Fun

Poo and I have been awfully sweet to each other lately. She now reads the blog, so I can say only nice things about her. She has been returning the favor. For example, we were driving to the country house and she said, “I’m so proud of you. You’re such a good teacher!”

“Why?” I asked. Poo cannot multiply 32 times 16. What does she know about math teachers?

“Because you make math class fun. That’s why you’re so smart. Teenagers have so many fun things: their phones, their friends, computer games, parties, and all that. So if class is not fun, they won’t do it. If you teach old people, you can just tell them DO IT! But not teenagers, you have to make math class fun.”

Poo was on a roll, but she paused. “I hated math class!” burst out of her.

“Why?” I asked. I can’t imagine anyone hating math class.

“Because the teacher beat me!” I had obviously touched a sore point. “But not as much as ENGLISH. I hated English class the most. The teacher beat me so much; she beat me until my hands were bleeding. Remember, Mom?”

Her mother just laughed. Older Thais approve of this style of education.

“But, why?” I asked. Poo is so quiet and innocent. I can’t imagine her getting in trouble.

“Because I gave the wrong answer! That teacher didn’t teach us anything. Just our ABCs, and maybe A-N-T Ant, or B-E-E Bee, or a few things like that. Then she would write long English sentences on the board and tell us DO IT! Then she would call five or six of us to the board and ask questions. When I gave the wrong answer, she would beat me.”

“Did she beat only you?” I asked.

“No, she beat all of us! We could not understand what she was saying!”

No wonder Poo thinks my classes are fun!