A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1863

1863Being nostalgic for a moment, remember when you were in elementary school and the day before Thanksgiving the school lunch was something they called “turkey?” It seemed like many schools wanted to replicate the first Thanksgiving (before football). Many of my old (if I’m old, then you’re old) students may recognize the MINIon’s headwear as something they wore at these “feasts.” This was before we stopped candy coating history and kids actually thought everyone in history books were nice. At one school I taught at the principal had delivered an edict that the students should attend this feast as pilgrims or indians (nowadays we say Native Americans or indigenous peoples) so the kids made either a black hat, white bonnet (for the girls), or a headband with feathers from I believe the Hollywood tribe. I was a rebel… I decided to have my class go as turkeys. I drew out the plans for this “hat.” and let the class personalize it however they wanted. One clever student added wings to each side. That became part of the design because when you walked down the hallway, the wings flapped! It was hysterical! Afterwards the kids would bring their turkeys home to decorate their Thanksgiving table.

Yes, I got in trouble with this principal… my students had fun, and the day before any school break all you want is no one getting hurt.