Valentine's Day

.. became Valentine's week. Isn't it funny / silly / strange that it's got such a big place in the calendar and culture, here and in the UK... If you are in love, gasping and burning with love, why wait until February 14 to show it?

And should Valentine's Day find its way into the school curriculum?

Kids are hilarious and impenetrable when it comes to love. On the one hand, it's an untouchable subject. The go into hysterics at the mere mention of the subject. On the other hand, showing affection is casually part of their lives, they expect it and distribute it about with equanimity.

As illustrated by Valentine's day. I decided, last minute, not to skip it – we would be crafting Valentine's cards, which the kids would decorate, write (in English!) and give to their prospective Valentines.

All week: teach new words, write rhymes and expressions, cut cards, draw, decorate, glue, fold, fold, fold.

As they worked, the kids gossiped avidly about the 'love' stories around them. All was revealed: who was whose 'namorado' or 'namorada'; that there had been a 'wedding' in the school already; that lots of girls were 'in love' with the groom (but also very good friends with the bride!); what presents their fathers had given their mothers; and that there may be romance in the air, between the Computer Technology Tutor and one of the Sports Teachers.

There were squeals and shouts. There were flaming cheeks and hidden tears. There was laughter to cover everything...

When they finished their work, the kids – even those previously overwhelmed by shyness – walked casually to their idols and handed the cards as if they were maths worksheets or weather reports. They were received with official nods and hand shakes. No one around made any comments.

One kid (the 'groom'!!) received 8 Valentine's cards from his colleagues, and more from outside his class. He collected them proudly and without preference. Another strange thing, carried over into adulthood: this boy is neither the most handsome, nor the funniest or cleverest kid in school. Not the coolest by far. What explains the flaps and flurries of attraction surrounding him?

The messages inside the cards were standard, copied-from-the-blackboard platitudes. The best turned out to be a compilation created by one of the most distracted and annoying 4th year kids. Makes you wonder if great works of art might not be the result of random moments of madness, idleness or rebellion:

'I like chocolates
Violets are black
Roses are blue
Catarina is red
I like you.'