The Wrong Mrs. Carver
I walked into my fifth-grade classroom and was surprised to find a
student already there. He was sitting on the window sill talking to one on the
outside. Before he realized I was there, he said, “Come here, Mrs. Carver.” I
didn’t understand why he was talking to me as if I was outside, but I said,
“What did you say?” He had a startled look as if he was caught doing something
that he shouldn’t. When I questioned him again, he said, “I wasn’t talking to
you.” I told him that I had distinctly heard him say my name. Looking a little
embarrassed, he told me that he was talking with the neighbor’s emu. He went on
to explain that the kids had named it after me. How does one respond to that?
The emu was something of an annoyance to all but the
students. The principal had spoken to the farmer whose land abutted the school
property. He explained to the gentleman that both the school and the farmer
could be sued if the animal hurt a child. Since there were some students on the
playground at most anytime during the day, this was a cause of concern. He
insisted that the man keep the emu locked up. This particular emu was something
of an escape artist. Even though she was in a confined space, she continued to
break free, and she had endeared herself to the children. So, they named her.
About a week later I entered the school building and noticed
that faculty members were looking at me in shock, through their tears. I was
told that the children said that I was dead. The cause of misinformation was
soon discovered. When the principal arrived at the school that morning, he
found the emu on campus. This was one time too many. The farmer had been
warned. The principal was determined to get the animal off of the property
before the students arrived. He chased after it until the animal collapsed. It
was dead. Apparently, emus have bodies that are too large for their hearts to
take much stress. When the principal ran after it, the animal died. The first
student arrived before the bird’s remains could be removed. Word quickly spread…Mrs.
Carver was dead!
Misinformation can lead to rumors, and sometimes,
unnecessary alarm. It does not lead to effective education. Communication
requires that the listener understands what the speaker is trying to say, not
just the definition of her words. So, if you want to make sure that your
listeners understand what you really intend to convey, ask a few questions. It
may prevent you from proclaiming the death of the wrong Mrs. Carver.
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