3/18/11

I'm not sure if missing the Play Doh station is a good idea.


Our darling girl is not the only child in my classroom who came from a different country. I have another boy whose family is originally from China.

They've lived in our college town for some years, however, as the parents are well-respected members of the university faculty here in Smythe, Oregon.


I was walking to the faculty room after school when his mother came down the hall to talk to me.


She stopped to me fill me in on her family's travel plans. She was very worried because she was taking her sons out of school for a couple of days, and my student would miss the St. Patrick's day festivities. He was worried that he would miss something magical.


She went on to explain. "Since J (her older son in fourth grade) is studying Festival of the Arts in class, we thought it would be beneficial to allow him to see some of these works of art in person. Therefore, we are taking him the Louvre in Paris for a few days."


I looked at her.



blink. blink.



"Hmmmm. Let me think. One one hand you have the Louvre in Paris, and on the other I have activities involving glitter, coloring, cutting and pasting. I think missing these two days won't injure him too much."



I smiled, hugged her, and asked if perhaps they MIGHT have room for someone else with short brown hair and a quick wit.



With a nervous laugh, she declined.





Now, I'm just hoping that his missing the Play-Doh center won't ruin his chances to be valedictorian. I'd hate to carry that burden.




21 comments:

Brian Miller said...

i wish i had those tough decisions in my life...freakin paris...bet they are staying at the hilton...

unmitigated me said...

Also, it was my experience that the Japanese families were transient, and the Chinese families were here to stay.

Check out the Google Art project...you can take the whole class to the Louvre!

Vodka Logic said...

I'm with Brian..and yet he worries about what her child will miss in kindergarten...wow.

Suzy said...

In the 5th grade I was FINALLY picked to be a Hall Monitor, a job I coveted for years.

Training was during the summer and we went to Paris every summer. I went to Mrs. Rowland in tears and said, "I can't be a hall monitor because we HAVE to go to Paris. My life is ruined."

She laughed and put her arm around me and said, "Trust me, your life isn't ruined."

I never got to be a Hall Monitor. THANKS MOM AND DAD.

Unknown said...

Awww...I hope they packed him some play-doh :)
Play-Doh in Paris...i feel some poetry coming on

Lynn MacDonald said...

Hahaha...that's hysterical. I feel confident that some artwork is closer to home than Paris. Hope this doesn't screw up that kindergartners life though. Trips like that are quite dangerous for impressionable minds.

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

The Louvre or green play doh? Yeah... that's a tough call.

Anonymous said...

We just went to the Louvre over the holidays. Believe me, the kid would probably enjoy staying and playing with glitter vs. the Louvre. Of course, you don't know that until you've been there and done that.

duffylou said...

You and I would trade places with him in a heart beat. Little Guy will probably not appreciate the magic that is Louvre.

So, they should take you, leave the kid in class, and you hire a sub. It's a win, win for everyone.

LivewithFlair said...

Clearly (as one speaking from personal experience) your classroom beats European travels.

Bragger said...

Oh, if only parents of OUR students cared that much. They think it's nothing to miss state-mandated graduation tests for a hair appointment. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

I bet that 4th grader will be really thinking out what his studies will be in the future. Study art. . .get a trip to Paris. Wonder if I start studying giraffes will someone pay for me to go on an African Safari? My parents would have taken me to the freakin' zoo!

noexcuses said...

We have parents taking middle schoolers out for things like "Wicked", cheer and dance competition, club hockey tournaments, etc. It used to bother me, but then I thought about how much fun the kids would have and I changed my tune. I do agree with bragger about mandated testing and graduation requirements, though. These are important.

Cora said...

If there's one thing moms are good at, it's worrying.

Christy said...

Hysterical! I hope you all have a great reunion and a drama-free time with Sassy! For what it's worth, they're crazy not to drag you with them!

PS - I don't normally do this, but I know you'll want to share in our happy news so check out my post today. :)

Pseudo said...

Hmm... We went to the Honolulu Academy of the Arts over the break. It was a very nice family outing, but I would trade it for the Louvre in a heartbeat.

PS Love your new do over here Vodka. I really need to get out more.

justmakingourway said...

Well, my daughter starting crying in her pre-school over the thought of the leprechaun that was coming to visit them, so I might be pulling her out of her Kindergarten class next March 17th!
Although it won't be to go to the Louvre. Maybe the library...or Dunkin' Donuts.

CC said...

You are definitely in a different demographic than I am.... most of my students have never traveled more than a few miles from their home.

Scope said...

Seems like a bit of a haul to go from Smythe, OR to Paris, IL to look at some louvers, but to each their own.

Sharon Rose said...

Look at Amy up there, still hinting around for that AFrican Safari. . . like she never has obsessed about Giraffes. LOL

She has wanted that Safarri for at least 20 years . . . just to see the Giraffes and Elephants.

Guess I better pick up the hint and take her to the zoo this weekend! LOL (I would love to take a trip to Africa though)

and. . . . You ought to feel bad about this whole Valedictorian thingy. . . I mean really? Do people bathe in Europe? I've heard personal hygeine is sketchy in Europe.

I hope the child doesn't come back and decide to go "all natural" for life.

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