One of my favorite things to observe as an English teacher is how children discover the meaning of words. My favorite method to observe is when they use a word until someone says, “do you know what that means?” and they betray their ignorance for a shot at someone telling them instead of garnering it from context clues or looking it up in the dictionary.
This week’s word was, “umbrage,” courtesy of the senior Senator from Pennsylvania over one of Senator Kennedy’s outbursts (that’s what you get, Kennedy staffers, for sobering him up for television). I just cannot help but think of Senator Kennedy as the Karen Walker of the United States Senate, only less clever, more drunk. Umbrage, for those of you who did not find out, means either, “resentment or annoyance arising from some offense” or “something that gives shade”
I contend that Senator Specter was saying, “I take shade in your massive bulk, sir” but my students figure that since he was mature up until stomping out of the room he meant his feelings were hurt.
I am relieved that we learned the meaning and have moved away from words like “clitoris,” “fellatio,” and “fiscal.” I hate drawing diagrams on the board and getting reputable guest speakers is not easy.
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