by Leo Tolentino

Created on: February 26, 2007   Last Updated: April 16, 2011

A first-grade teacher, Mrs. Robin Graber, was having trouble with one
of her students. The teacher asked, 'Harry, what's your problem?'
Harry answered, 'I'm too smart for the 1st grade. My sister is in the
3rd grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the 3rd
grade too!'

Mrs. Graber had had enough. She took Harry to the principal's office.
While Harry waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the

principal what the situation was. The principal told Mrs. Graber he
would give the boy a test. If he failed to answer any of his questions
he was to go back to the 1st grade and behave. She agreed.
Harry was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he
agreed to take the test.

Principal: 'What is 3 x 3?'
Harry: '9.'

Principal: 'What is 6 x 6?'
Harry: '36.'

And so it went with every question the principal thought a 3rd grader
should know.
The principal looks at Mrs Graber and tells her, 'I think Harry can go
to the 3rd grade.'
Mrs. Graber says to the principal, 'Let me ask him some questions.'
The principal and Harry both agreed.

Mrs. Graber asks, 'What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?'
Harry, after a moment: 'Legs.'

Mrs. Graber: 'What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?'
The principal wondered why would she ask such a question!
Harry replied: 'Pockets.'

Mrs. Graber: 'What does a dog do that a man steps into?'
Harry: 'Pants.'

Mrs. Graber: What starts with a C, ends with a T, is hairy, oval,
delicious and contains thin, whitish liquid?'
Harry: 'Coconut.'
The principal sat forward with his mouth hanging open.

Mrs. Graber: 'What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky?'
The principal's eyes opened really wide and before he could stop the
answer, Harry replied, 'Bubble gum.'

Mrs. Graber: 'What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting
down and a dog does on three legs?'
Harry: 'Shake hands.'
The principal was trembling.

Mrs. Graber: 'What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' that means
a lot of heat and excitement?'
Harry: 'Firetruck.'

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and told Mrs. Graber, 'Put
Harry in the fifth-grade, I got the last seven questions wrong...... '

Learn more about this author, Leo Tolentino.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.