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The Sin of Blue Eyes Wendy was one of several girls in a family with a single mom. I knew that her mother was courageously and lovingly providing as best as she could for her children on a meagre income. There was certainly no room in her budget for such luxuries as the latest expensive fashionable clothes. Just before recess ended one day, Wendy walked up to me, head down, tears not far away, and simply said to me, "The girls are teasing me because of my clothes." I knew I could not confront the other girls in the class directly. That would simply have made the situation worse for Wendy. I therefore opted for another approach - an idea that popped into my head as I was heading back to class. When all of the students were back in their seats in the classroom, I looked at them, making a real effort to keep a straight and a stern face, and said: "I can't stand it anymore! I have always wanted to have blue eyes, but my eyes are brown. Every time I see someone with blue eyes, I get really frustrated. I won't stand for it anymore! All of the students in this classroom who have blue eyes, stand up and line up in the back of the classroom facing the wall." At this point, close to half the class got up and headed to the back of the classroom. I then proceeded to say: "From now on, I want you blue-eyed people to keep your heads down when you see me near you, whether it be here in the classroom, in the hallways or outside in the playground. I do not want to see your eyes anymore." I paused for a few seconds and said: "Those of you who think that what I am doing is rather silly, please raise your hand." Hesitant hands started going up one at a time until all of them were in the air. I then added: "You are, of course, quite right." I told them to sit down and said: " When people put others down because they look different, or have different clothes, or speak differently, they do something just as silly as what I have just done." I left it at that and started the afternoon lessons. Later that same day I intercepted a note being circulated by some of the girls. It simply read: "I am sorry for making fun of your clothes."
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