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Penguins

The three boys were lined up single file on the school yard pavement. Their arms were rigid at their sides, Their eyes looked straight ahead. One by one they moved stiff legged across the playground, waddling as they went. They gathered speed near the tether ball ring, tottering from side to side. "EEK-EEK" went their voices. "EEK-EEK" came the reply. Penguins at play.

The playground occupied the east end of the school yard at Horace Mann Elementary School. It was two stories down and directly below the window of Mrs. Krunkamp's third grade classroom. The first, second, and third grade occupied this section of the pavement. It was their meeting place in the mornings before school began and after their return from lunch. It was a place of imagination and freedom.

Mrs. Krunkamp watched from her second story window as the children returned from lunch. Her eyes darted from left to right as she mentally accounted for all the children. Four girls were playing hopscotch by the front gate; three more were by the fence jumping rope. A mixed multitude batted a large soft rubber ball in the center of the playground. Two of the older boys were chasing through the assembly, carelessly, Mrs. Krunkamp thought, weaving Their way past the little ones.

"I must talk to those boys again, she said, "they're going to knock someone down if they don't stop.

Her eyes continued to survey the field and settled on the Que of penguins "What are they doing? The boys tottered back and forth around the playground. "EEK-EEK, went their voices. They moved to the left past the hopscotch game and the back to the center near the mixed multitude "EEK-EEK," came the reply.

"There is something wrong with those boys," she said.

What can I say about the third grade? Most of us had yet to learn the system so we had little idea how to behave. There were certain parameters of good behavior which we recognized as general rules, like, "don't kick", and "don't pull hair", but the rules which governed the classroom were still a little hard to remember and sort out.

Mr. Krunkamp knew the rules. Each child had to raise their hand before they were allowed to speak. Only one trip to the lavatory was allowed before lunch, and only one trip after lunch, and you had to ask permission before you left the room. You were not to speak while someone else was speaking. Whispering was not allowed. Gum and candy were to be disposed of prior to entering the classroom.

When we returned from recess we lined up in the hallway

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