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Show Page A 12 L. THE DAILY HI RALIX (www .HarlThcHerald com), Pimo. Utah. Monday, April 23, 2001 The Seerfet School You have to' draw a Bine in the sand Tests were just supposed to be for Tom and Ida," Herbert objected. "You changed the rules," Miss Sedgewick said. "Now, so have I." "Miss Sedgewick," Ida said, "but how will we all know what the exams ; will be?" By AM , Illustrated by Brian Kloca I've learned a lot working with kids especially my own. I've discovered that there are some battles I'm 'not willing to fight, some hills I'm not willing to die on. I go straight to surrender. I don't know how many times I've told my daughter, Abbey, to quit eating the Exceed Professional Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Biscuits (with real lamb baked in). Why a kid who eats a big breakfast, a school lunch, a Mike daughter that she leave the biscuits to Peabody. Didn't do much good. The next day I noticed if I Rutter and mud Dripping wet, streaked, Ida waded out of the pond and plodded toward the schoolhouse. The other children followed uncertainly. As the students filed into their places, Ida stood shivering beside the teacher's desk. "My dear," said Miss Sedgewick, "have you no dry clothes?" "No, ma'am." "You are the teacher here. Do take your place." Wet though she was, Ida sat behind the teacher's desk. "I am sorry to have come at such a awkward moment," Miss Sedgewick began. "I should begin by commending you all for your desire to be in school. As far as I'm concerned, there's no harm in your studying together. I admire it. If you wish to allow Miss Bidson to be your unofficial teacher, there's nothing wrong with that either." The children burst into applause. "However," Miss Sedgewick said with new severity, "my concern is with the instruction given, not the building. I earnestly encourage you to speak to the School Board. As for getting credit for what you are doing, that's quite another matter. Credit for a term requires passing an exam given by the county." Tom raised his hand. "For the eighth graders? Is that what you mean, ma'am?" "For the eighth graders, certainly. But here's the choice I offer: I'll keep your secret, but in return, you must all take a final exam." "Me, too?" asked Mary tremulously. red-face- dog biscuits. However, I was going to emphasize putting pack and coat away (not in a pile in the living room), helping with dishes, being patient with her brother and straightening her room. It worked. I focused on a few things and noticed a difference. I let a bunch of stuff go, and that bothered me a little, but I saw real progress. I drew the line, and died on my hill a winner. Britney Spears is next. Michael Rutter is a Christa McAuliffe Fellow who has authored numerous articles and textbooks. He teaches English at Provo High School and at BYU. -- - 1 t 1 , M, f r t 3 d ..mm.., I I NOT zz Newspaper in Education "Just fooling at school." Mrs. Bidson gave her daughter a look. "Ida, are you teaching or playing games?" "I'm teaching, Mama," Ida said hotly, utterly frustrated. Then she told all that had happened, including the unfortunate visit by Miss Sedgewick. "Now everybody has to take exams," Ida said. "I bet I ruined everything." "If you had," her mother suggested, "that woman would have said so." "In the whole time I've been teaching," Ida said, "it was the only fooling "Herbert, please," Ida pleaded. Herbert stared down at his desk. Once more, Ida said, "All in favor." This time all hands including rose. Herbert's "Good," said Miss Sedgewick. "I shall be here bright and early on the morning of June the seventh to conduct the examinations. I presume for you too, Miss Bidson." "Yes, ma'am." "I wish you all good luck," the woman said and started for the door. Reaching it, she paused. "Two more things," she said. "Again, I urge you to inform your parents and the school board. And Miss Bidson, do get into dry clothing before you catch your death of cold." The children waited'until they . heard the sound of a car driving away. "I suppose," said Ida, "we'll all just have to work harder." "And there's one more thing," Herbert called out. "What's that?" "No more swimming!" When Ida and Felix got home that afternoon, Ida went right into the kitchen. Her mother was at the big plank table kneading the weekly bread. "Miss Ida," she cried. "Your