The great writer Leo Tolstoy wanted to start a school at some point in his life and being a writer, he wrote a bunch of stories that he thought would educate the children. Russian wisdom seems to be pretty dark and have a dim view of humanity. Here's an example of one of the stories taken from a recent review of a collection of these fables.
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/leo-tolstoys-childrens-stories-will-devastate-your-children-and-make-you-want-to-die/
“Death of a Bird-Cherry Tree.” A property owner orders a tree cut down, then reconsiders. “It seemed a shame to kill such a beautiful thing.” But the woodcutter has already started, so he takes up an axe and lends a hand. “And then an unnerving sound came from inside the very soul of that tree. It was as if someone was screaming in unbearable pain, a tearing, wrenching, long, drawn-out scream.” The woodcutter says, “Whew, she don’t die easy, Sir!” Then the tree falls. The end.
I like them. I think they're funny. They definitely come from a different set of values and a different view of how to prepare children for the world. I thought I would come up with one of my own.
The Rollerskates
One day in the gym a child was skating on rollerskates. He was called to go home and before he left, Mr. Andy told him to make sure he put the rollerskates back on the shelf where he got them in the closet. The boy, being short, lazy, and thinking himself clever, hid the rollerskates behind the trashcan that held the pool noodles.
Mr. Andy wanted to make sure that the boy put the skates away so he told the boy to wait until he inspected the closet. Mr. Andy saw no skates on the floor and did not see them behind the trash can. He let the boy go home.
The next day when the gym teacher moved the trashcan he discovered the rollersaktes. He was furious. He gathered all the children of afterschool in a big circle and made them watch as all the skates were burned in a fire.
The End.
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