The problem child – sounds familiar? The one who always leaves the group. The one who doesn’t pay attention, doesn’t write his homework. Doesn’t know the answers. So yeah, he was the problem child. He had left the group, he didn’t pay attention. He was just sitting. With his back to the others. Just sitting.
So I went up to him and asked. And he told me things. He told me that his brother was brave and he wanted to be brave too. He told me his mother had been Abroad and he wanted to see the world as well.
He told me he could read before having gone to school. I asked if he liked books. Yes, maths books. Why? He had been reading them all summer.
Then he asked. Asked if second grade would be hard. He said he was afraid.
He waved goodbye as he rejoined the others. When I left his teacher came up to me: What’s his problem again?
Dora Ringbauer