I took the above pic of my school lunch one day last week. As my 4th-grade charges and I proceeded toward a classroom, we passed in the hall the school nurse, who clucked disapprovingly. Maybe she didn't see the apple and frozen fruit cup. Plus, those are red peppers beneath my "turkey dog."
You know what happens when grade school kids get an apple for lunch? A thousand apples in the garbage, a single tiny bite out one side. Good apples, too. At least the french fries aren't wasted. The mini donuts were terrible.
There's no sense trying to teach my mentees anything while they eat, so usually I hurry them through their meal, though sometimes I enjoy just listening.
BOY: What's that you wear on your head?
GIRL: It's my hijab.
BOY: I see a lot of girls wearing those around here.
GIRL: It's our Muslim culture.
BOY: You wear it to bed?
GIRL: [Laughs.] I never wear it at home. Only in public.
BOY: Why?
GIRL: In our culture, you're not supposed to see my hair.
BOY: [After a pause, looking at her intently.] I want to see your hair.
GIRL: [Another pause, as if for moral reflection. Then with a perceptible flourish she pushes back her hijab, which falls to her shoulders, revealing her bare head. She nods, tilting her scalp toward the boy.] There! Look!
BOY: [Sounding disappointed, but with a smile.] Your hair's just reg'lar.
[They laugh. She pulls her hijab back into place.]
ME: Yesterday, we worked on some subtraction problems that did not require us to borrow and regroup. Today . . . .
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