The Animal School
*A fable*
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written by George Reavis,
an assistant superintendent of the Cincinnati Public Schools
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Once upon a time the animals decided they must do something heroic
to meet the problems of a "new world" so they organized a school.
They had adopted an activity curriculum consisting of
running, climbing, swimming and flying.
To make it easier to administer the curriculum,
all the animals took all the subjects.
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The duck was excellent in swimming. In fact, better than his instructor.
But he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running.
Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school
and also drop swimming in order to practice running.
This was kept up until his webbed feet were badly worn
and he was only average in swimming.
But average was acceptable in school so nobody worried about that, except the duck.
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The rabbit started at the top of the class in running
but had a nervous breakdown because of so much make up work in swimming.
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The squirrel was excellent in climbing
until he developed frustration in the flying class
where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of the tree top down.
He also developed a "charlie horse" from over exertion
and then got a C in climbing and D in running.
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The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely.
In the climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the tree
but insisted on using his own way to get there.
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At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceeding well
and also run, climb and fly a little had the highest average and was valedictorian.
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The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy
because the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum.
They apprenticed their children to a badger
and later joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school.
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