the omniscience of teachers

I happened to be in the room during music class today, and the music teacher was giving a lesson on memorizing the lines and spaces on a staff. My kids are capable of memorizing them, but they do not yet understand mnemonic devices. Unfortunately, the music teacher far overestimated their capabilities. The conversation went something like this:

Music Teacher: I have a great way to memorize the lines on the staff! It goes like this: Elvis's Guitar Broke Down Friday.

 Students: Who was Elvis?

MT: He was a famous singer.

S: What happened to his guitar?

MT: It just broke down. Maybe it lost a string.

S: What did he do then?

MT: I'm sure he fixed it.

S (in great awe):  How do you know so much?

MT: Well, I just learned it...(then, realizing what had happened)...It didn't actually happen. His guitar didn't actually break down.

S: Oh. Did something else happen to him?

MT: No. Anyway, let's get back.....

Good thing she didn't tell them that Elvis was dead! That would have really raised some questions! I love that line, though: How do you know so much?

oh, the stereotypes!

I've been stereotyped many a time because I teach little kiddos. Most stereotypes include me as a ditsy, annoyingly crafty female who constantly talks in a sing-song voice and doesn't have the brains to get a real job.

And I've talked with many people who clearly have no experience with children. Most conversations go like this: "Oh, I love kids! I bet you just love going to work!" Me: Pause. Or like this: "Kids are so cute! That would be such a fun and easy job!" Me: "No. It's not." Then I try to do damage control.

However, I think I've bested even my worst tonight. I had a conversation with an acquaintance tonight. Part of it went something like this:

Anonymous acquaintance: So you work at that ....Day Care...Day School....place?
Me: Day School. Yep. It's a private school.
AA: Did you finish college? Have you been to college?
Me: (incredulous). Yes. I went to college. And I graduated.
AA: So is this an internship for you; are you planning on doing something else?
Me: No. This is my job.
AA: So you plan on doing this for a while?
Me: Well, for the foreseeable future.
AA: And you like it? (imagine incredible disdain in AA's voice)
Me: Well, it's a challenge. And I like being challenged. And I like doing something different each day. But it's hard for me to work at a private school, teaching privileged children, when there are so many children who do not have the same opportunities.
AA: Well, since I live next to the Day Care, I may or may not have been a privileged child.
Pause.
AA: But I was always nice.
Pause. (Me: ??? How do I respond to this?)
AA: Where did you go to college?
Me: I did my undergrad at BYU-Idaho. (I know, I probably shouldn't have said undergrad, but let's just say my pride was stinging a bit from the opening comments).
AA: Undergrad? So you've done grad work? (looks stunned).
Me: (working on humility after the undergrad comment, so deleting a bit of history) Yes, I did a master's at George Mason University in Virginia.
AA: (still looks blown away). Well. Good for you. (Turns back to the cake he was holding while I make my escape).
Friend who had overheard the conversation: "Not finished with school? How old does he think you are?"

I think the assumption that I must be about 20 and haven't finished school is the kindest of AA's assumptions! I was pretty annoyed for about ten minutes. And then I realized how ridiculous it was and laughed and laughed. Oh, how much he has to learn!

overheard on a Sunday

During a talk: "After a sleepless night, I woke up and went to school."

Later, during a lesson: "Sarah and Rebecca and Rachel (from the Old Testament) were righteous even when they were old and virgins."

Nothing like getting things straight at church!