A DIFFERENT SCHOOL

Maureen Breslin is a teacher. Her students learn all the school subjects like math and biology but this school is very different. Students don’t go out and play football when the lessons finish. They don’t go to their houses. After school they learn circus tricks. Their school is called Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

There are forty young people at the circus. Maureen teaches fourteen of them. On weekdays, she teaches two different age groups. She teaches older children in the morning. In the afternoon, the younger kids have class. They learn math, counting, reading, geography, or science.

They usually go to a different city every week but students always have lessons. They go to more than 40 cities every year. They see the world and learn about the world.

Ivan Vargas is a student. He is 15 years old. He says life is sometimes difficult. He studies his lessons and practices his tricks. He doesn’t go to his house and play computer games like normal students. After lessons he stays at the circus.

He learns new tricks or practices his tricks. Ivan loves working at the circus. Another student, Omar Dudley likes this school a lot too. He says he doesn’t

like other public or private schools. He thinks circus school is great.

After lessons older students get ready for the show. They have a show every night. Many people come to see their show. Their mothers and fathers work at the circus too. Young children perform jump-rope and balancing acts.

They are very exciting.

After one week, the group takes a bus back to the Ringling Brothers’ circus train. Then, the kids travel to the next city and the next classroom.