clothing ,,L1 M is wet." just fail." "You too, my dear." ,11 pi.ll.IJLI.LI "Ida, i's human naturei-I- f you knew the questions, it would be all you'd study. The results would only tell us what you've studied, not what you know. Now, continue as you've been doing. Then 111 see what you have accomplished. Agreed?" "We've been doing everything by voting," Ida said. "Then by all means vote," Miss Sedgewick urged. Ida stood up. "All in favor of everybody taking exams like Miss Sedgewick says, raise hands." All hands except Herbert's went up. "I'm afraid," said Miss Sedgewick, "this won't work unless all agree. She turned to Herbert. "Young man would you reconsider?" "Aw," he scowled, "if I take em I'll Miss Sedgewick burst into laughter. "I have visited many a school," she said. "But never one like this. Now I'm afraid I really do need to speak to you all." spending a lot of time dealing with things that weren't that consequential. You can only yell at a kid so much before it's pretty useless. I wanted to make it count. When I did yell, I wanted to be appreciated and listened to. Maybe if I didn't get so pushy, I wouldhow n't have to yell at all revolutionary! I wasn't going to worry about the little things like making her bed, listening to Britney Spears (this was tough), squeezing the toothpaste tube, dirty hands or ol she had dog biscuit breath. I was going to put my foot down, but Shari reminded me that dog biscuits were a lot cheaper than mqst of the other stuff she was eating and probably better for her. And it really didn't matter. (Most girls, I'm told, go through a dog biscuit stage.) There certainly were more important lines I needed to draw in the sand. I stopped and took stock of the situation. She did her homework and daily reading pretty well. I needed to count my blessings. I thought about what was really important. ! was M' CHAPTER TWELVE The Fate of the School biscuits. I kindly suggested to my No. 1 i dle of the pond. snack, healthy a great dinner and another snack would need to supplement her diet with Exceed Professional Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Biscuits, with or without real lamb baked in, is beside me. I bought a box for lab puppy, Peabody, two weeks ago. Between Abbey and the pup, I'm about out of dog after-scho- THE STORY SO FAR: With Ida as teacher, the children keep their one-rooschool running. Now the County Examiner returns, to find Ida in mid- NOTES FOR ri is I .Mil. .J. .....I I've done." "Ida, a teacher will be held up as an example to the children." "It's not fair," Ida burst out. "I should study electricity, like Tom. No one thinks he was fooling around." "I'm afraid I have more bad news," said her mother. "I met Herbert Bixler's pa when your father and I were at the feed store today. He complained to me that Herbert isn't doing well. Said that if Herbert doesn't do better, he'll go to the school board and complain about the job you're doing." "Ma, he hardly lets Herbert come to school." "I'm just telling you what he said." "But there's something else," Ida said. "What's that?" "Ma, I've been working so hard at teaching, I've been letting my own studying go down. Way I'm going, I'll be the only one failing the exam." Next Week: Ida as Student Text copyright 2000 by Avi Illustrations copyright Brian Floca Reprinted fast Serials' Jl.l.LJL u to our A subscribers who have made a recent vacation donation. I.. Ill lite V.,,,,.,.,..,,,,,,, thank-yo- u ILL 1 The Dally Herald A special by permission of Break- ..Ml II L.i II by 2000 ,..,..,,, child $ textbook to the world The Daily Herald supplies over 70 local schools with the most current textbook possible. To learn how you can be a partner in Education, call 375-- 5 103. www.heraldextra-nie.co- m t i i t-....,,.,,nn..Mr,ini,-a.,,.- il m n (i it ..,. r& . ' a S -- .m-ff- t !S r: DioioOocIc I. 1L U J ...lll HI Ml f. am S so i 3! W , .. w .: Museum vcrNCIENTljrC" v Order- - Saurischia Suborder- - Sauropoda Family- - Diplodocidae 3 il This di nosaur was collected by BYU Paleontologist "Dinosaur Jim" Jensen in 1 973. There were few bones discovered but their size was incredible. The large shoulder bone was 8 feet longl Its long , and tapering tail probably worked like a great whip. 11 " v i i i a 3 ii . .,..-:JUfJ Species- - Vivianae "VV-ee-AN-eye- 1 3 , j" Size- - 130 feet long ' 1 : Artwork, Kelly Pugh, Copyright WPL 2000 J I |