The Here and Now

I have officially been in Barrow for one month. And have just finished my second full week of this school year.

It’s a Saturday night.

I sit in front of my computer, typing and surfing. The TV is playing the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And I am digging deep into a carton of Super Fudge Brownie ice cream.

I have to say, this is the best, most relaxing, evening I have had in awhile.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of papers, planning, and other difficult things starting with a “P.” (I tried for alliteration, but could not come up wit a third “P” word.)

Thursday and Friday we took our students on a fieldtrip to the tundra*. We collected plants, saw animals, and documented science-like things.
The kids really got into it. They loved being outside and playing with nature.

And by “nature”, I mean lemmings.

Lemmings are cute little creatures that look a lot like a cross between and mouse and a chipmunk. These tiny fur balls run around in little paths and tunnels. They scamper from loud noise, owls, and 7th grade boys.

As most boys are; my students are fascinated by these small animals. They spent much of our field trips chasing the lemmings across tundra mud and mounds.

Right now you are asking, “But what do they do with the little helpless bags of bones and fur once they are caught?”
If you are a PETA member, now is the time to stop reading.

You see, at some point the kids learned that lemmings carried rabies. And, therefore, should be killed. They also know that dogs and owls like to eat fluffy ground dwellers.

So, the kids have come up with several games to play.

1. The “How High” game.

The rules here are simple. Catch a lemming. Throw it as high as you can. You can win two different ways. The first is too throw it the highest. The second is to be the one that throws it so high that it dies upon reintroduction to the ground.
For awhile little wiggling dots of fur rained down on a group of boys gathered far enough away from us to hear our shouts

2. The “Toss them at the girls” game.

This game is exactly as the title suggests. You throw the twitchy scurry-er at any near-by girl. Laugh as she screams and runs.
I cannot count the number of scared girls screamed accusations of boys pelting lemmings

3. The “Stomp Stomp” game.

Apparently they make funny squishing noises when you smash them underfoot.


Ah, the humor of 12 year old boys. They are so entertained by the simplest things.
The other teacher and I thought good and hard about how to end these games. In the end we decided to let it go.
After all, it kept them busy once their work was done it’s not like anyone was getting hurt**.


* Let me tell you, walking on the tundra for a combined total of six hours over a two-day period is quite the workout. My ass feels like you could bounce a quarter off it.
**As a quick disclaimer. That comment was aimed at my PETA loving Savannah dwelling buddy***.
*** Also, I don’t like small furry animals.