Grandpa Benny goes to School

By: Ran Levi

Grandpa Benny entered the room, and immediately noticed that David was upset.

‘What happened, grandson? Why are you so angry?’

David pointed at his notebook. 'We have math homework – and the exercises are so hard…it's not fair!’

Grandpa peeked inside the notebook. ‘Have you tried solving the problems with your fingers, like I showed you?'

‘It's impossible, Grandpa,’ said David, ‘Look: how much is seven plus seven?'…I don't have enough fingers on my hands to solve the problem…’

‘You're right, that really is a difficult problem!’ said Grandpa. ‘If only Sophie were here, she would have definitely have known what to do.’

‘Who's Sophie, Grandpa?’ asked Maya.

‘Sophie was the best at math. I never told you about her, and how I had to dress up as a woman to help her dodge a mean guard and get into school?’

‘No, tell us!’ said the children.

‘Come, sit on my lap and I'll tell you the whole story.’

‘It was years ago.’ Grandpa began, ‘I arrived in Paris, which is in France, with a package in my bag for Mademoiselle Sophie Germain.

I arrived at the Germain residence, and saw Sophie on the steps of the house wearing her bright red backpack.

'Are you Sophie? I'm Benny, the mailman – and this is for you.’ I handed her the package. Sophie peeled away the wrapping and happily exclaimed – 'Yes! The math book that mother bought for me has arrived, and right on time. Today is the first day of school, and I'm going to a new school that has the best math teacher in France!'

'The best teacher in France?' I asked, 'Who’s that?'

'Come Benny – walk with me to school and I'll tell you.'

'Mom and Dad heard that Monsieur Joseph Lagrange, teaches at 'Ecole Polytechnique' – and immediately signed me up for that school,' Sophie explained as we walked towards the school gate. 'Dad told me that Monsieur Lagrange is the best math teacher in all of France – maybe in all of Europe.'

'That's great,' I said, 'you're lucky that you have the chance to study with such a talented teacher.'

'I really love math, Benny!' Sophie said, her eyes sparkling, 'and I can't wait for the first lesson to begin.'

'Stop, at once!', a roaring voice commanded.

A guard with an immaculate uniform stood at the school gate, and looked at me and Sophie sternly. 'What are you doing here?'

'I want to go to math class.' said Sophie.

'Ha!' laughed the guard mockingly, 'a girl who wants to study math? That's ridiculous! Here at Polytechnique, only boys are allowed to study math. Girls learn knitting and cooking, and that's it.'

'But Sophie loves math.' I pleaded with the guard.

'No way – that's the rule at Polytechnique!' said the guard. 'And now, get out of here immediately!'

'It's not fair!' cried Sophie, with tears in her eyes, 'why aren't girls allowed to study math and boys are?'

'It really isn't fair,' I agreed, 'girls are just as good as boys are in math, and sometimes even better.'

'I really wanted to study with Monsieur Lagrange…’, said Sophie, sadly.

'Don't worry, Sophie! I have an idea.' I ran to the nearby store, and returned a few minutes later. 'Here, quickly put these clothes on.'

'But Benny, you're totally confused!' said Sophie, 'these are boys' clothes.'

'That's right.' I said smiling, 'if only boys are allowed to study math – we will have to turn you into a boy!'

'Great idea, Benny!' Sophie exclaimed. She went behind a large bush, and a minute later reappeared wearing a boy's shirt, pants and even a boy's hat.

'Wonderful, you really look like a boy. Now, hurry into the school, the lesson is about to start,' I told her. Sophie marched back to the gate. The guard looked her up and down, but Sophie's disguise was perfect, and he didn't stop her.

Sophie passed the gate and confidently walked towards the classrooms. But a sudden, strong wind blew the hat off her head. The hat rolled onto the floor, revealing Sophie's long hair.

Sophie quickly tried picking up the hat and putting it back on her head, but the guard noticed her. He gave her a suspicious look and called 'hey, boy…get back here, immediately!'

'Oh no!' I said to myself, 'I have to help Sophie! I have to distract the guard while she enters the classroom.' I ran back to the clothing store.

‘'Hello, monsieur!' I said in a high-pitched voice.

‘The guard turned to me. 'Yes, what do you wa…oh oh! Hello, madam!..' He looked admiringly at my long dress, scarf and elegant hat. 'How can I help you, my lady?'

I am a tourist in Paris, and I got lost.' I answered. 'Is this the famous Polytechnique School?'

