What's a comb?

During our art project yesterday, I commented on how nice someone was for letting a fellow student borrow something (trying to reinforce good behavior). My comment was followed by this.....

Student 1: “But you should never share your comb and hat and stuff. That’s what that piece of paper said they sent home the other day. We have lice in our class.”

Teacher: “We don’t have lice in our class, that was just a reminder not to share your combs and hats.”

Student 2 (who happens to be a fellow teacher’s son): “What are combs and hats?”

I then (with as straight a face as possible began to describe a comb. About halfway through this student said “Oh yeah, I know what those are.”

I jokingly told him that I was going to tell his mom that he didn’t know what combs and hats were. We all got a good laugh out of it.

Chewing up the garbage can: Sin?

        After our Bible lesson on the first part of Jesus’ crucifixion, I had a rather interesting, if impromptu, discussion with my class of 8 second graders. It went something like this.....

Student 1: “If a pet dies before it’s owner, is there a special place in heaven for it to go and wait?”
Teacher: “I’ve never read in the Bible where it says there is a place for pets to go. I don’t believe that they go to heaven because they don’t have a soul. We have a soul and we know what is right and wrong, we know what is sin. Animals don’t have a soul like we do so they can’t sin.”
Student 3: “But what if your dog chews up the garbage can? Isn’t that a sin?”
Teacher: “It’s not a sin. The dog doesn’t know it’s wrong, even if you’ve told it several times not to do that. Now if you chewed up the garbage can, it would be a sin because you know it’s wrong.”
(Laughter all around.)
Student 2: “I think if there is a special place for animals in heaven then the donkey that Jesus rode on will be there.”
Teacher: “I think if there is a special place in heaven for animals the donkey Jesus rode on would certainly be there. Now, let’s get ready for math!”