Interesting logic

Hello,

I read The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens to the class this morning.  We had a very interesting, but quite shocking discussion afterwards.  The book is about a bunch of prairie dogs who discover a tennis ball that has fallen into their burrow.  They have a great time peeling off the fuzz and dancing around until they realize that all of the fuzz is off the tennis ball.  Then it becomes a free-for-all as they fight one another to get more fuzz for themselves.  At some point, they become exhausted and fall asleep.  The big bully of the group goes around and steals all the fuzz.  In the morning, while the bully is gloating over his new found fuzzy riches, he is scooped up by an eagle.  The prairie dogs first celebrate the loss of the bully, but then come to the realization that he is one of their own, and help save him. 

It is a very entertaining story with great illustrations.  The kids definitely enjoyed it.  So my first question afterwards was about the prairie dog that took the fuzz.  There wasn't the negative response that I expected, so I broadened the question to put themselves in the dog's position.  I said, "Let's pretend it is Christmas day.  All the gifts have been opened.  If you had a button that would make all of the gifts that everyone in this class received, immediately disappear, but appear in your house, would you press it?"  The answer was yes, by about a two to one margin!  Some wanted to know if the others in the class would know where the presents went.  When I said "no," more hands went up to say they would press the button.  A boy said they wouldn't do it because they wouldn't want the "girl gifts."  Someone pointed out that they could sell the girly stuff.  Two more hands went up.  I was in shock. 

I explored deeper with this...  "Are you telling me that if you found a five dollar bill under your foot, right now, (they were sitting on the floor/rug) that you would quietly slip it into your pocket?  Yes by a 3-1 margin!  The greater the value of the bill the greater the number of kids who would discreetly pocket the bill.  One child said proudly, to show that he was honorable, "If it was a dime, I'd ask who lost it." 

I explained that "it could be lost lunch money, a classmate could end up getting in deep trouble for losing it, your own friend might be sulking all day, all because of you," but to no avail.  The kids were adamant about one thing:  If the other kids knew they took it, they would think differently.  As long as it was anonymous, they had no problem with it. 

At this point, we had to break for lunch.  Wow.  I was flabbergasted.  These are good kids.  Great kids.  I cannot believe the "if you don't get caught, what's wrong with it?" philosophy.  It certainly explains why so many students (from other classes, of course) still run in the halls. 

We will be talking a lot about perspective in writing this year.  It will be an easy tie-in to try to get them to see other people's perspectives on some of these behavioral issues as well.  Fourth grade is a big year for many kids to come to appreciate things from a perspective other than their own.  Until then, I hope they keep their valuables locked up tight.

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea

PS. Please return CREA field trip slips before our trip on Tuesday.  You may check off if you want to chaperone, but we don't really need any.  CREA has their own staff of adults.  I can have one or two, but we will have greater need during later field trips.