Let a cow be your compass.

You’ll know this if you’ve already read today’s issue of “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.” Some German and Czech researchers found that most cows align to the north and south, seemingly drawn to magnetic poles.

Ummm, give me a minute to call cowpies on this study. I grew up on a dairy farm, and our cows didn’t seem to have a directional preference. Maybe they were directionally challenged. Maybe they were rebels.

I even called a relative to make sure I hadn’t missed something in my bovine-bound past. Nope, as usual, the cattle were facing any which way.

I hope no one is lost out there.

Susan Simpson, Education Writer 

Gloria is writing a school report on the State of Oklahoma and she’s asking readers of The Oklahoman and its Web site for facts, postcards, brochures or souvenirs that tell about the Sooner State.

Well, Gloria, I grew up on an Oklahoma farm so I can tell you a bit about rural life here. The dirt is an orangey-red, the people are hardworking and proud, and sometimes a farmer’s most prized possession is John Deer-green.

Gloria says she’ll be writing about the state’s agriculture, history, economy, historical figures and events in her report. She signs her letter “Thank you very much for your support in making me a great researcher of your beautiful state.” Well, she’s already got the Okie-trait of politeness down pat.

You can write Gloria Maravilla at 2700 Kilburn Ave., Napa, Calif. 94558.

You can also post a comment on this blog or by e-mailing me at ssimpson@oklahoman.com and I’ll forward appropriate responses to Gloria.

Susan Simpson, Education Writer

I live in the suburbs now, in a neighborhood I really like. Last night, my daughter and I met up with some other families on our block to trick or treat. This group had lived in the neighborhood a long time, so they knew which houses had the best decorations or really splurged on the treats. My daughter loved traveling in a pack with lots of other kids, and I liked talking to the other parents about such important things as what to do if you are blocks from home but your child needs to use the “facilities.” The answer to that depends on the type of costume said child is wearing.

So while farm life can seem idyllic — and at times it was — I think there’s a lot to be said for reaching out to neighbors that live across the street — not over the next hay field.

Susan Simpson, Education Writer

Temperatures yesterday soared into the 90s, which can be quite manageable with air conditioning. However, my a/c decided to take a vacation, sending my family out of the steamy house and into the cool waters of our wading pool.

I sure have gotten spoiled. But people manage when they must.

I went to a rural school district as a child and we didn’t have air-conditioning in most of the buildings. (They do now, thank goodness.)

It’s hard to imagine how we learned anything during those hot days in the classroom. We’d open the windows, turn on the fans and dream of cooler times. And the district let us go half-days during the warmest weeks.

Did your school have air-conditioning, and if not how did you manage? What are your tips for keeping the kids cool enough to actually pay attention to class?

Let me know at ssimpson@oklahoman.com

Susan Simpson, Education Writer