"That's the 8th Amendment"

Social studies instruction in 207 includes an elementary look into some of the amendments (the Bill of Rights and others). Not only have I broken it down to kid friendly language, but also have taught my past two classes of 3rd graders how to apply it to various situations. Real basic.

You'll note how in other blog posts I lauded them for their outstanding work and how I beam with pride at how their young fertile minds are able to take the abstract and make it concrete.

Such happened this past week in a general discussion about the 14th amendment and equal protection under the law. That led to a general discussion about the teachers in Atlanta who were brought up on cheating charges and how at one point they faced the possibility of spending 20 years in prison. At the same time I mentioned that rich kid who, while driving drunk, killed four people and would probably not even spend 2 years in jail.

The kids themselves said that is should be the opposite, 20 years for the 4 lives lost and 2 years for the cheating since no one was killed [or hurt]. The goal wasn't for them to make that connection. They did that on their own. I got all warm with pride on the inside at their brain power!!!!

Then, being a teacher, I couldn't let go of the 20 years for cheating thing. We talked about how cheating is wrong. We weren't trying to justify that. Then like a ton of bricks, it hit a kid. He whispered under his breath, "that's the 8th amendment." My ears heard loud and clear what he said. I asked him to repeat it.

"Mr. Flemming, that the 8th amendment."
"Say more."
He paused and got his thoughts together.
"That's the 8th amendment because that's cruel and usual punishment."
"Say more."
His eyes started to roll a bit and he smiled. That's how I knew he was about to drop some science on us!
"Get ready yall! There goes them eyes!"
"Because. They gettin' 20 years just for cheating. That's cruel and unusual punishment just for cheating."

3rd grade students.
Philadelphia's public schools.
My kids.
How 'bout them apples!!!!