School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 1 – Week 23
I continue to enjoy and to be educated by the first-grade scholars with whom I have been meeting this academic year. Each week either I or the students suggest a topic for all of us to discuss with our families during the intervening week. I am eager to hear what these very thoughtful young scholars want to say to the new President or the United States, Donald Trump.
They are arriving now.
Me: Good morning scholars.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies this week but I will make sure we them next week. I am eager to hear what you want to say to President Trump.
Tommy: He is angry a lot. I want to know why he is so angry. Mom and dad are always saying that it is tough to hear when someone is angry.
Me: What do you mean Tommy?
Tommy: When mom or dad are angry I just want to leave the room. They say they feel the same when I am angry.
Me: It would be good for all of us to remember that. Who else wants to share their question for President Trump?
Ahmes: I want to know if he is going to make all Muslims leave, even people like my mother who was invited here to teach? My father and siblings would have to leave too? Why is he mad at us?
Me: That is another good question Ahmes. Is it scary for you and your family?
Ahmes: Yes Mr. Jim. Mom and dad say that he makes it seems as if it is okay if everyone is mad at us and can be mean to us.
Me: That must feel terrible. How about in this school Ahmes?
Ahmes: Everyone has been really kind here Mr. Jim.
Me: I am glad. You are very kind also.
Tara: Is he going to make all of the Americas great Mr. Jim? We looked at map and there are a lot of countries in the Americas. Is he going to make Mexico great?
Me: Excellent question. Sometimes we seem to use the word America as if the United States is all that is important in the Americas. These are all good questions.
Sue: If my father loses his government job and we do not have health insurance can I still go to the doctor? Can I keep my wheelchair? What if it wears out? That is scary?
Me: Health care is very important for everyone. Sometimes if we do not need it today we forget that a lot of people need it every day. I never know when I or someone I know will need to see the doctor or get a wheel chair.
Tommy: What if all countries make more bombs and other weapons? How is that going to be peaceful? When someone in the family is angry, as Tommy said, is does not feel peaceful. If our country is a bully will that be better for everyone?
Me: Some people believe if we have more weapons there will be more peace. Many people do not believe this. Your question is another very important one. Thank you, Tommy.
Susie: My mother says that he does not like females very much. How come he is not married to a man?
(There is a bit of snickering among the students. I must admit I was also working hard not to snicker.)
Me: That is a great question Susie. Sometimes we like to be close to someone even when we do not respect them much. Humans can be funny that way. I suspect your mother is saying that it does not seem as if he respects many women. He has put some women in important positions.
Susie: Most are men Mr. Jim.
Me: That is true. Who else has a question for President Trump?
Sam: My mom, dad and Uncle Jim tell Paul and me to think before we speak. We are not allowed to tweet? Does the President have to think before he tweets?
Me: There are some who do not think so. Are you suggesting that the same rules should apply to kids and adults Sam?
Sam: Yes. You and my parents say that is always fair except some things only adults can do.
Me: Yes, that is what we say.
Steve: My Aunt is from Estonia and is afraid that Russia will steal it again. They used to be in charge and it was very bad. Does President Trump care? My dad says it does not seem as if he does.
Me: That is a question a lot of people are asking about all the Baltic states. Let me remind everyone where Estonia is. See here is Moscow which is the capital of Russia. Here is Helsinki, Finland which is the capital of Finland. The Baltic sea is between the two. There here is Latvia and Lithuania, two other Baltic States which were taken over by the Soviet Union of which Russia was part of.
Since President Trump has questioned the value of NATO the people in those countries are afraid that no one would help them if Russia tries to take them over.
Sofia what is your question?
Sofia: Is the President smarter than his wife? I heard that she is very smart. Would she be a better president?
Me: I have also read that she is very smart. That is a great question. I am not sure we know much about what sort of President she would make on her own. We might also have to ask if being smart is the same thing as being wise.
All of these are wonderful questions. Would you like me to type them up and if your parents agree we could send them to the President? We would first send them home to your parents to see what they think about that idea. Between now and next week, discuss with your families about what we should do when someone is not doing well in school?
Steve, will you hand out the question to everyone please?
Steve does so.
Me: I will bring cookies. I loved your questions. Thank you.
Have a good week.
