PROVIDENCE FRENCH STUDENTS ADOPT SNAILS
Clarksville, Ind. – December 9, 2009) "I, Catherine, swear to take full responsibility for the escargot named Raoul, to provide him with safe housing, adequate clothing and educational opportunities. … I also swear to never spill salt or eat shrimp, lobster, or crab in the presence of my Escargot. So help me God."
With her left hand on a French-translated Bible and her right hand raised, Junior Catherine Aubrey was the first student to become the proud adoptive parent of her very own escargot. That’s right, a snail! With local Judge Jerry Jacobi officiating, Catherine and her classmates adopted 11 lucky snails during a ceremony on Nov. 30 by Providence High School French students.
Clark Superior Court Judge Jerome Jacobi swears in Candace Popp, a sophomore , during “La Ceremonie d’adoption des escargoes” for students of to adopt a snail in teacher Katie Aebersold’s French Class. Holding the Bible is Providence science teacher Ginger Shirley.
Snail mania at Providence began several weeks ago when French teacher Katie Aebersold announced it as a surprise to her French 3 and 4 classes. “They had no clue what was headed their way!” said Aebersold, who started teaching at the school in August. She discovered the snails at www.adoptanescargot.com while searching online for teaching resources and became intrigued by the concept.“I was looking for something that would help them communicate real life situations in the French language,” Aebersold said.
During National French Week, the students received their surprise in a baby keepsake box. They had to guess what was inside before they opened them. Each snail (or rather snail shell; they are not alive) came with a personality profile. Students were matched with one that had some of their same interests and even fears.
“Almost every student had the same reaction. “Laughter filled my room,” recalled Miss Aebersold. “The students had to pick a name for their snail and then introduce their snail to the class.”
Providence alumnus Judge Jerry Jacobi (’73), husband of Providence English teacher, Kathryn Jacobi, agreed to officiate the adoption because it sounded “pretty zany.”
