Frazz by Jef Mallett for February 19, 2025

A Caulfield moment?

I’m a lot more mature (older too) than Cauilfield. Eventually I did figure out that doing the work early and often was the best technique for both learning and saving effort. But I was an adult by then… and not all that young even as adults go.

PS: If you really want to learn a subject, teach it. Or at least assist others to learn it (in a group for instance). Because more than one person coming up with weird points of view to discuss is a lot more enriching than depending on what the prof or the author wanted you to think about.

He doesn’t have parents?

Mrs. Olsen knows how to cheer Caufield up, though he’ll be lucky if she doesn’t say: “While you’re here, let’s work on sentence structure . . .” or “Since you’re already here, now is a fine time to start that homework.”

I’m beginning to think Caulfield is stalking Mrs. Olsen…

Mrs. Olsen has ‘handled’ Caulfield for ages. He just never gives up trying to win the match.

Poor Caulfield! He’ll never live this down.

Speakings a retired elementary school teacher, 90% of homework is pointless. If a child can get 9 out of 10 problems done in class, why make them do another 100 at home? Child abuse!

I like it when Mrs O encourages him although it is like walking a tightrope. Caulfield’s curiosity will serve him well – “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious”. – Albert Einstein.

Regrettably, dodging bullets is a skill all too many schoolchildren need these days.