We had several hundred students tour the farm yesterday. While answering their questions, one boy said, "How did those pioneers do their dishes?"I pointed out, "THOSE pioneers were OUR ancestors. We ALL had ancestors that lived without electricity and running water."
The boy shook his head and said, "not me. MY ancestors were animals."
I thought he was joking. He repeated himself, "my ancestors weren't people, they were animals."
Another boy piped up, "They EVOLVED!"...
A look must have crossed over my face, as the teacher wrapped her arms around him protectively and explained to the boy, "not everyone shares the same beliefs..."
I looked into the boy's eyes, wondering what I saw... Sadness? Emptiness? I couldn't figure it out.
Restoring the boy's dignity, I replied, "your ancestors were HUMAN."
Ignoring the look of the teacher, I said more firmly to the boy, "YOUR ANCESTORS WERE HUMAN!"
Good for you! It's heartwrenching that there are children out there that actually think we evolved from animals.
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to fathom me after looking at a delicate scented flower, or seeing the twinkling stars fill the sky, or seeing a gorgeous rainbow ... the magnificance and beauty of nature ... how people still chose to believe we evolved ... from .. ahem .. a fish or cough, cough ..a monkey.
That's the public school system for you.. I'm so glad y'all are home schooling
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