'Indeed, madam,' the guard answered, proudly. 'This is the finest and most magnificent school in France. Would you like me to give you a guided tour?'

'Uh…yes, of course, I would be very glad if you could show me around.' I answered. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sophie enter one of the classrooms.

‘The guard led me through the school paths, and every once in a while pointed to an interesting building and gave an explanation.

'Very impressive, monsieur,' I said after a while, 'but it's late, and I should be on my way.'

'Oh…you never even told me your name…' said the disappointed guard.

'Ben…', I started saying, but quickly corrected myself, 'Bon-Bon. Madam Bon-Bon.'

'Take this flower with you, dear Madam Bon-Bon, it's a gift from me.' The guard picked a flower and handed it to me.

‘'Thank-you, monsieur,' I said, smelling the flower, 'what a wonderful scent!' I waved goodbye to the guard and turned to go. The flower petals tickled the tip of my nose. 'Ahhh….ahhh….ahchoo!!' I sneezed violently. The force of the sneeze caused the scarf to fall off my face – and revealed my thick beard!

'Bye Bye, Madam Bon-Bon…Mon Dieu!' called the surprised guard. 'What is this supposed to be?!' His face reddened with rage.

'A man in disguise?! Come here, and I'll show you!...'

I ran for my life, and the guard ran after me.

‘I raced through the corridors, and the guard chased after me. I wasn't familiar with the school, so I didn't know where the exit was. I turned left, turned right, went up the stairs, down the stairs….and suddenly, I found myself inside Sophie's classroom. The teacher and students looked at me in surprise. The guard ran into the classroom and noticed that Sophie was in disguise. ‘Ah ha! It's you! You're the girl who wanted to get into the school!'

‘The guard approached Sophie who sat in the front row, and snatched the hat off her head. Her long hair fell to her shoulders. 'I knew it!' The guard exclaimed victoriously, 'you two imposters…' He grabbed me and Sophie by the neck.

'I will throw you back out on the street, this is scandalous!'

A deep and confident voice boomed from behind us. 'Stop, sir!' It was the teacher, Monsieur Lagrange.

‘The teacher turned to Sophie. 'What is your name, my child?'

'Sophie, Sophie Germain.' Sophie answered, warily.

'Why did you dress up as a boy, Sophie?'

'Because the guard told me that girls can only learn knitting and cooking – and I really wanted to learn math…'

The teacher remained silent for a moment, and looked at the paper he held in his hand. 'Sophie, your exercise was the best in the entire class. I would be very happy to accept you as a student in my class.'

'But…but…' protested the guard, 'girls aren't allowed to study math…'

Monsieur Lagrange raised his voice and said, 'That's ridiculous! I intend on putting an end to this injustice. Girls are able to study just as well as boys are, and Sophie has a rare talent for math, a gift that must be nurtured. From now on, girls will be able to study whatever they want at our school!'

'But she dressed up as a boy!...'The guard protested, but the teacher silenced him. 'Quiet! Get out of here immediately, before I send you to go and study knitting and cooking!'

The students burst out laughing, and the guard quickly ran out of the classroom.’

‘Sophie continued studying at the Polytechnique,' Grandpa Benny finished his story, 'and was the most outstanding student in the entire school. Monsieur Lagrange was right – she had a rare talent for math.'

'Grandpa, David, look,' called Maya, ‘I solved David's math problem.' She pointed at the tower of blocks. 'You see: Seven blocks plus seven blocks on top of them…fourteen blocks all together!'

'Good job, Maya!' said David, and quickly wrote the answer in his notebook. 'Really well done,' said Grandpa,' I guess the teacher was right: girls can be just as good at math as boys are…'

Sophie Germain was born in Paris in 1776, and from a young age she showed a strong interest in math. Her parents tried to prevent her from reading math books, as in those days, women were not supposed to take an interest in the sciences. But in the end, they came to realize that they could not deter Sophie in her quest for knowledge.

Sophie wanted to be accepted to the 'Ecole Polytechnique' – a very prestigious institution – but it was closed to women. Sophie dressed up as a boy, and enrolled to attend lectures given by Joseph Lagrange, the greatest mathematician of his time. Lagrange discovered Sophie's secret, but identified her inherent talent and helped her advance and deepen her knowledge.

Although Sophie was undoubtedly the best mathematician of her time and received much praise, she continued to suffer from discrimination and chauvinism throughout her entire career. Only in the twentieth century, many years after her death, and as a result of the rise of feminism and the provision of equal rights for women, did historians recognize Sophie's noble breakthrough.