School Daze ;)

It's been a while since we have done official "school"--the book-work kind. Needless to say, it was high time we began again, and so Monday was chosen as our launching point. It has been going well...for the most part. But I have to admit, I can get a little jumpy when the younger ones don't remember if England is a state or a country, when they think George Washington was a king. Yesterday during lunch I thought it profitable to see which of the younger kids knew the Pledge of Allegiance.

"All right. Anna, (11)" I said. "Tell me what you know of the Pledge of Allegiance."
Anna lounged back on the couch and drawled, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republican for which it--"
 "Not to the Republican, dear. To the republic."
"Oh." And she proceeded to finish the pledge with much stumbling over the hard words. But it wasn't so bad.

I then moved on to Benjamin (9), Abigail (7), and Grace (4). "Do you know it?" They all shook their heads blankly. "Fine," I said. "Repeat after me, and put your right hand over your heart."
There was a show of hands, left and right, and Benjamin raised his in the air like a dutiful Boy Scout rather than an American patriot. "Um, over your heart, Benji."
"Oh," he replied.
We got through the Pledge barely in one piece. Gracie was rolling on the floor laughing and reciting "I pwedge allegience to the fwag," in her affected British accent. That caused Abigail to go into a fit of giggles, telling me she wouldn't need to know it anyhow.
"Yes you do!" Anna protested. "Because they say it at the start of every baseball game!" Dear girl. I think she was trying to help me out. :P
"They do not, Anna," I said, exasperated at the impaired knowledge flying around the living room. I could see it now--all of my siblings standing up at a baseball game beginning to recite the pledge. "They sing the Star Spangled Banner at baseball games."
Anna flopped back onto the couch and threw her hands into the air. "That's what I thought the Pledge of Allegiance was anyway."

 Yikes.

Nevertheless, their ignorance will quickly be repaired and it does provide amusement in the hum-drum of lessons. It seems the same Monday-First-Day-Of-School blues were going on at my cousins' house across the field. My cousin Emily, who is about the same age as Anna remarked to her older brother. "Well I can't sing the Star Speckled Banner!" 

Oh the joys of homeschooling! Truly, these are some of the droll amusements that accompany our life-style. They are groaners, but they're easily mended with a little careful instruction, and they lighten even the staunchest of lessons. Gotta love kids! :)

 

(This is merely a funny picture I found--it is not in any way meant to represent the intellect of my siblings. :)