School Daze

I went over to St. Marie of the Blessed Educational Method for elementary open house this morning. The kiddies, in ones and twos, had stations set up around the rooms at which they demonstrated various lessons in math, science, language and so on. The idea was for parents to circulate about, sampling the collective knowledge of the classes (over one of which the Missus presides).

Of course I went to see the elder Llama-ettes do their stuff. (The nine year old and her partner did a presentation on prime numbers, while the seven year old and hers did a long division problem using a system of racks and tubes nearly indeciferable to me.) I also stopped by one or two other tables, but then slid out as quickly as I could. The truth of the matter is that my attitude toward children is much like Miss Murdstone's from David Copperfield. ("Generally speaking," said Miss Murdstone, "I don't like boys. How d'ye do, boy?") How the Missus and other teachers put up with great mobs of them day after day after day, and even enjoy it, is a sweet mystery to me.