I Saw Them Kissing!

Kissing is a BIG no-no in Kindergarten.  Well, it is a big no-no for any grade when you are at the school-house.  Who you kiss and what you do as a five, six, seven or eight year old on your own time when you are off my clock is COMPLETELY up to you and rests with your parents.

Every morning my class assembles in something known as a “community circle”.  Simply put, we think of our class as a community of learners and we come together to continue to build the bond we have with one another by sharing anything this is on our mind with our peers.  Usually there are a handful of kids who announce they have a play date with a peer coming up.  Or, someone will announce that a relative is coming for a visit.  Sometimes kids want to tell about a new “level” they reached on a video game, etc…………  Not this past Monday………….  One child announced in that tone that clearly indicates the desire to get someone else in trouble, “I saw those two kissing!” (This was said with a simultaneous gesture pointing with both hands at a boy and girl in our classroom who were sitting across from one another in the circle.)

The usual gasps of appalled, AND highly intrigued, five year old classmates was heard in waves across the classroom at that very instant.  All eyes turn to the teacher to see what, if anything will come of this accusation.  Even in a court of law you are innocent until proven guilty, right?

When the turn came for one of the accused to share something with the class she had clearly been mauling this accusation over in her head while waiting.  She stood up and announced, “I did NOT kiss him!” – (Right hand on hip, left hand pointing at the other accused.)  and then it hit me…. Kindergarten is more like a daytime drama television show than I had every imagined.  – I couldn’t help  but wonder if Kindergarten is really just the playground where young people rehearse for later life.  But alas, my personal refeection time was cut short when another child announced, "I saw HIM pick his nose!" - He too was pointing with a disaprooving look at the next accused.  Never a dull moment....