October 23, 2003
Neither rain, nor snow, nor bus fight...
Did you know that a grade-schooler's backpack works just like a USPS mailbox? I can magically put a note for someone across town into it and just as magically one will return to me.
Oh you've heard of the Post Office, FedEx, UPS... but I've discovered the Elementary School Mail System. Dave calls it "the underground railroad for grammar school" but I think we're heading into Pony Express territory with this one.
Say I want to send a note to another parent, Mrs. Smith. This is what I have to do.
— Write my note and put it into an envelope labeled with the name and teacher of Mrs. Smith's child. How I get this information is anyone's guess.
— The note goes into my child's bookbag, who brings it to school. Or leaves it on the bus, or uses it to wipe his nose.
— His teacher takes the note and (presumably, since I've never seen this magic in action) sends the note to the office.
— The school administrator puts the note into Mrs. Smith's child's teacher's mailbox. Still with me?
— Mrs. Smith's child's teacher gets the note from her mailbox and gives it to Mrs. Smith's child.
— Mrs. Smith child brings the note home in his backpack and gives it to mom. Or wraps his leftover Ritz Bits with it.
It's an intricate system with many opportunities for error — and you thought they were just learning long division...
Comments
What is this place? And why does my scrotum feel tighter than it did earlier?
Oops - I didn't think that was going up!