Last week, Annabel came home from school talking about “another mean guy” who wasn’t a king, but who was the worst guy in the whole wide world. According to what she learned, this man was so mean to people. He didn’t like Jewish people and didn’t let them pray. He burned Torahs and synagogues, and “made mamas, daddies, and even kids and babies dead.”

When I dropped her off at school the next day, I pulled her teacher aside. “Are you learning about Hitler?” I asked. She was glad to hear that one of her students actually remembers and discusses what she learns at home. And yes, the school had a bit of a burned Torah from the Holocaust, so the children were able to view it, discuss it briefly, and ask questions.

Annabel’s teacher told me that they brought the spiritual adviser in to talk with the children and to answer questions, most of which centered around death. Annabel was only comforted by the fact that this man is dead and will never, ever be able to hurt anyone again.

I decided not to go into an explanation of Hitler’s legacy and the organizations that glorify him and his teachings.

Today on the drive home from school, Annabel talked of a leader of a different caliber. “We learned about the nicest man in the whole wide world,” she told me. “He never did anything wrong and was always good and nice to people.”

“What was this man’s name?” I asked.

She bit her lip. “Umm, I don’t know his name, but he looks a little like Barack Obama.”

I stifled a laugh. “Was it Martin Luther King?”

“Yeah, that’s him.”

At school, they’re either late on their holiday teachings or right on target for Black History Month. “Well, what did Dr. King do that was so nice?”

“Well, first he talked like this: I HAD A DREAM!” She said this with booming imitation. “And it’s nice to talk to people about your dreams.”

I urged her on. “What else?”

“Well, whenever he walked anywhere, he held hands with his friends. Anytime they walked, they held hands, and that’s why people listened to them. People like to listen to you if you’re nice to your friends.”

Somehow, I know that she got King’s message a little wrong, but I also think she got it a little right, too.

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