A Kindergarten Tale

A little girl comes up to me to tattle on a boy in her class. Pulling on my shirt and pointing she said, "Teacher, teacher, he said the 'F' word to me!!" Since I have heard many colorful words out of kindergarteners mouths by now, I was not all that shocked. But, I call the little boy over and ask, "Where did you hear the 'F' word?!" Without a pause he said, "My Dad says it all the time!" "Hmmm, well that is not a word we use in school. And you should be careful not to use words when you do not even know what they mean." The boy proudly retorts, "I do know what it means.... it is a butt burp."

I remember a little bit from kindergarten. I remember my teacher, Mrs. Kibbler. A very tall woman. I remember my table was right in front of a window that looked out onto the parking lot. I remember doing lots of cutting and coloring and learning to write my name, my address and my phone number. I also remember Mrs. Kibbler telling me to sit on my hands a lot. I do not remember why. I must have been a touchy-feely type of kid. Mrs. Kibbler always told the boy that sat next to me to put his hand over his mouth... so I always thought I was lucky that I just had to sit on my hands. There did not seem to be a lot of problems back then. I remember coming into the school one day and the window had been broken... that had been the worst thing that happened. Now that I am back in kindergarten... as a staff member it amazes me what kindergarteners today are having to deal with.