Homework, winds, kites and a disaster

Homework, winds, kites and a disaster.

I stood in front of my class. Before me were sixteen young children between the ages of 8 -12. Their faces showed attention and a desire to listen and learn. I believe they enjoyed my geography lessons, I always tried to make them interesting.

“Good morning everyone. First I will read the roll call.”

There were slightly more young girls than boys. The school was a private international institution that lived by high student fees and the occasional donations.

“ Excellent everybody present. Now I want to write in your notebooks the names and capitals of the 27 countries that today make up the European Union. You have twenty minutes.”

During that period I turned the standup two sided chalkboard to the side that did not face the class. I spent a few minutes writing the 27 countries' names and capitals on the board. While busy I did hear some very quiet whispers circulating round the classroom. Twenty minutes later I turned the board round and asked the class if anybody had all the correct answers. Silence. Then I started the quizz. None right. A small hand was raised from the back of the room. It was little Henry, an adorable child with a round face like an apple supporting ginger curly hair with freckles on his nose. “Sir, I don’t know what the European Union is.”

“Henry, my mistake I should have made sure everybody knew what the European Union was. But tell us what you have been doing during the twenty minutes..”

“I draw a map of the world.” He held it up to show everybody.

“Well done. It shows resourcefulness. Let’s continue.” As I read out a series of ascending numbers, hands were raised. A few sevens and eights with the majority in the lower teens. The winner was Emma, a strikingly pretty girl with blue eyes and long blonde hair. She had 21 right. I was not surprised as her father was a European minister.

“Good, how please write the countries and capitals in your notebooks. In two weeks I will give you a short test. Soon the bell will ring for the lesson to end but first I have a little homework for you.

“Before I disclose it, please Richard go and open the window. Tell the class not what you see but what you feel.

“I feel a cold wind. Shall I close it now?”

“Yes, now for the homework. In a couple of weeks we will be talking about winds. In the meantime your homework is to make a kite, and paint on its surface the flag of a European country. I am dividing the class up in pairs as when flying a kite it needs one to hold the kite's string and one to run forward to launch the kite into the air. I hope everybody knows how to make a kite, if not, get your parents involved. You will need strong paper, glue and string. As you are sixteen students that will mean eight pairs. That’s right isn’t it Charlotte?”

“Yes, sir.” Charlotte was one of the eldest students and the class leader. She was a tall girl for her age with well groomed dark hair cascading down her back. On her face she was showing signs of her maturity into womanhood. She was well liked by her classmates.

“Now to make it easy I suggest you pair off with the person sitting next to you. I will now ask each pair what country flag they have chosen to paint their kite. I will go round the room clockwise.”

It took a fews minutes without too much discussion to collect each pair's country. I then told them they had a week to finish their kites and present them for a test flight on Saturday afternoon in 10 days. “The Saturday after I am planning a kite festival to welcome in the springtime with an invitation going out to all students and their parents. It should be fun. Are there any objections?”

“Sir , may I change with George so I can pair off with Charlotte.”

“No, Richard on exchanges.” I suspected Richard had a crush on Charlotte. He was an athletic child with an engaging smile. I said no because I wanted to see more inter communication amongst the children as compared to them forming small groups of their best friends. Also I did not want to create a precedent.

“To inspire you all I will recite a little poem.”

I am made of paper, glue and string

Without wind I cannot do a thing

If I want to fly I need a friend

Run really fast so I can ascend

At the end of the day I go home with my friend

Until the next time he take me out to fly again

The Saturday for test flying the kites came with a clear spring day. A gentle wind that allowed the clouds to chase each other across the sky. I was amazed to see eight beautiful kites painted with colours of some European national flags. They lay at the feet of each maker ready to brave the sky above. I noticed some of my students had persuaded their parents to join in the test flights. It took about two hours to get the eight kites flying correctly. A couple of children fell running with their kite, strings got muddled up, sometimes a kite tear needed scotch. Two hours later we enjoyed a glorious sight of eight European flags floating above us. From the necks tilted to gaze above I could see happy and contented faces. Now to perform for the school.The children left pleased with themselves and excited about flying their kites in front of all the students. I suggested that they practice flying their kites.The parents present congratulated me on finding an imaginative and educational subject for homework. As we were all leaving I noticed my strict ruling on not allowing any changes amongst the pairing was proving to create a more harmonious group. I prayed for a clement day next Saturday.

Saturday arrived with a dawn promising clear blue skies and steady wind flow slightly more than the previous Saturday. Gone were the clouds that chased each other across the skies to be replaced by occasional gusts of wind. I arrived early with a banner setting the tone of the

welcoming in springtime with a kite flying demonstration from the geographical class of the school’s elementary section. The kites' paintwork represented different national flags from the European Union.

Within half an hour a sizable crowd had developed, consisting of most of the school's students, many parents, with very young children laughing and running through their legs. My class had arrived carrying, as if they held the crown jewels, their kites. In all cases they were accompanied by their parents. I had decided the best way to show off the effort the children had put into making their kites was to allow each group to lance their kites separately. This meant lining the eight kite flyers in front of the crowd and allowing each participant one by one the space to fly their kite, until all eight kites were in the air. Finally the crowd would see eight kites flying In line in front of them.

The principal of the school introduced me and I made a little speech saying how proud I was of my class. I thanked the audience for coming, the weather for being agreeable, and let us pray that springtime folds in a great summer. “

“Children let the kites fly and announce the country represented when it is your turn.”

Then followed a series of country names as each kite soared into the blue At each country name was called out there followed shouting and clapping. Only one of the eight had a slight difficulty getting their kite in the air. The problem was soon solved by help from their parents.Then for all to see there were eight kites in an extended line flying high in the clear blue sky. Two kites had long attractive tails attached to them. It was a sight that engendered a big hara from the spectators. Then disaster struck, without warning a gust of wind blew across the field. One of the students lost control of their kite strings and it started flying towards its neighbouring kite. In an attempt to catch the string all the kite flyers rushed forward forgetting their kites. It took seconds for all eight kites to collide and spin out of control and fall to earth in a heap. It took us an hour to unravel the mess by this time the crowd had left.

David Nutt May 2025