Old things in the south

Chapter 68 The Singing Ball
This is the last class for this afternoon.

As soon as I stepped onto the podium, I saw a dozen little hands raised up below.

I know that children who love to complain don't want to miss this last chance today.

Let me think about it—the last class they had was a physical education class, so it’s no wonder that Teacher Feng who taught physical education was very strict, and he almost didn’t allow them to have the opportunity to sue. A moment, I step on you, can constitute a reason to sue.

At a young age, I first learned the skill of litigating sticks. I hate this bad habit of children.As I was thinking this way, I pretended not to see it, even though I lowered my head to flip through the book, then turned to the blackboard, and began to write the new words for No. 20 Lesson [-] "The Person I Admire Most".

When I do this, it is often very effective. When they see that I ignore it, they will feel boring and put down their sore hands.But this time no, I heard: "Teacher!" There was a soft cry, but I still pretended not to hear it.

"Teacher!" I had to turn around and call the one in front.

"Huang Ze's ball was stolen, teacher, the ball can sing!" The one who was called up reported this.

Another raised hand:
"The ball doesn't really sing, it just plays music when it's opened."

"Huang Ze's father brought it from Hong Kong!"

"It's about US$1000. Who stole it?"

"Be sure to catch the thief!"

"..."

"..."

Everyone was completely forgotten about the order in the classroom by this so-called "singing ball".But it was strange that Huang Ze, the owner of the property, sat comfortably on the seat, without saying a word, looking ostentatious, as if someone under his command was doing things for him.

I tapped the table with an eraser: "Who am I listening to?" My angry voice suppressed the harassment of the children, and they fell silent.

"Feng Xiaohong, tell me what's going on?"

I called the monitor of my class, he could explain to me in an orderly manner, but Feng Xiaohong also seemed incoherent today:
"That's what happened, teacher, Huang Ze's father brought him a glass ball from Hong Kong, a ball that can sing, and when it is opened, the music starts to play, and when the cover is closed, it stops singing, no, it stops playing, Huang Ze said it was worth 100 U.S. dollars, and Liu Ming said it was worth 1000 yuan..." I had to stop his nonsense:
"Just tell me how you lost the ball. Who told you to negotiate the price?"

I said this as if I was a little impatient.The little owner named Huang Ze was originally a smart and handsome boy. His father was the captain of a merchant ship. Of course, it was convenient for his family, especially his precious son, who often brought some foreign goods.What to eat, what to wear, what to use, he always looks different from others in this class.For example, Thursday is the day to change and wash uniforms. This is for the convenience of students who only have one uniform. They can come to school without uniforms on this day.But every day Huang Ze changed into his new outfit and showed it off among his classmates.As for all kinds of toys, they often appear in his hands.Being rich is actually not a degrading thing. Everyone’s family environment is different, but in our country where material life is extremely poor, it seems that we can’t see this outstanding performance. It’s because everyone’s concept of material things is inevitable. Feeling inferior?Although I like Huang Ze's intelligence and hard work, I can't help but hate his performance.

For children, Huang Ze is one who often affects the emotions of classmates. In urban life, material temptation is a threat to people, even children are no exception.Whenever Huang Ze showed a new trick, it would cause a commotion to the other children. They were either envious, fawning, or disdainful. Although they had different reactions of love and hate, none of them could really "not be moved". .Therefore, I often think, is there something missing in our education?
Take today's incident as an example, it adds to my panic.According to the monitor's report, this "singing ball" was there before the physical education class, and it disappeared from Huang Ze's seat when they came back from the physical education class on the playground.Someone must have sneaked back into the classroom to steal it while they were playing dodgeball in gym class. Of course they didn't know who it was, and they couldn't even point out the suspects, but they were willing to be searched all of them.

At this moment, I suddenly remembered that when they were in physical education class, I passed by the classroom of my class when I went to the principal's office. I seemed to see a student in the window in a trance, but it was just a back, all yellow and khaki. The back view under the Boy Scout costume!
However, we must find this "singing ball", which will not leave the person who stole it, but who is the suspicious thief in my class?I was not afraid that the ball would not be found, but that I was afraid that it would be found in one of their pockets!I have been teaching this class of students since they were in the second grade, and now they are in the sixth grade. They are about to graduate, and before they leave me, a thief suddenly appears.I turned my head and looked at the white words "people I admire the most" I just wrote on the blackboard, feeling unspeakable unease in my heart.

