tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post7681509700753806749..comments2024-03-27T19:11:37.620-04:00Comments on You Don't Say: Yes, you can, and you may John McIntyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03559687583130468871noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-2953552484295780282022-07-26T12:59:27.129-04:002022-07-26T12:59:27.129-04:00The first day of third grade, I watched a fellow e...The first day of third grade, I watched a fellow eight-year-old make some innocuous request. "Can I..." and I forget what it was, but the teacher said yes, the student did whatever they'd asked permission for, and the teacher promptly wrote the kid's name on the board (the first increment of Being in Trouble). The kid was confused and upset and asked what they'd done wrong.<br /><br />"I said you CAN, not that you MAY," Mrs Allen said. I think she gave some pedantic explanation of the critical (in her mind) difference between the two. <br /><br />We continued with normal first-day-of-third-grade activities, until another child made a request. I remember this one clearly because I saw what was happening and felt powerless to prevent it.<br /><br />"I left my trapper keeper in the hallway," hapless child number two said. "Can I go get it?"<br /><br />"Yes, you can," the teacher said.<br /><br />Off the kid went as those of us who understood what had just taken place watched in horror. There was the predictable outcome -- I said you can, I didn't say you may, etc.<br /><br />Unsurprisingly, third grade was not an overall good experience, but it was educational. I remember Mrs Allen well, but not fondly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com