Understanding Life in The School

The School by Donald Barthelme really caught my attention the most, because not only was it insightful and entertaining but it dealt with character in an intriguing light. What can I possibly say about The School? A morbid story involving elementary school children? Yes. Or can it be a story that shows an interesting perspective on the mind of a child? That would be a yes as well. What kept me interested in reading The School was the voice of the narrator. It was as if through his style of writing, I was able to envision a character without there being any description of him. To me, the teacher is a fairly young, possibly mid to late twenties or early thirties. He must be an easy going person who is very fond of kids, because with the situation with the trees and the dying animals, one would need to be relaxed and have patience. His style of writing makes the teacher seem like the average "good-guy" with a sarcastic undertone who, constantly, has to deliver bad news to his students. Yet, at the end of the day his thought on life are "life happens, death happens, and whatever happens keep on moving". Throughout the story, the reader watches how this motto is passed on to his kids.

I found it very interesting that he treats his students as equals with adult-like understanding. I remember that in elementary or middle school, when a teacher didn't treat you like you were still belonged in Pre- K, they were the coolest teacher ever! Some do understand that even though kids are young, they are learning, growing up in this world and are aware of facts and events that an adult would not think that a child should know. There is a nice balance of respect. Maybe, the narrator respects his students for handling death in a mature way. As a teacher whose job is to teach, he views each event as lesson on life and how to take care of it. When something died, he didn't say "oh, it was its time, sorry". Instead he teaches them that if you want a plant to live, don't overwater it; to keep the animals alive they need air to breathe; and if a puppy doesn't get its shots, then there might be a negative outcome. All are simple examples of instructions on how to help life thrive.

The most important moral that he teaches his students as well as his readers, is to never give up hope. No matter the circumstance, optimism is to excitement and happiness. At the end of the story, there is a very bold request from the children to see his teacher "make love" with Helen the teaching assistant. This actually makes me raise my left eyebrow and think 1. How old are these kids, anyway? and 2. Where have they "heard so much about it"-, guess you could blame TV, interrupting adult conversion...., playground gossip, perhaps? Anyway, of course he refuses but not without at least showing Helen affection giving a glimmer of hope. This shows them that the future is promising, which it is. They get a new class pet. Let us just hope that this one lasts...please.