Years ago, when I was first training to be a rater on the
Oregon Statewide Writing Assessment, one of the most fun aspects was the weekly
collection of student bon mots called “The Finnel Fruter.” One of the trainers told a story about a
student paper talking about the future, which was referred to as “The Finnel
Fruter,” the child’s take on the classic Star Trek line. She said that it was her practice to collect
other such student gems and encouraged us to do the same. So over the several weeks of the assessment,
as we all read, the occasional guffaw would sound forth in an otherwise silent
room, and we’d all know that we’d have new material for the “Finnel Fruter”
wall.
Here, then, are some recent entries from my own students.
"In
seventeenth century, both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X responded to acts of
civil rights and equality."
About a
fishing trip with several other young men: "We were all very eager to set
up camp so we could get our rods wet."
“Florida
is defiantly one place I want to stay in forever."
About a Beyoncé
concert where "People were shooting their guts out..."
I just
read a student essay which used the word "definitely" six times.
Twice spelled correctly and four times spelled "defiantly." Two
paragraphs had it spelled both ways. Ah, spell check...
What I
learned about a student's mom: "...she would wait for us to eat first then
she would eat the last person." Bet they learned to get done in a hurry!
These
are about me: "If you have problem
with a deadline, open your mouth. She does lots of things well but reading your
mind isn't one of them." And "She breaks it down Barney style what is
expected on each project." And "She is your Mr. Miyagi to
writing." Aw, shucks.
