I get the chance to wear a lot of hats in my job but the one I most enjoy is that of a teacher. Yesterday Sarah, Julie and I went to Williams Elementary in Chicago to do an outreach program for all of the school's Kindergarten and 1st Graders. Williams is a real standout school in CPS as it was one of the first of the Renaissance Schools of Mayor Daley and then CPS Director and now US Sectary of Education Arnie Duncan.
When we pulled up to the school there were a bunch of boys in the schoolyard playing basketball. As soon as we stopped the cows started to moo and the reaction of the boys was just hilarious. They totally stopped playing and the basketball just kind of rolled off the court as they were staring at the truck and trailer. As we unloaded our critters we got a small crowd of interested on lookers from the construction crews across the street to the residents at the Dearborn Homes. The kids, for having never seen farm animals were fearless and totally engaged and very excited. I remember thinking a couple of times that this is why I love being a teacher. By the end of the day we were all a little sunburned and pretty tired but it was all worth it when the kids came out to give us hugs as we left. It kind of felt like we were leading a parade as we pulled out of Williams Elementary.
The pictures I am posting aren't the greatest since I had to take them with my cell phone. The one that was really amazing is the shot of the cow and Julie that has the Sears Tower (I know that isn't the name now but it is going to stay the Sear Tower with me) in the background.