Class: Goodbye Mr. Jim
Written January 25, 2017
I continue to enjoy and to be educated by the first-grade scholars with whom I have been meeting this academic year. Each week either I or the students suggest a topic for all of us to discuss with our families during the intervening week. I am eager to hear what these very thoughtful young scholars want to say to the new President or the United States, Donald Trump.
They are arriving now.
Me: Good morning scholars.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies this week but I will make sure we them next week. I am eager to hear what you want to say to President Trump.
Tommy: He is angry a lot. I want to know why he is so angry. Mom and dad are always saying that it is tough to hear when someone is angry.
Me: What do you mean Tommy?
Tommy: When mom or dad are angry I just want to leave the room. They say they feel the same when I am angry.
Me: It would be good for all of us to remember that. Who else wants to share their question for President Trump?
Ahmes: I want to know if he is going to make all Muslims leave, even people like my mother who was invited here to teach? My father and siblings would have to leave too? Why is he mad at us?
Me: That is another good question Ahmes. Is it scary for you and your family?
Ahmes: Yes Mr. Jim. Mom and dad say that he makes it seems as if it is okay if everyone is mad at us and can be mean to us.
Me: That must feel terrible. How about in this school Ahmes?
Ahmes: Everyone has been really kind here Mr. Jim.
Me: I am glad. You are very kind also.
Tara: Is he going to make all of the Americas great Mr. Jim? We looked at map and there are a lot of countries in the Americas. Is he going to make Mexico great?
Me: Excellent question. Sometimes we seem to use the word America as if the United States is all that is important in the Americas. These are all good questions.
Sue: If my father loses his government job and we do not have health insurance can I still go to the doctor? Can I keep my wheelchair? What if it wears out? That is scary?
Me: Health care is very important for everyone. Sometimes if we do not need it today we forget that a lot of people need it every day. I never know when I or someone I know will need to see the doctor or get a wheel chair.
Tommy: What if all countries make more bombs and other weapons? How is that going to be peaceful? When someone in the family is angry, as Tommy said, is does not feel peaceful. If our country is a bully will that be better for everyone?
Me: Some people believe if we have more weapons there will be more peace. Many people do not believe this. Your question is another very important one. Thank you, Tommy.
Susie: My mother says that he does not like females very much. How come he is not married to a man?
(There is a bit of snickering among the students. I must admit I was also working hard not to snicker.)
Me: That is a great question Susie. Sometimes we like to be close to someone even when we do not respect them much. Humans can be funny that way. I suspect your mother is saying that it does not seem as if he respects many women. He has put some women in important positions.
Susie: Most are men Mr. Jim.
Me: That is true. Who else has a question for President Trump?
Sam: My mom, dad and Uncle Jim tell Paul and me to think before we speak. We are not allowed to tweet? Does the President have to think before he tweets?
Me: There are some who do not think so. Are you suggesting that the same rules should apply to kids and adults Sam?
Sam: Yes. You and my parents say that is always fair except some things only adults can do.
Me: Yes, that is what we say.
Steve: My Aunt is from Estonia and is afraid that Russia will steal it again. They used to be in charge and it was very bad. Does President Trump care? My dad says it does not seem as if he does.
Me: That is a question a lot of people are asking about all the Baltic states. Let me remind everyone where Estonia is. See here is Moscow which is the capital of Russia. Here is Helsinki, Finland which is the capital of Finland. The Baltic sea is between the two. There here is Latvia and Lithuania, two other Baltic States which were taken over by the Soviet Union of which Russia was part of.
Since President Trump has questioned the value of NATO the people in those countries are afraid that no one would help them if Russia tries to take them over.
Sofia what is your question?
Sofia: Is the President smarter than his wife? I heard that she is very smart. Would she be a better president?
Me: I have also read that she is very smart. That is a great question. I am not sure we know much about what sort of President she would make on her own. We might also have to ask if being smart is the same thing as being wise.
All of these are wonderful questions. Would you like me to type them up and if your parents agree we could send them to the President? We would first send them home to your parents to see what they think about that idea. Between now and next week, discuss with your families about what we should do when someone is not doing well in school?
Steve, will you hand out the question to everyone please?
Steve does so.
Me: I will bring cookies. I loved your questions. Thank you.
Have a good week.
Class: Goodbye Mr. Jim
Written January 25, 2017
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