Minnesota, that wimpy state!

My third grade students are preparing for their program, “A Musical Tribute to Texas,” which they will present on March 10. One of their pieces is the Texas state anthem, “Texas, Our Texas.”

The students were rehearsing the state anthem yesterday when I stopped them to discuss the lyrics. I referred to the line “Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev’ry test, O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest”

I asked, “What does boldest and grandest mean?” The students discussed how Texas was strong, great, mighty, etc. Then I said, “Well, right now neither your singing or your posture show that you are singing about a strong & mighty state. You look and sound like you’re singing about a wimpy state.”

At this point, one of the boys yells out, “Yeah, a wimpy state like Minnesota!”

I wasn’t sure if he knew that I was from Minnesota or not, so I pretended to get very offended. I started going on and on about how I was born and raised in Minnesota, and how dare he say that Minnesota was a wimpy state!

I think I actually scared him a little…and then he stopped me and said, “Mrs. Rinn, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were from Minnesota. I just said that because of the Vikings!”