Comedy, Class Clowns, & Creativity

At the top of the blog is a simple question: Why teach? There are as many answers to that question as there are educators. I couldn't give a simple answer to that question in any case. Reasons vary from day to day, and often there are a collage of reasons that make teaching something other than a job and career. Certainly, there are many professional, talented people who do exemplary work teaching, and approach it as a job, career, craft. There are certainly aspects of that for me as well. We all need a paycheck of some kind. I see teachers as "knowledge artists." What painters paint, educators weave in an abstract cloud of perception and mind.

To come down from that cloud, I would like to land squarely on a few examples of the classroom interaction. Interactions that are unpredictable and ultimately back-slap funny humor. The creativity and thought processes behind some of these examples are somewhat mysterious. It is that spontaneity and mystery that can prove so addictive. It is material for future comedians. I suppose some semiotitian or psychologist could analyze the material in-depth and provide some deep insight into what often happens in the classroom setting. Luckily, I just get to enjoy the creativity. Every parent is well aware of the "kids say the darndest things" moments. When you can look at a child as a person with profound insight and admire their thinking. The "Where did that come from?" kind of admiration.

I have never, for example, had a classroom full of students that didn't produce a class clown. It is almost a Newtonian scientific law that, "For every class, regardless of size, there will be one class clown." If we look back at the history of many of our greatest comedians and actors, they were that class clown. That little pain in the rear is often so annoying, yet so creative, that it is often tough to be both teacher and audience. It takes great talent to maintain effective learning while nourishing the anarchic creativity in many students. It doesn't take much nostalgic reflection to remember our class clown. And the fact is, they really were funny.

At any rate, here are a few examples of that annoying creativity that effectively says, "I haven't paid attention and have no idea what the answer is, but let me entertain you instead."

Question: Who was the French leader during the Kennedy administration:
A: Omelet de fromage.

Question: Who was the Vietnamese leader in power in the North during the early 1960s?
A: Moo Shoo Pork.

Question: After the second world war, there were a large number of births in the US. This is called:
A: Unprotected Sex.

Question: After the second world war, returning soldiers were given the opportunity for government supported education. The law that allowed this to take place was:
A: The No Soldier Left Behind Act.

Question: In the 1950s there was a large migration of population to which region of the United States?
A: Europe.

Question: The last WWII conference between the allies was called:
A: The International Meeting of the Minds.

Question: What do you eat for Thanksgiving? A: (Tofurkey. Made from Tofu for vegetarians.)
Question: How do they get the bones in it?

The humor can be contagious, and often, makes the day.