4 Year old flips another kid the 'bird' and is kicked out of school... lands herself in juvie.

I went into this morning thinking Jardin was going to be light and easy.  The bus that brings kids from debajo del puente (under the bridge) was broken so many kids were not here.  Our class only had 19.  Easy, right?  Not so much...

There is one girl in the class, Laryssa (photo right), who has been in trouble much of the year.  She always has her tongue out, does not listen, kicks, hits and spits at other kids.  One day last week, Chelsey posted about this girl when she barged into the bathroom and started in on doing the "segundo cosa" (#2) while other kids were in the room.

Sister Noemi had a talk with the girl a few days ago and she had been good for about a week.  When you talk one on one with the girl she is fine.  I actually think she is a good kid.  I think, despite all the scolding, she likes me a bit which makes me feel all the worse for being the rat that got her booted from Jardin.  SO, the story:

Today, when the sister was in the classroom, Laryssa gave another kid the dede media (middle finger) and I immediately, without thinking, scolded her.  You cannot give other kids the middle finger!!  This was the second time that I had seen her do it and the first time I let it slide.  The girl is only 4 - she has no idea what it means.  I am sure she sees it at her house and imitates the behavior.

Anyhow, the Sister was in the room (and, I think,  had been looking for an excuse to talk with the kid's mom).  The Sister asked me what she did and I explained (in Spanish):

     Me:  "She gave her the middle finger"

     Sister:  "So?"

     Me:  "She gave her the middle finger."

     Sister:  "So?"

     Me:  "She gave her the middle finger" (while also demonstrating the act).

     Sister:  "So?" (while mimic'ing my action and shaking around her middle finger)

     Me:  "That is a really bad word."

     Sister:  "No??"

     Me:  " Yes, that is a really bad word.  Ask Lydia..."  (Lydia cooks and cleans in the Jardin.)

I thought the middle finger was something that transcended languages and generations but a few have escaped without knowledge of the word.  We know for a fact that other Sisters understand because one Sister received the middle finger while she was driving us around in Posada, Argentina, and was quite embarrassed when she received it.  She laughed nervously and her face turned red.

Anyhow, the Sister scolded the girl and she got sent to sit at a table all by herself (photo to the right).  She was better for the rest of the class but only because she had been severely scolded by the Sister.  After school Sister Noemi talked with the girl and her mama.  

We found out later that the little girl was kicked out of school.  The Sister thinks she needs a specialist to work on her attitude.  I agree that she needs more help and the Sister absolutely knows what she is doing because she has been working in education for her entire lifetime as a Sister.  I am just a little sad because I feel like her behavior could have continued to improve had we had the chance to keep working with her.  I am sure the little girl is also sad and I am positive that her mother (who looks and acts exactly like her daughter) is crushed.  I feel terrible playing a part in getting her booted from class... but you cannot go around flippin' kids the bird, right?

In other news, we have just entered autumn and kids are dressing like it is winter in Massachusetts.  It is like 75 degrees outside and this kid (Francesco) had a t-shirt, turtleneck, sweater and then his uniform on.  He serves only as an example of how EVERY CHILD IN JARDIN dresses for the "cold."  

We go to play outside and project #1 is removing all unnecessary layers of clothing because the kids are always burning up.  All this and we have not even experienced the afternoon...