Kicked Out of School!

During some of Johnny's visits to elementary schools, students often asked: "Have you ever been attacked by a wild animal?"

Dr. Jack always answered a stuffy: "No."

Johnny Biosphere saw reflected in the mirror, the world's most dangerous animal".

Johnny, the ecological activist, remembered an exhibit that he had seen of the most dangerous animal on Earth in an English museum. It was a mirror.

Gradually he worked his way in into answering the question, grimacing and shaking his head: "Oh, yes. It was just awful! Blood was streaming down my shoulder!"

Moments passed in silence. Then several students asked: "Well, what was it?"

Johnny said: "My sister! She scratched me."

After the laughter, Johnny explained how the Biosphere was being destroyed by pollution, toxic industrial chemicals, clear-cutting of forests, overfishing, overhunting, erosion of topsoil, introduced species, wars and the like. Yes, ours is the most dangerous species on Earth!

One day at a school in Kingston, Ontario, an elderly teacher stomped out of the gym after the "mirror" story. Johnny noticed that she seemed to be disturbed about something.

A few minutes later the principal interrupted the program, saying: "I regret that Johnny Biosphere has been called away. He will, however, have time to finish his story before going."

The principal ushered Johnny into his office. He said that such behavior was unacceptable in his school. Johnny asked what he was talking about. The principal said the way that Johnny had referred to his sister as an animal.

Johnny was stunned. Was the principal claiming that we were not members of the Animal Kingdom? He cited the mirror exhibit to no avail.

A follow-up letter had absolutely no effect.