One of the things I loved most about teaching was that kids were always listening... just not always to the part you expected.
A few days earlier, we'd been talking about bike safety. We discussed why it's important to wear a helmet and how it can help protect your head if you fall.
Lesson taught. Mission accomplished.
Or so I thought.
A few days later, I was outside on yard duty (every teacher's favourite part of the day) when a student noticed our custodian walking around on the school roof.
About once a month, usually on a nice day, the custodian would head up there to retrieve utility balls and other missing treasures that somehow found their way onto the roof.
(Don't ask about the underwear.)
That's when one of my students looked at me and asked,
"Mr. Gunning... are we allowed to climb onto the school roof if we're wearing a helmet?"
I stared at him for a second.
Then, with the straightest face I could manage, I replied,
"No."
He looked genuinely puzzled.
"But wouldn't the helmet save me if I fell off?"
For the briefest moment, I caught myself thinking...
Well... that's actually a fair question.
Then reality kicked in.
"That's not really the point," I said. "Why would you be up on the roof in the first place?"
Without missing a beat, he answered,
"To get my ball... the one you kicked up there the other day."
Touché.
At that point, I decided it was probably best to end the conversation before I accidentally encouraged any more creative problem-solving.
Moments like these reminded me that kids don't see the world the way adults do. Their logic isn't always wrong... it's just aimed in a completely different direction.
It's also one of the reasons William and Thomas, the stars of my I Told You So! series, always seem so confident in their plans. To them, the idea makes perfect sense.
Until it doesn't.
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Now, Over to You...
What's the funniest question a child has ever asked you?
Share it in the comments below! I read every one, and who knows... your story might inspire a future edition of Mark's Notebook.
Until next Friday... keep laughing, keep reading, and if someone suggests climbing onto a roof wearing a helmet... maybe just say no.
— Mark Gunning
Children's Author | Retired Teacher | Collector of Kid Logic