three seconds

This evening, I suggested that Obi-2 have more water after dinner.  I commented that I noticed he really didn't drink much water at lunch each school day.  (I knew this because his water bottle, attached to his lunch box, rarely bares signs of use.)  Obi-2 replied that he does too drink water - in fact, he drinks all three seconds at the water fountain.


All three seconds?  What in the world did he mean?

Turns out, the children at our elementary school line up for water breaks twice each day.   Each child gets a chance to have a drink of water at the fountain. When it is his turn, the children behind him chant "one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, go!"  Then, the turn is over, and the next child gets the same chant, the same three-second opportunity at the fountain, and the whole thing continues.

I was incredulous at this story, but Obi-2 seemed matter-of-fact.  I turned to Obi-1, who affirmed that this is their system.  Neither boy seemed to have a second thought about it.  I needed clarification.  What, I asked, if they were still thirsty after three seconds?  They go back to the end of the line.  Obi-1 said that once, the drinking fountain wasn't working very well, and he barely got a drink during his three seconds.  He had to go to the back of the line several times before he had really gotten a drink.  Usually, however, they only get one turn.

Grown ups in the room: think about this for one moment.  When you're thirsty, what do you do?  When you're at your office, or in your living room, and another person takes a drink, do you count out loud, then expect them to stop after an arbitrary few seconds?  What is possibly the logic behind three seconds for a drink?   Is this the answer to the challenges of diversity in urban classrooms - giving everyone equal access to the water fountain?  Good grief.  It's not prison - it's kindergarten!

Sorry for the sudden outburst and lack of optimism.  I just had to share the latest moment from our dinner table conversation.  Moreover, I'm thirsty.  So start your stopwatch - I'm headed for a drink.