Sense

On some days in the classroom, just as in life,

things can go down the toilet.

Between signal, transmission, and execution, there are so many dips and drops to send the whole enterprise asunder.

I’m not a designer.

I don’t really have a sense for where and how to put the right words in the right place. 

I often make slides for the classroom – but they kind of stink if I’m honest. Unless I really take time to play with them – and what teacher has time for that?

I let the art of teaching shine, above, and separate to, the ‘art’ of creating a slide deck about ecosystems.

Don’t let perfect get in the way of pretty good

I am a bit of a font nerd though, and much prefer simple, clear ones that are easy on the eyes but don’t distract from the content (please don’t come at me with Comic Sans, apologies not apologies to 80% of the education world).

Clear is kind

So, in this moment, as I stand and take care of business in the bathroom, this uniquely-fonted sign grabs my attention. 

Không bỏ giấy vào bồn cầu.

And, in English, below:

Please throw the tissue into the toilet.

But something is not quite right. 

I look again and my eyes are drawn across the small poster.

Close reading is important. 

Ah

Please DON’T throw the tissue into the toilet.

I read the fine print, and catch the little cartoonish toilet paper roll with rosy cheeks and dimples, holding a sign directed at the cartoonish and dimpled toilet, that says

I don’t love you.

My eyes track to the top of the poster where it says

Vietnamese plumbing is not designed to handle toilet paper.

Bốn cẩu không tiêu hóa được giấy.

And just like teaching,

given this seemingly simple piece of paper that someone has clearly taken time to compose and design,

between signal, transmission, and receipt, there are so many ways that this could go down the toilet.

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