachers had been like you, kids are way smarter than some people give them credit for.
And the kid who farted? Totally my hero.
Greatest story ever. It made me smile, then laugh out loud.
And it was WAY better than the day after story my teacher mother relayed to me about how she gathered her class together to discuss race and voting after seeing one of her fourth grade girls use her pencil to scratch out Obama’s face from a picture.
My mother teaches in South Carolina.
I LOVE this! You are wonderful!
Children are so much smarter then adults give them credit for. AND it is super impressive that they can wrap their heads around that concept at such a young age. I know many grown people that still don’t get the whole “skin doesn’t matter thing.” Bravo to 2nd graders!
this is such a good post. such a good… story. and you? are SUCH a good teacher.
and friend too, by the way.
This is such an amazing post. Really – kids are so much smarter than people give them credit for. Also, you my dear are an incredible teacher.
My sister the first grade teacher here in Minnesota has a similar story and took the opportunity to talk to her kids about the election, race, freedom, etc. Thank goodness for people like you!
That made me tear up. I love the way kids process things, and the more ah-ha moments they have earlier on the more is possible for everyone.
People have been talking about how this generation of children will never have to wonder what’s possible, that things will have opened up. That diversity will be more of a fact and less of a hope. That must have been amazing to have seen one of those moments happen = )
heheheheh
kiddos…
u gotta love’em! :)
BTE… come pimp my blog!!! ;)
xxx
That? Was AMAZING. I hope that “ah-ha” moments stays with them all their lives.
i’m still having a hard time figuring out why this election is still about skin color… i don’t think the issues people had with Obama (or McCain for that matter) were about race they were about political standpoints.
and the thing that irks me the most about the media etc. is that he’s 50% Black and the SAME percent White. so why is he only called black?? he has just as much reason to be called white… you’d think he’d prefer that since the driving force in his upbringing was his white family and not the black side.
okay, whatever, i’m not one to get political… just wondering why these discussions are still being had (in general, not in your class : )
I’m so glad you shared that! So amazing and fantastic.
I think of some people who need a lesson from your grade two kids. ;)
awwww – that kid is just CUTE!
I’ve gotta be honest – I’ve never understood the black vs. brown thing. Does this mean I have the intelligence of a seven year old…?
The girl with 2 skirts is very wise…
I might just start double layering my clothes now, it seems logical.
AH! Kids are way smarter than we ever give them credit for. And I love that one of your students just couldn’t decide on which skirt to wear. LOVE
this is AWESOME. What a great post! I think kids need to learn about these things. :)
I want you to teach my kids.
Also, I love the girl wearing two skirts, because… let’s be honest… I’ve done it.
My mom teaches preschool at a Catholic school. Her election day lesson included a 4 year old boy exclaiming, “The black guy hates babies!!”
Sigh. Still a long way to go…
“skin is like glasses…”
Stuff like this makes me want to teach little kids…
Then I remember the spilling and the yelling and the throwing-up-the-middle-of-the-classroom and come to my senses :) Good on you for having the wherewithal to do it!!
While the point at the end is true about skin color not making people any different, there were a lot of people that voted for “Ohmamma” just because he was black; not because they new what he stood for, or what he was against, but just because he was black. But this was an excellent post! You made a great point!
Aw, this post got me all worked up. It’s amazing how much kids absorb without you even realizing. Thank you for sharing! Everytime you tell one of your teaching stories I always think that you just sound like such an amazing teacher. Letting them talk that out was just as, if not more important than the actual curriculum.
How exciting to be able to literally see the lightbulb turn on over these children’s heads!! Isn’t it amazing the way they reason in their little minds? And the girl with two skirts…awesome!!! I’m wearing two skirts as we speak!!
This was an awesome post. It’s great to know that little minds are so willing to accept things at face-value. I wish adults could be like this.
My favorite part though? The fact that the girl who couldn’t decide which skirt to wear wore them both. Hilarious.
thank you, for sharing.
that was terrific.
Holy crap.
Best post ever. What an awesome group of kids.
This gave me chills. I love how simply kids can put it and just GET it. I wish adults could be the same way. Awesome kids. And the fart part that ended it all = hilarious. :)
Matthew is going to be our future president – either that or a great moderator on Meet The Press..
What a perfect ending to that story. Adorable.
Your posts always make me more sure I want to go into education.
It warms my heart how invested you are in my country. I wish I could grant you dual citizenship. :)
I love love love this. That was a truly special moment, and I’m glad there’s kickass teachers like you out there to recognize it and take advantage of it to teach them such a valuable lesson.
GOBAMA
I love this post! Kids can be soo right sometimes!!! Also it was very awesome of you to let them talk about the election!
Wish they would remain that way.
This is my favorite election post ever.
Delightful post.
From the mouths of babes.
I love this post so much, Brandy!
I love it!
I was babysitting for a four year old on election night. Before we went to bed, we talked about the election. He wanted to vote for John McCain because he liked his name better. But he wasn’t sure if that’s who he should vote for because he heard that Obama will stop the wars and he thinks that would be better than having a good name.
It was pretty cute.
Oddly enough, he didn’t mention race. My siblings (9, 11, and 13) never mentioned race either when they ‘picked’ their candidate. I’m pretty sure my sisters just wanted Obama to win because they like his daughters. Hahaha.
I think this is my favorite post of yours, ever :)
Although, I don’t know how you kept it together and didn’t burst into uncontrollable laughter, because I had a hard time myself when asking my first graders about the election Tuesday morning.
That post almost makes me want to get knocked up. My Saturday night date thanks you!
A+ Makes me smile.
