Laughter

I am grateful for laughter. Even when it comes because of a forged note from a student. Here's the background...

My students know that if they bring toys to school and I see them playing with them in their desks (or basically anywhere besides recess), I take them away. They are welcome to have them back if a parent sends in a note or comes to get them personally from me. I'm mean, I know.

Well one particular student of mine has had this happen several times. His mom comes in to volunteer and she tells him that it was his fault he lost them, she's not getting them back for him. Apparently what was taken away on Wednesday was devastating to him. I had a meeting Thursday morning so I had a sub. But when I got back at lunch time, this was on my desk:


I have to admit, the first thing I did when I saw it was laugh. This hasn't happened to me since my first year teaching when a girl forged her parents names in crayon (and she spelled their names wrong.)

The kids came back from lunch and I watched as this little one went, grabbed the letter, and brought it to me. He goes "Teacher, my mom told me to give this to you." I brought him out into the hallway and asked "Are you sure your mom said that?" "Yep, she said to give it to you." I asked a few more times, and finally said "Student (I used his name), I don't think your mom said that. You know why? Because this word is spelled wrong (back) and this word is spelled wrong (house) and it's in your handwriting." He looks up at me and goes "Dang it!"

After we discussed what we would be doing to fix this problem, I sent him back in the classroom, turned my head, and just laughed. WOW!! Here are a few things wrong with this...

1. Misspelled words
2. Kid's handwriting
3. Who signs a note "Mom"???
4. Who writes their child's teacher's name just as the last name? (To Sucher)
5. How in the world did he expect me to believe that it was really from his mom???

As much as I should be upset about getting a forged letter, I was grateful for it because this week I really just needed some laughter in my life. And this sure provided it for me!