When my son John started Grade Two, he hit a major stumbling block. For some inexplicable reason he just could not grasp the addition and subtraction that the class was now studying and learning, all of them moving on and John was still trying hard to grasp it all..

I was extremely upset for him and made a concerted effort to help him understand the concepts. However he would become upset and we were at a standstill, and things were worsening. Then a friend of mine suggested I do the apple trick that she had done with her son when he was at that point and having the same problem.

So out came the dozen bright shiny red apples. John and I sat at the table and for four or five hours we went over and over the fact that two apples plus two apples make four apples, five apples minus one apple is four apples, and on and on it went until he finally seemed to get it and get it right. I was so pleased and he went off to bed all ready for the test in arithmetic the next day.

I waited for the school bus the next day, so anxious to find out how he did with his test in arithmetic. And I was expecting he would do well. But as soon as I saw his little face, I knew something was wrong.

When we were finally inside our house I took his test sheet and saw he had not done well at all, and he was so upset, as was I .

"John, what in the world happened. You knew it so well last night? How come you didn’t pass your test?" I pressed him for an answer.

The little face looked up at me and said "Well, Mom, you didn’t give me any apples to use. I can’t do it without apples!"

I went into shock. And I did not come out of that shock until he finally conquered mathematics and graduated from high school, going on to study electrical work where mathematics is a necessity. I often wonder if he carries a bag of apples somewhere with him as he does his work.

Yes, Mom forgot the apples-doesn’t that beat all?

Bonnie Jarvis-Lowe

A perplexed mother!

"A perfect example of minority rule is a baby in the house." Milwaukee Journal