Sneezes, “Bless You” & Foolish Teachers in CA

In one public school teacher’s class in Northern California (why is it always California?), apparently saying “bless you” to a fellow student who has sneezed is now considered both “disrespectful and disruptive.”  Steve “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” Cuckovich has banned students from uttering such a profane phrase in his classroom.  I truly feel sorry for those California parents who are not in a position to remove their children from the public schools in that state.

One student had 25 points taken off by this brilliant teacher because of the offensive “bless you.”  Of course, Mr. Cuckovich says his actions have nothing to do with religion whatsoever.  It was only to teach the students that this silly superstition was no longer acceptable in a post-modern culture.  Too bad that Cuckovich doesn’t know his history (or maybe he does) and that it was Pope Gregory the Great, in the sixth century, who began to use the phrase during the bubonic plague epidemic.  Apparently, some parents in Vacaville — where the school is located — have not drunk the kool-aid just yet.  After complaining, the teacher has magnanimously agreed to suspend his points-off policy.  Instead, he plans to find another way to “discipline” students who run afoul of his stupid rule.

Can you imagine what Mr. Cuckovich would do to students who dared to place “God” in front of “bless you?”  If you have ever seen the movie, “Scanners,” you might begin to get the picture.  So, the next time a student in Steve Cuckovich’s class sneezes, all the other students in class should, in unison, respond how most reasonable, non-foolish people from every walk of life would respond — with a simple, courteous “God bless you.”   Or, if they really wanted to mess with his mind, the students could simply say, “gesundheit,” a German word which literally means “health.”  Too bad that the irony would be lost on Steve Cuckovich, who “teaches” of all things, Health Class!