Frazz by Jef Mallett for October 09, 2020

Somewhere around third grade, I figured out how to enjoy my time after school the most, without worry, or annoying parental interruptions. I just DID THE WORK, right after the snack. Not that there was much of it at that age. Withing a couple of weeks, my mom would say “homework all done” when she found me reading and I’d say “Yep”. And she’d go bug my sibs. This did occasionally result in me working while kids were playing in the yard… but it also resulted in me getting to play while the sibs were working…

There’s ambitious but dumb, then there’s brilliant but lazy. Too bad Caulfield, who’s in the latter group, can’t acquire some ambition … he’d really be formidable.

Caulfield, I hear a bell tolling for thee.

Clever, but it won’t earn you any style points this time, Caulfield!

4 Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.

Psalm 39:4-5

I once actually had a teacher offer me extra credit if I wrote the essay answer in rhyme. The poor man was trying to get me interested in his subject by appealing to one I actually WAS interested in.

I feel so sorry for my teachers when I think about them.

Caulfield chooses the philosophy that suits him for the moment. Typical of those who run ahead of the average.

Random interjection since many commentators believe Frazz is set in MI, is Miss Plainwell named after the city? (Just heard this was a city name in MI two days ago.)

Not working is hard

It will bite you in the butt

Why not “Just do it”?

One of the distinct challenges of teaching gifted children is it occurs to them that learning whatever it is – i.e. reading the book is useful/important, etc. for them to know – so they do it. However, demonstrating to the teacher that they have learned it – that’s just a waste of time. The bridge sometimes is the teacher making them realize that there is ALSO learning in the communication/demonstration process.

Yet, Caufield, unlike many who turned in the report, actually read the book.

“A puzzle to me even why I care, the missing pieces are everywhere.”

“But we all have goals to meet while we’re here,

So you’ll stay in third grade for one more year."

—Mrs. Olsen

This trav’lin’ life, well it ain’t no good. I quit it honey ohhh, if I could. Now puzzle to me why I even care…….the missing pieces are everywhere. John Hiatt

Jef Mallett’s Blog Posts

Frazz16 hrs · The song is called “Missing Pieces,” and, ironically, it doesn’t miss much.Jef says check it out.

saving this to send to any future language arts teachers if necessary :P

I’m sure Caulfield did read the book, could summarize it by heart and give a lengthy piece of his mind on it – if the book was worth it. Those books we got to read, summarize and comment were usually without relevance to my or other students life and existence. So I read other books my teachers were unhappy with as those were not deemed fitting for my age.