Idaho

While subbing for an absent principal, a 5th grade girl is sent to the office from the cafeteria with a note from the cafeteria supervisor. The note says her shirt is “inappropriate”.

The girl is wearing a burnt orange colored shirt with an outline of the state of Idaho on it. Above the outline is the word “Idaho”. Below the outline of the state is the word “Udaho”. Go ahead, say it out loud. I’ll wait.

Trying not to break-up laughing, I call the girl’s home. Her father answers. I tell him she needs a change of shirts because the one she is wearing is inappropriate. He says “That’s her mother’s shirt. I told her not to wear it to school.” He says he will bring her another shirt.

Every time I think about this I start to laugh. I also wonder how she got all the way to lunch time before any adult noticed. Maybe no one actually read it out loud.

Halloween Education Style

Halloween Education Style

Great pranks are the stuff of legend. When one is completed and no one is harmed it is even better. Fortunately I was not the target. This one occurred in 1975.

We had a terrific class of 8^th grade students that year in good old Albany Grade School. As a group, they were good students and possessed a wonderful sense of humor. They liked to engage in banter and kidding with each other and their teachers. The 6^th grade class also had a nice bunch of kids and some terrific athletes, but the boy “leaders” were serious about sports and their social status.

The stage was set by the 8^th graders. First up was sneaking into the male teacher’s rest room which was accessed inside the boys’ restroom. While one stood guard, another placed see through Saran Wrap under the toilet seat. As they waited to catch a victim, they initiated the major prank against the male 6^th graders.

They had asked if I would allow them to borrow some equipment for their project. The 8^th graders borrowed meter sticks, balances, and various assorted pieces of science equipment from my room. They took student chairs, actually stools, from my room.

They convinced the 6^th graders, assistance was needed for a “science experiment” they were conducting during noon recess.  They had the 6^th graders hold the balances, while standing on the stools. They used the meter sticks to take “measurements” while using science terminology like “hypothesis” and "xylem" as they called out their data to others "recording" the information. They told the 6^th graders they had to remain still so the measurements could be accurate. All the while, the unsuspecting 6^th graders stayed standing on the stools holding the equipment.


 Slowly each of the 8^th graders slipped into a classroom. Eventually only the 6^th graders remained in the hallway, standing on the stools, holding the equipment. As the bell rang ending recess, the other students came into the hallway from outside and saw the 6^th graders still holding the equipment. The teachers came down the hallway as well. As the 8^th graders reappeared they began to cheer as they and the other students laughed at the 6^th graders. 


Eventually the 6^th graders realized they were the victims of a prank. Embarrassed and not pleased they stepped off the stools and headed to class. They did not see the humor.

My buddy, Gerry, had a conference period after lunch. He has a big booming voice. The yell from the male restroom as classes began after lunch told the 8^th graders they had snared another victim.

I have to say it was one of the funniest Halloweens I ever experienced. Of course, I got the time frame wrong, I recently discovered. (September 2018). This actually occurred on April Fools Day of 1976.