Five

Short Story by Patrick F. McManus 1. What is Pat trying to avoid in his math class? 2. Is Pat successful? Why or why not? 3. What attitude does the narrator seem to have toward Miss Bindle's methods and toward "modern educational theory"? 4. What message might the author be conveying about the teachers in general through Miss Bindle's lapse of control at the end?

Poem "Funny" Sometimes laughter erupts from deep volcanic soul space surprising solemn moments like blue crocuses in the spring snow. -Nagueyalti Warren

Writing Exercise: Compare the events from "The Clown" to themes from the poem "Funny"