Wednesday walking

Today we did sport - my sport this term is walking. I like it. It gets you out in the world and moving quickly. And it gives you a chance to chat with kids, which can be fun. Today I almost felt like I was one of the Year Seven boys, gambolling along - challenging them to a races, annoying them and poking them in the back to get them moving a bit faster. Year Seven boys are the most physical of human beings - wrestling, poking and annoying one another incessantly :).

I made the acquaintance of a new Year Nine girl today. Here's how it went.

Me:      Oh hello. What's your name?

Girl:      (snarky) Why do you want to know?

Me:      (a bit shocked) oh, I was just interested to meet you

Girl:      (slightly less snarky, but still a bit snarky) My name's...

Me:      Do you like walking?

Girl:     (full of renewed snarkiness) Miss, you're not telling those other girls off, why are you always picking on me?

Me:     I've never seen you before in my life.

I also had conversation with a boy I didn't know. It went something like this...

Kate: OK boys, move over to the side of the road

Boy:  We are on the side of the road Miss.

Kate: No worries, but can you move over more to the side.

Boy: We are on the side of the road  Miss.

Kate: Well you need to come over closer to the kerb, in case a car comes along.

Boy: No cars ever come along here Miss.

Kate: Well move to the side just in case?

Boy: We are on the side of the road Miss.

Kate: Please stop arguing with me and 'be cooperative'.*

Boy: I'm not arguing with you Miss.

Kate: You are contradicting everything I say.

Boy: No I'm not Miss.

Kate: Have you ever seen the Monty Python argument scene?

Boy: I don't watch Monty Python Miss.

Kate: Well you sound like the fellow in that.

Boy: No I don't Miss. (- he didn't actually say this one but I imagined hm saying it anyway ;)

Well despite the aggro - I did enjoy bing outside and walking fast. It invigorated me and for that I am very grateful.

MONTY PYTHON's ARGUMENT SKETCH
Man 1     Didn't.
Man 2    Yes I did.
Man 1    Didn't.
Man 2    Yes I did!!
Man 1    Look, this isn't an argument.
Man 2    Yes it is.
Man 1    No it isn't, it's just contradiction.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    Yes it is.
Man 2    It is not.
Man 1    It is. You just contradicted me.
Man 2    No I didn't.
Man 1    Ooh, you did!
Man 2    No, no, no, no, no.
Man 1    You did, just then.
Man 2    No, nonsense!
Man 1    Oh, look this is futile.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    I came here for a good argument.
Man 2    No you didn't, you came here for an argument.
Man 1    Well, an argument's not the same as contradiction.
Man 2    It can be.
Man 1    No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements to establish a definite proposition.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    Yes it is. It isn't just contradiction.
Man 2    Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
Man 1    But it isn't just saying 'No it isn't'.
Man 2    Yes it is.
Man 1    No it isn't, Argument is an intellectual process ... contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.
Man 2    No it isn't.
Man 1    Yes it is.
Man 2    Not at all.
Man 1    Now look!
Man 2    (pressing the bell on his desk) That's it. Good morning.
Man 1    But I was just getting interested. 
extract taken from http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode29.htm#11



* 'be cooperative' : Positive Behaviour for Learning. Students are supposed to respond when we ask them to cooperate. It is a better thing to ask for than obedience.