I looked into the classroom again, and more than 60 students with more than 100 small eyes were also looking at me shiningly.In the course of more than four years, I got to know every child. Not all of them are smart, and sometimes they are so stupid that I worry; not all are obedient, and naughty children are often scolded by me.But, among them, I cannot believe that I should point out a thief, which, in fact, must be so.

So let's not take this lesson "The Person I Admire Most" today, shall we? !

I closed the book, erased the words on the blackboard, and patted the chalk on my hands. The children kept watching my every move with suspicious eyes.

Then I said in a solemn tone:

"In order to respect the personality of the students, I don't want to search every student on the spot. It is inevitable for a person to make a mistake in a moment of confusion. I believe he has regretted it at this time. He has a chance to correct his mistakes. Okay, students Everyone line up to the playground!"

The children lined up and went out looking at each other with an attitude of not knowing what kind of medicine was sold in the teacher's stuffy gourd.When I got to the playground, I said again:

"Now I go back to the classroom alone, and then the students come to the classroom one by one in the order of queuing up, hoping that the classmate who got the ball will give it to me. If I think I didn't get it, I just come in and then go out. "

After giving instructions, I went back to the classroom and sat on the "Teacher's Chair" on the podium.I've got my lines ready, and I'm going to say to the kid who stole the ball in a "mild reproach" tone, "Wonderful, you can get the ball back and you'll get back your personality, saint and Well, it's nothing, only you and I know about it, but we're going to forget about it and never mention it again..." Then I patted him on the shoulder and watched him go out. ...

Every child came in and had different expressions when they saw me. Some stuck out their tongues and made faces, some said seriously that there was no reason to steal, some asked me to search, some automatically turned out their pockets, and some were mischievous. I walked around the classroom, some... until the monitor came in and told me that all the students in the class had finished their rounds, I couldn't help being surprised-no one gave me the ball!
I walked towards the playground, where there was a group of children who were waiting for me. I had to quickly figure out what to do next. I walked slowly and thought quickly. When I arrived at the playground, I immediately said briskly:
"The student who stole the ball didn't hand it over." The students listened and exclaimed in unison, "But, I understand what that student meant. This was the first mistake he made in his life. He regretted it very much." But he wants to send the ball back to Huang Ze’s drawer without anyone knowing—including the teacher, right? So, this time I also stay on the playground. Still pressing the button just now The way to do it, whoever gets the ball, puts the ball back."

This may still be a risky approach. At this time, there are still more than ten minutes before the end of get out of class, and I sweat for myself. Will this "singing ball" appear before the bell rings for the end of get out of class?But a worker who is responsible for the mission of education cannot get rid of or ignore any responsibility, and I have never done so.I have an indescribable love for children, how much I would like to see them grow, thrive, shine, and be innocent...

The small figures ran over alternately from the playground one by one. Ten minutes passed in my thoughts, and the children had finished their turns again.

"Go back to the classroom now!"

I don't know what I should do if the ball is still missing... I don't have time to think about it.But when I stepped onto the podium and hadn't turned around, a cry came from below:

"Ball! Teacher!"

There was a burst of cheers, and when I was facing the audience, Huang Ze raised the ball high, it was dazzling, bright and round, and when the small glass cover was lifted, there was a burst of melodious music.It is the "singing ball" that has made many children envy, and almost made a child commit a crime for it.

In the sound of music, the bell rang for the end of get out of class. I told my classmates that everyone will bring lunch to school for lunch tomorrow, and we have to make up a lesson.

After leaving the school gate, someone chased after me. It was Mr. Feng who found out about this and came to ask me:

"Who stole it?"

"I don't know." I answered easily, and at the same time, a yellow khaki boy scout's back appeared in my mind—the one I saw outside the classroom window. I don't have to find out who the child's face is , because there is a bald scar behind the left ear, there is only one person in this class!I smiled secretly in my heart, but I still casually continued to say to Teacher Feng:
"Actually, why do you have to know!"

(End of this chapter)