The Concept of Art

The other morning, my daughter announced that the Kid's Worldbook (an encyclopedia for kids) has the most inappropriate thing in it. She proceeded to tell us that they were in class doing research (3rd grade, mind you) and she had the Kid's Worldbook on D's. And, right there in the book, was David! Naked! "You could see his ding-a-ling!!", she exclaimed.

My husband and I supressed a laugh and asked her if she told her teacher. Yes, she said. I asked what her teacher said. "She said she'd get me a new book."

I can just imagine being a 3rd grade teacher and having to endure the constant questions from kids, especially at this age when they're trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong. In fact, just a week before, we had some long discussions about bad words. She was trying to figure out the meaning of the B word (that rhymes with witch) and the A word (that rhymes with class.) We started by trying to explain the dual meaning of both these words - a female dog and a donkey. How, in certain context, you can use them both and be perfectly fine but that most of the time, they are used in the foul sense, hence, bad words.

This all went right over her head. (Am I surprised?... ah, no.) I went to school to have lunch with her a few days later. She stopped abruptly in the middle of the lunchroom and said "Mommy, I just can't get those words out of my head" Which ones, sweetie, I said (having forgotten all about the bad word discussion.) "B*** (that rhymes with witch) and A***(that rhymes with class.)" But she actually said them... Loudly.

Oh my - you know that feeling when you're whole body kind of freezes up and your lungs squeeze right out of your chest? I was feeling just that way when I kneeled down eye-level with my sweet 8 year old and told her she absolutely may not say those words and there are thousands of words she can fill her head with instead like rainbow, macaroni, sneaker, silly, sunset to name a few. Luckily she took the bait of this game and we spent the entire lunch time thinking up all the nice words that we can fill our heads with instead of... those.

In fact, the reason she is using the "ding-a-ling" word is because she was previously using the B word that rhymes with walls. I know this is not really the foulest of the foul words but certainly not appropriate. One time when she was about 4, she fell while riding her bike, apparently hurting her crotch area. She came down the street crying her eyes out and saying she hurt her B*** that rhymes with walls. We explained that she's a girl and doesn't have any of those... ah, you know.

But this age is truly so sweet. This weekend she was trying to understand the dual meaning of the word gay - which a friend of hers said when they were playing Barbies. "And I was so surprised, Mommy, because right away I thought of a woman and a woman in love but then I realized that she was talking about the happy gay... and today I am very, very gay because it's like spring outside and I can wear shorts!" The other day she was talking about a picture that had the "Grape Ball of China!" Hilarious!

So, did we ever have the talk about appropriate and inappropriate art? Nah. We were rushing out the door at the time. I'll leave that discussion up to my sister, the New York artist, who has probably had many, many discussions with her artist friends about this very subject!

UPDATE: I've had a lot of people ask, so I thought I'd let you know that the psychotic, prehistoric squirrel in front of David is none other than "Scrat" from the animated movie, Ice Age. (This scene is from Ice Age 2.)

Ode to Great Teachers

This morning, as I held my daughter's hand and we skipped to her to classroom, she said "I wonder what Ms. D is going to teach us today?"

As simple and unassuming as this statement is, I'll have to explain our long road to this point and why I just about cried when she said it.

For the first 3 years of my daughter's elementary school life, the road has been difficult and frought with struggle. Kindergarten was especially hard - she had a long bus ride with loud, somewhat rough kids. The school was huge and intimidating. At the tender age of 4 (she started early... a September birthday baby) it was a shock for her and she reacted defensively every time a new situation arose.

First and second grade were not any easier. I think she had built up a reputation within the school of being difficult and excitable. In second grade, we got daily reports of her actions in class. Long narratives of her behavior problems. We tried everything we could think of to help at home - nothing worked.

In a fortunate turn of events, we were rezoned to a new school. I used this opportunity to apply to Magnet schools. Amazingly, we were selected for enrollment to a Magnet near my office, one with hours that started earlier than most and a comprehensive after-school program. I could drive my daughter to school and pick her up every day!

We were further blessed to be assigned to one of best teachers in 3rd grade. She sent home a packet of information about her history - she'd been involved with children her entire life, started teaching at a young age, had been with the school for many years and wanted to open her own school in the future. A true teacher at heart with the endurance to withstand the challenges of the administration.

Our county, and many across our nation I'm sure, doesn't pay enough for our valuable teachers. The testing, reporting and evaluation requirements are demanding. I was at a book club with teachers ranging from 2nd to 10th grade - most of them were burned out and fed up. I read an article in the latest issue of Hallmark Magazine of the struggles one teacher had just to get supplies for her classroom. I can completely understand this and am sympathetic to the issues. But, when your own child continues to have troubles in school, it's hard to reconcile.

Her first day at the new school was outstanding - she got 70 behavior bucks to use at the "classroom mall" her teacher sets up every Friday. The second day she said "Everyone thinks I'm so nice... at my old school they thought I was the mean kid." So, we talked about new beginnings. Her self-confidence continued to soar.

So, after six weeks, for her to be wondering about the exciting things she'll be learning from her amazing and inspiring teacher, my heart rejoiced. (Okay, and I really am crying now!) Finally, the sun is rising on the path of my daughter's education and I am truly, truly grateful.

To all of the teachers out there who work tirelessly to educate our youth - thank you for being in our children's lives. Thank you for your hard work and thank you for your inspiration. You are a blessing to us all!