Littleboy 2 decided to fill me in on Abraham Lincoln this morning as I was putting on his shoes. (It was Presidents' Day yesterday, an annual holiday marking the birthdays of Lincoln and George Washington, and the start of 'Presidents' Week', half term by any other name).
"Abraham Lincoln grew up in a log cabin without ANY electricity," he informed me. "But then he moved to the White House, and he had everything he wanted."
I thought about pointing out that he still wouldn't have had electricity in the White House. But I didn't want to spoil his story, which I guess is a sort of kids' nutshell version of the American dream - very apt.
"And," he continued, "He got shot."
"Yes," I said, solemnly, as Littleboy 1 piped up: "Just like Martin Luther King!" (Oh Lord. I can see a conversation coming on about why quite so many great American leaders were assassinated).
"He got shot because he wanted everyone to be check," he said. "My teacher told me."
"Check? What does that mean?"
His determined little blue eyes cloud with confusion. "I don't know".
"Oh," I say, (making mental note to ask the teacher). "Well, I don't know either. I thought it was because he was against slavery."
I am always having these moments. Better go and read up about Abraham Lincoln. Any ideas about 'check'? ......
19 comments:
No idea, but that's going to bother me all evening now. Do let us know if you find out won't you (scratches head... what sounds like check?)
You have to tell us.
Maybe the teacher did a great big check mark in the air with her finger and said "check", meaning "free". Bit tenuous, but it's the best I can do.
Or "chic"? Did Abe Lincoln want everyone to be chic?
I've worked it out. He wanted everyone to be Czech.
Iota, the Czech thing came to my mind too. Also wondered if Lincoln was having a fashion moment - Burberry check perhaps?
This is killing me! Do we have to wait until net week to find out what 'check' is?
I'm racking my brains for all possible associations and coming up blank... unless his teacher really was making an equal sign (two parallel lines) in the air like Iota suggested and he interpreted that as 'check' instead of 'equal.'....
When does school start again?
How about he wanted everyone to beat Jeck - whoever Jeck was. Or Jack? To beat Jack?
You've really intrigued us.
Oh, I'm so clever. Look what I've found!
http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln48.html
Beat Jack = fight bullies.
My education is complete...
Really? Beat Jack? Blimey learn something new
Could she have been making an analogy (admittedly convoluted) that MLK wanted to make things like a chequerboard or check pattern, where there's an equality between black and white?
In the 22 years I've been here I have NEVER heard that phrase used. Mind you, I still seem to be learning stuff on a weekly basis!
Just asked the Ball & Chain and he had never heard it either. Iota - are you sure you didn't make it up?
Please, you have to ask his teacher!
I'm digging into the depths of my American history lessons but have no clue. Did you ask the teacher? The check must have something to do with free/anti-slavery.
Via google I found this other little not so interesting tidbit but I'll share nonetheless ... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/14/abraham-lincoln-check_n_1206269.html
Update - I've asked the teacher and she is just as perplexed as I am! The answer may never be revealed....just one of those weird happenings in the mind of a 5 year old.
This is hilarious! I don't think I ever remember reading such a funny series of comments on a blog!! I love how everyone is contributing their ideas. Iota is best--going off to do research...!
And what's quite nice is the way the whole thing--post and comments, finishes, with one of those 'the children hear something completely different from what the teacher says' moments. We've all been racking our brains over Nothing! Fun post.
Sorry, that was me posting as Anoymous because I ticked the wrong box!
Maybe when he is twenty, he will be able to explain and you can tell him how he puzzled us all and made us laugh.
Cracking up. Your son is referring to MLK's "I have a Dream" speech.
"In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of colour are concerned. Instead of honouring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds".
I had to memorise that speech in high school so I immediately knew what little man was on about.
MoxyMama - you know, I think you may have nailed it! I am going to ask his teacher if they discussed this in class.
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