At this same website, in the file, "A CHILD'S GARDEN OF SETS", I describe how I tutored 5-year old son, Chris, in "The Sets and Numbers" Series, by Patrick Suppes and Y. And how Chris taught some of this to neighbors, Maria Linda (5) and Paquita (3).

Another neighbor and Third Grade teacher at our Campus School told me the next year that the new Kindergarten teacher, Linda, wanted me to show the books to her students.

I noticed that she pursed her lips and greeted me cooly. But she allowed me to distribute a copy of the "Kindergarten" manual to each child. I returned two or three times a week for more explanations.

One morning I saw Linda walking down the road toward her school.

"Oh, I know I look terrible. And it's all your fault! I told Mrs. Custer I didn't want you bringing those books. But she misunderstood -- or chose to misunderstand! I don't believe children should have to learn anything scholastic in Kindergarten. It's their last year for fun ---. But I realized that they shouldn't be prevented from learning if they wish. I decided that the minute they ran into any difficulties, I would ban those books."

She paused, almost in tears. "But they won't stop! They just go on! and on! and on! And their parents help them at night. So I decided I'd have to try to catch up to them. But I've been up all night. And I don't understand any of it!"

With this, she rushed off. Later I tutored her in several sessions, and she "caught up with her Kindergarten students".

Toward the end of the school year, Linda came to see me. "I'm going to teach the children at El Gaucio this year. If you have any more of those 'Sets and Numbers' books, I'd like to introduce them there."

El Gaucio was a Presbyterian Mission Center, in the mountains, founded by Esther's father, Dr. Edward Odell. Besides a school, there was a store which bought craft work from the women who came there to attend Literacy classes. (Dr. Odell received much criticism for this from people who said "The Church should only teach The Gospel!")

The Spanish word for "sets" is "conjuntos". The people of the mountains are called "jibaros" (like by Ozark "hillbilly" relatives). And their children are "jibaritos".

What a story this would make: "Conjuntos para Jibaritos"!

Alas! The damned publisher could not supply me with the requisite copies. So..........