So sweet! I love the girl in two skirts, and Rock Ohmamma is brilliant! I remember being that age (during the Maggie Thatcher years!) when a boy in my class said he wanted to be Primeminister when he grew up, and another boy said, “No, silly, only GIRLS can be Primeminister!” Mabye your next class of 7 year olds will think you have to be black to be President.
ahhhhh this is tooooo adorable!
What a great thing to witness!
I keep trying to tell myself to really slow down in these moments and days following November 4 because I know as time goes by that I will be looking back on them saying “yes, that is when it started.”
so so so so cute! and so so so so glad that you teach ‘em and not me! :)
Thank you for being a teacher.
yeah this is definitely one of the best election stories i’ve heard. sometimes kids really do know how to say it best :)
You rock as a teacher. As a mom, I sincerely appreciate your willingness to sieze a teachable moment even though it wasn’t planned. Awesome!
AND my kids totally got that skin color is like eye color and it doesn’t matter at all. I think it is cool that kids (most) are so color blind when it comes to that. Adults could take a lesson from the kids sometimes!
This is gorgeous and perfect.
1. Those kids are so dang smart!
2. You sound like such a great teacher :-)
3. This post was amazing.
I LOVE this post Brandy. You need to be a teacher all the time! You rock!!!
Good for you…way to be flexible, seize upon a teachable moment…and teach respect to the perfect age group to learn the concept. And i love how they debriefed in such a typical kid way after a brief moment’s reflection…
Great post!
I just teared up at the glasses comment. Thank you for sharing :) You are a great teacher.
OK. When I become principal, I’m going to hire you. You rock. It’s those moments that make teaching worthwhile, and posts like this one that make losing sleep worthwhile.
This is amazing! It made me cry, no joke. I’m going to be an elementary teacher, and it amazes me how brilliant kids are. Thank you for posting This
~Miss Lily
PS… I hyperlinked you to my blog, I hope thats ok!
Wonderful post. I loved this. By the way, can you give ME a brief tutorial on the electoral college? =/
Beautiful post! It really gave me goosebumps. Adults could learn a thing or two from those intelligent children. You must have felt so good for the rest of the day. I wish I’d had a teacher like you!
GREAT POST, BRANDY.
And yes, those caps were necessary.
this post made me smile. kids are so awesome!!!! they’re a lot smarter than we adults give them credit for.
This is adorable! It’s funny to hear the random things that kids say. They’re lucky to be so innocent!
This is great and really just simplifies the issue – in a great way.
That is the best. Sometimes I realize I’m maybe missing out on a lot of things by surrounding myself with grown-ups all the time.
You’ve got some really smart children in your classroom! I’m so glad you had this discussion with them!
That’s one of the most wonderful things I’ve read in so long on the internets… really made my smile… like I was all excited and stuff :)
One hundred!
Honestly, how do you remember the dialogue between all your students? Do you record them?
Farting makes everything better, everything! Maybe your kids can teach us Americans how Canada elects your Prime Minister.
LOL! Stephen Bush ! I voted for him though more the Stephen part than the Bush part (though some Canadians will say otherwise). I wish Canada had voted like the Americans did on Tuesday – I am happy with Stephen HARPER as PM but it’s a shame we had like the lowest voter turnout EVER! I’m so glad the same didn’t happen in the USA.
WAY TO ROCK THE VOTE USA!
PS – want a free pair of earrings? Stop by my blog :P
My daughter is graduating from high school this year and wants to be a teacher. I keep sending her your blog links.
xo
This made my day.
So glad I stumbled upon your blog! This post made me laugh out loud.
Wow, thanks so much for posting such a touching story. It made me laugh and cry in the same moment! Thank you!
This just reminded me of why I’m working my arse off to become a teacher. I’m at the point in the year where placement is 2 months away, and i have heavy amounts of assignments. That bit where you think, do i really want this. The answer for me is yes!
Thanks!
Hahahah, that was the cutest thing I have ever heard. Sometimes kids are WAY smarter than adults.
This post made me cry (mostly happy tears.) You sound like a wonderful teacher :D
My daughter is in 2nd grade too and they voted in her class. She said that 2 people voted for McCain and 22 voted for “Orock Obama”. Hee hee.
this is adorable. love it
I literally teared up reading this. Thank you for sharing the wisdom and insights of a group of people not yet old enough to be corrupted by things such as media and propaganda.
I’m a little late on commenting on this post, but it’s awesome so I wanted to say something. Thank you for taking the time to teach little Canadians the importance of the election and why skin color is arbitrary, and letting their little minds grow and discover. I only hope they did the same thing in 2nd grade classrooms across the USA.
This post absolutely made my day. Kids can say the most poignant things sometimes.
Your blog is a winner. It would be nicer if you had a video of these kids. Kids are just fun to watch. Their ideas about Obama or should I say Rock Ohmamma made me smile, it touch my heart. That’s one reason why I love children.
I’m here via Ashley via Heather Anne and I’m so glad I came and now I’m very happy and hello.
[...] Whose behavior merited celebration? These little guys for getting what some adults still don’t [...]
[...] happen to me, work, you’re skimming this one, youth. trackback Yesterday I spent the day with the Obama [...]
[...] talked about it and then asked the class if they had any questions. One of my favourite kids from the Obama class of last year is in this class now and he raised his hand and asked if I had painted the picture. [...]
[...] when I found her blog. Brandy’s a very entertaining writer, whether it’s delightful stories from the classroom or her blogging about life, love, and beer, Brandy’s way with words brings a smile and a [...]
9HSP0s http://gdjI3b7VaWpU1m0dGpvjRrcu9Fk.com
Could you ask him to call me? ebony underage blowjob >:-[