June 22, 2025
I was single and teaching in the Primary grades at a Christian private school. “Miss Calvert” to a class of 6 and 7 year olds, I marvelled at their varied personalities and perspectives.
The local police safety officer came one day to give a demonstration for my class. In full uniform, he stepped in the school door and one of my little boys called to me down the hall: “Miss Calvert, the General is here!”
Well, the “General/Police Officer” proceeded to set up his picture slides, a series of old fashioned black and white drawings about road safety.
One of them portrayed an intersection with various pedestrians and vehicles and signs.The officer asked these dear little children: “Now, boys and girls, if Car “A” turns left and Pedestrian “B” crosses at Corner “C”, and stoplight “G” turns green, what will happen?”
I had no idea, nor did my students. He droned on. “Now, boys and girls, if your mommy drops an egg on the floor, and it breaks, can she put it back together again?” His audience shook their heads in unison, no doubt grateful that they knew the answer to at least one question.
On his slide he showed a sketch of a girl being struck by a car. “So if your body gets broken by a car, it is not easy to put it together again!”
I was wondering if there was any hope of putting this broken presentation back together again. Unaware of his communication deficits, the officer asked a final question.
“Now, boys and girls, what did you learn today?” (I held my breath.)
Stephen raised his hand, blue eyes solemn. “I learned that you should never drop an egg on the road, because if you try to pick it up, you might get hit by a car.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself! The “General” packed up his trusty slides and left.
