school inspector

The school inspector is assigned to the Year 4 class in one of the

local State schools. He is introduced to the class by the

teacher.



She says to the class, "Let's show the inspector just how clever you

are by allowing him to ask you a question".



The inspector reasons that normally class starts with religious

instruction, so he will ask a biblical question. He asks: "Class, who

broke down the walls of Jericho?"



For a full minute there is absolute silence. The children all just

stare at him blankly Eventually, little Bruce raises his hand.



The inspector excitedly points to him.

Bruce stands up and replies: "Sir, I do not know who broke down the

walls of Jericho, but I can assure you it wasn't me".



Of course the inspector is shocked by the answer and the lack of

knowledge of the famous Bible story and he looks at the teacher for an

explanation.



Realizing that he is perturbed, the teacher says: "Well, I've known

Bruce since the beginning of the year, and I believe that if he says

that he didn't do it, then he didn't do it".



The inspector is even more shocked at this and storms down to the

principal's office and tells him what happened, to which the principal

replies :



"I don't know the boy, but I socialize every now and then with his

teacher, and I believe her. If she feels that the boy is innocent,

then he must be innocent".



The inspector can't believe what he is hearing. He grabs the phone on

the principal's desk and in a rage, dials the prime minister's telephone

number and rattles off the entire occurrence to her and asks him what

he thinks of the education standard in the State.



The PM sighs heavily and replies: "I don't know the boy, the teacher

or the principal, but just get three quotes and get the bloody wall

fixed!!"