The ghost of school

It was 1st September. The school in Gruntland was starting. The children of Willy and Squirly didn’t want to go to school. They pretended that they were ill. The parents were worried and let them stay at home. The children were happy.

The next day they went to school.

They were writing something in literature lesson and they made a mistake in the world “school”. At this moment a ghost appeared.

The pigs were surprised. The other pigs didn’t see it. The ghost said:
–  You lied to your parents, ignored your school yesterday and misspelled its name today. As a ghost of this school I feel offended.
– Our school has got its ghost? Wondered the pigs. Who are you?
– I am Arnika’s grandfather. I was a headmaster when I lived. I must punish you. You must perform five tasks. If you don’t do it, you will really get sick and you will not go for the school trip.
– Oh no! Cry the pigs. Please don’t punish us!
– I’m sorry but I can’t let you ignore school so much.
– What must we do then?
– Your first task is to write a poem why school is good. Nobody can help you. You mustn’t tell anyone why you are doing it, remember.
– Ok, shouted the children.
– The second task I will tell you when you carry out the first one. You have time until tomorrow. See you! The ghost said it and disappeared.
The children couldn’t wait the end of the lessons. After school they met and started writing the poem.

School is good,
school is cool,
you can make
new friends at school.
School is good,
school is cool,
you can learn
new things at school.
School is good,
school is cool,
you play and
have fun at school.
We all want
to go to school
to be wise
and to be cool!

The next day the ghost appeared during the break when the piglets were eating lunch.

– Have you got anything for me? He asked.
– Yes! Shouted the pigs and started reading the poem.
– Well done, the poem is great, said the ghost.
– Thank you, shouted the piglets.
– Now I will tell you the second task. Do you like Lego?
– Sure, we do, why?
– The second task is to build a mathematical formula out of Lego bricks.
– Ok, say the pigglets, sounds like fun.
– See you tomorrow!
After school pigs thought about the task.
– I don’t know any mathmatical formula, said Artie.
– Neither do I, said Scamp.
– Who is good at math? Asked Scotty.
– Fitty and Jingle, shouted Scamp.
– Did you forget, that we can’t say about it to anybody? Said Artie.
– What about our students book? There may be some formulas.
The pigs searched the book and they found this mathematical formula: a2+b2=c2
– What is that? Asked Scotty.
– It is Pythagorean theorem, read Artie. It is about a triangle.
– Ok, said Scamp. I will take Lego bricks and let’s start building.
The Pigs worked having fun.
– Done!
– How are we going to show it to the ghost? If we take it to school, everybody will ask us what it is, said Scotty.
– Maybe tomorrow, when the ghost comes, we will tell him that the bricks are at home, suggested Scamp.
– Ok, agreed the pigs.
They didn’t wait till the morning because the ghost appeared a few minutes later.

– Hoo, hoo, its me, said the ghost. I can see a beautiful construction of Lego bricks. Well done!

– Does it mean we passed?
– Yes it does. And here is your third task. You must clean up the classroom and can’t say why you are doing it. Make up a reasonable explanation.
– Ok, shouted piglets.
– See you tomorrow, said the ghost.
– The next day the pigs started to clean up the classroom after the lessons. Fitty approached them and asked.
– What are yo doing?

– We are making the class nice, said Scamp.
– But why?
– Because it is dirty.
– But the cleaner is going to clean it.
– Ugh… We want to help her.
– But why?
– Because she has a lot of work.
– Everybody has.
– But we can’t help everybody.
– You are weird, said Fitty.
– Maybe, but for us helping is not weird.
Fitty goes away surprised.
After they had finished they wanted to go home when the ghost appeared.

– Boo! How clean and beautifully it’s here! He said.
– Is the task completed? Asked the pigs.
– Yes, it is, congratulations. Here is your fourth task. Compare human schools and pig schools and write which are better for you.
At home pigs explored the Internet, and made a table, which they typed and printed out.

At the end the pigs decided that pig school was better.
The ghost could come, we have finished, said Scotty.
At this moment the ghost appeared.

– Well done, he said. I hope that after this task you will start to appreciate your school.
– Yes! Exclaimed the piglets.
– Great, in this situation your last task is to make presents for your teachers.
– Ugh.. That is not easy, sighed Artie.
– See you tomorrow, said the ghost.
The pigs were tired so they went to sleep.
The next day was Saturday. The pigs didn’t have to go to school. In the morning they thought what to make.
– We could make somehting out of buttons, suggested Scamp.

– Good idea, said Artie.
– I could make a cat, said Scotty.
– I could make a smile, said Scamp.
– I could make a rabbit, said Artie.
The pigs started working and finished two hours later.

The animals are great, said Scotty.
The ghost appeared only in the evenig.
– I am impressed, he said. You have completed all the tasks. Congratualtons! You can go for the school trip on Monday and you have great presents for Teachers Day. Good luck and remember I live in the school and you can always call me when you are in trouble.
And he disappeared.
– What an experience! Said the piglets…

This story was created by my students Wojtek and written by him. Thank you Wojtek!