The Bad Geography Post

Maybe I take for granted the fact that all my sister wanted for her sixth birthday was a globe and we played with it non-stop as kids, but seriously, the geography of today's youth is astounding. 

Today we were giving presentations and this occurred: 

Student: Karl Landsomething...wait, how do you say his name? 

Me: Karl Landsteiner. 

Student: Yeah. Him. Anyway, Karl was from Virginia, Australia. 

Me: Um. Wait a second, I highly doubt that. 

Student: Yeah. That's what it says. 

Me: Try Vienna, Austria. 

Student: What? Where the heck is that? 

Me: It's in Europe

Other Student: Wait. I thought Australia was in a different state than Europe. 

Me: What? Europe is not a state! 

Other Student: What? Yes it is. 

Me: Negative, it's a continent. Those are two different places.  There is the country of Austria and the continent/country of Australia.  Vienna is in Austria. It's close to Germany. 

All Students: WHAT?? No. Those are the same. 

Oh well. You win some, you lose some. 

The Illunderstood Ring Post

I'm finally getting to a point where my students are fun to talk to.  I like to know about their lives and hear their funny comments. It's really why I'm a teacher.  Oh. And that part about inspiring young minds and molding the future generations.  That too.

Background Information: I recently started wearing a ring of my Grandmothers on my right hand.  It is silver and small and involves no diamonds.

So today we have a conversation that goes like this: 

Student 1: Um. Ms. Kinney.  Have you ever had a boyfriend? 

Me: I'm 25 years old.  Logic would dictate that yes, I have had a boyfriend. (Wrong answer.  I forgot about my relationship with my science book...I wasn't thinking on my feet. Teacher fail.) 

Student 1: Then why aren't you married? 

Me: Well, As you will find out in the future, not all boyfriends are worth marrying.  

Student 1: Oh. Well. Everyone's saying you're engaged, so I was just wondering. 

Me: WHAT?? Who said that? Why would they think that? 

Student 2: Yeah. That was me.  I just noticed you got a new ring, so I assumed it was an engagement ring.  

Me: No.  A flat ring on your right hand is NOT an engagement ring.  

I had a similar conversation with two other classes.  Apparently I have been one hot topic of conversation among the 13-14 crowd in Bourbon County.  I like.