Horst Happenings....: Field Day: Sometimes It Bites

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Field Day: Sometimes It Bites

Yesterday was the annual field day at Brook Avenue. We planned it (Actually, Coach W planned it), we went, and it was a rousing success. At times we didn't listen. But we all tossed, we ran, we tugged, and we threw. Up to the end we all had fun. But that's okay. It was field day.

I sometimes wonder if my kindergarten students get together each morning and decide on what they are going to ask me about or what type of malady they will have on that particular day. For example, I may have one student come and tell me that they have a cut or whatever. Instead of sending them to the nurse or office, often times I will tend to the matter myself. Then I have a steady parade of students with the same ailment or malady. By the time run out of band-aids, and patience, the epidemic is over.

In the past I have had many ailments presented to me. I have seen cuts, scrapes, and burns. I have been asked to tend to toothaches, headaches, and tummy aches. There have been real injuries and imagined injuries. Some students have the same complaint at the same time each day. Many times after sending a student to the office or nurse I get a note telling me their temperature or explaining that they cannot treat that particular ailment. I often end up telling the next student, "I'm sorry, the office can't help with that!"

Yesterday, I had a first for me. I had three students come to me on three separate occasions during the field day activities. They came to me and told me a variation of , "Mr. Horst, I have a mosquito bite on my behind and it hurts." I looked at them, paused and thought, then said "I'm sorry. I can't do anything about it and neither can the school." They weren't happy but time seems to heal all wounds and they soon forgot about it and started having fun once again.