Learnin' 'Em Good

My nine-year-old nephew told me about an incident in his "Guidance" class at school, earlier this year.

The guidance counselor was playing a game with the students--no, it wasn't Doctor--and asked a question of them:


"If a fellow student spits a spitball in your ear, what should you do?"


This preceded five multiple choice options:


1. Turn and say in Arnold Schwarzenneggar's voice: "Do that again, and I'll knock your block off!"

2. Take it out of your ear, and shove it in his eye or mouth.

3. Tell him how you feel about it.

4. Start a scene.

5. Tell the teacher.


After listening to the class answers for a while, the counselor informed everyone that the correct reaction was number 3.


I wonder how many people dutifully send their chillun to skewel, never realizing that their kid is being taught how be an emoting little shrinking violet?

In the real world outside Feelings Elementary, this sort of response will put your child in need of a good set of dentures.