There will be children who ask how babies get inside their mother. From a pedagogical viewpoint, this is not the time to explain something as complex as fertilization. Consider students’ requests when offering explanations, but, point out that the father as well as the mother is involved.

The teacher with whom I normally work is absent at the moment which means, somewhat to my dismay, that I am taking all of her lessons. Seeing as I’m supposed to be basically a classroom assistant, I’m not sure how fair this is, nor how suited I am to the task.

Anyway, today I have been preparing the forthcoming topic for science, which is reproduction. I can’t quite remember when we did this in school, my memory says year 5, can anyone help me out? We are doing it with Grade 4, who are 8 or 9 years old. It amuses me that the textbook skips a key point, going as it does from the human reproductive system (ovaries, uterus, vagina, vulva, prostate, testes, penis) to pregnancy and childbirth. The above quote is how the Teacher’s book bridges the gap.

I should say, I’m not entirely sure how these classes are going to pan out. Could be interesting.

This evening the sunset reflected in the mirrored facade of a building was far superior to that in the real sky.

Still not blogging,

about:

• The Colour Green
• More baking
• A little dinner
• Musical cake slice
• Saliendo con mis madrileñas
• Hardware failures
• Charts and plans
• Ser viejo

Just because I’m not in a very bloggerific mood at the moment I wouldn’t want you to forget I exist.
Things I’m not blogging about but should be:

• Baking, recipies
• More Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Guy Fawkes
• Some fotos
• Soup
• Large art
• Landlord

Well now, here’s the thing. Never been much of a one for Halloween, the convictions of my family having moulded my childhood away from celebrations of such dubious spiritual providence, and though we had a little party in the flat, it was just a coincidence that it happened to fall on All Hallows Eve, one girl did turn up in a wig though, don’t know if that makes it a Halloween Party?

I did, however, make my very first Halloween costume ever, because it was sort of expected of us to turn up at school dressed up, for the kids, you know? So I was a mummy – I ripped up an old bed sheet and stitched it to various articles of clothing. I was surprised to discover that a bed sheet doesn’t actually cover very much of you when ripped into strips. I thought I made a rather fetching mummy though.
Actually, recalling the old chestnut – “Why was the little Egyptian boy sad?” – “Because his mummy was a mummy.” (bom tschhhh) – I thought I’d be mildly subversive and go as a mummy and as a mummy, and wore a dress under my bandages. not sure however that anyone got it  (it’s probably better that way).

So yup. anyway, back to schools and Halloween and my own childhood. Spain is, in word at least, overwhelmingly Catholic (last year’s one class survey suggested 100%), however I have two students this year who are Jehovah’s Witnesses and whose parents would prefer them not to be involved in Halloween activities. I understand this point of view, however, the teacher I was working with said that they didn’t see why the kids shouldn’t be involved, and even went as far as suggesting to the kids concerned, wouldn’t they rather join in? I’m pretty uncomfortable with this, I believe in a right to religious freedom, and I think Richard Dawkins is an idiot (last three paragraphs are the ones I’m referring to – more on this in a latter post, maybe), and I tried to explain what I thought was the parents’ point of view and why I thought it was valid, even if you don’t share their standpoint. Anyway, I’m glad the kids stood up for their parents’ wishes, and I didn’t observe any adverse effects to their not making pumpkins and haunted houses.

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These men and women maintain peak proficiency at one task they hope to never use: launching a nuclear attack. Meanwhile, as they wait for the order they hope never comes, they sit, buried deep in the earth, watching the status printouts and alarms for the 10 missiles they directly control, plus 40 others that they have backup control on, making sure each is ready to defend the nation at a moment’s notice.