Out of the mouths of babes

I ACCOMPANIED my class of nine-year-olds across the playground to the main hall where the head presented an assembly on litter. After his half-hour lecture, we headed back to the classroom. Crossing the playground, I spotted Sally taking something out of her pocket and throwing it on the ground. ‘Oh dear, Sally,’ I said in my teacher voice. ‘That was very naughty. You have just heard what the headmaster said about throwing litter.’ Sally stated indignantly: ‘That wasn’t a litter; that was a crisp packet.’

Susan Burman, Northampton.