As a first grade teacher, I took children on many field trips. I didn’t always like these days, but they were expected and part of the curriculum. One trip is etched into my mind. I won’t share the Maryland County where I taught, but will say it was a fairly long bus ride to the Baltimore Aquarium. As we returned to the school parking lot, I discovered that a child had stolen a little toy from the gift shop. I was horrified and immediately walked to the car where his mother waited. I prompted him to tell her what he had done. When he finished, she began lecturing him about the reasons his actions were wrong. And then, despite it being a Washington/Baltimore rush hour (and those of you who live in the area will appreciate that detail), she told him they were making the drive back to Baltimore where he would be expected to apologize, return the item, and then would be punished for several weeks at home.
Of course, the other children in the class observed this. The next day on the playground, this child weepily told his painful story of returning the toy. I heard him say that he had promised his mom he would never do anything like that again.
The incident did not just influence this boy’s life. It taught an important lesson to others. Through the years children in that class have contacted me. They said that day not only helped them to follow laws, but they were always careful to steer friends away from doing the wrong thing. They remembered the boy’s tearful face as his determined mother left the parking lot. They said they never wanted to be in his position nor did they want their friends to have this type of trouble.
Important lessons are learned from our parents and on the playground.
Despite being in a rush hour toward Inauguration, the title of Mr. President must be returned immediately. The country never needs this type of trouble again.
K. Hart 1/8/2021
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