Book Burning, Literally Speaking

RIP
The Mother Goose
October 2, 2009

Photo curtesy of Moriah Freed

Anyone who watches Atlanta news will know that a week ago last Friday, four still-uncaught teenagers set one of Paideia's original school buildings on fire, built in the 1920s, the hangout of our 9th graders and home to 4 classrooms and 1 administrative office. It's sad and terrifying and mind-spinning and infuriating, but with all that, our sense of humor remains intact. It's one of the (many) things I love about this school.

Our annual Barbeque, Square Dance & Library Book Sale went on as planned the following evening, at which six families bought and donated books to the library in memory of the Goose. On Monday morning, the high school schedule was switched to hold the weekly Monday Morning Meeting first thing. Because of water in the theatre, MMM was held in the gym. The Headmaster led the meeting with a silent companion, a concrete Canada Goose of the "yard art" variety, sporting a sign around its neck reading MOTHER. I wish I had a photo to show you. It was wonderful.

The Library lost a few DVDs that had been checked out to social studies teachers, but that pales in comparison to everything else those teachers lost in their classrooms, personal property which reflected who they are and what they teach. I've been pitching in to help order replacement books and videos. It's not much, but it's a task that benefits from the knowledge and connections that librarians have of wholesale sources, editions and pricing.

As far as I know, we only lost one library book in the fire. One of my best 9th grade customers, whose locker was in the Mother Goose, had been the first to check out the 'hot' new sequel to last year's bestselling The Hunger Games by Suzanne

Raianna was already in the library when I got to school on Monday morning. She looked up at me and said, "Catching Fire?? Caught fire."

I mean, how can you not love this place?!