The Magic Wand

In previous articles I have discussed the use of magic in the classroom to gain attention. There is more to my experiences doing magic in the classroom and one rather funny situation comes to mind. I had purchased a "magic wand" from a local magic shop and this was over 25 years ago and it was $50.00 at that time and probably would be a lot more expensive today. It was made in Germany of a plastic springy material. When it was all coiled up it had a small sliding latch at one end that held it closed. In this latch there was a small hole that you could tie a silk handkerchief that would be pulled into the wand as it expanded.

You would hold it all coiled up in the palm of your hand with your thumb on the top point (dull put still pointed) and the silk would protrude from your hand near your pinky or could cover your hand. You would move your hand up and down and count to three and at three you would press your thumb just a bit and this would release the latch, then you would have to completely let go of the magic want and let it expand quickly on both sides of your hand and then quickly catch it again.

If you didn't let go properly it could shoot out from your hand and if pointed in the wrong direction it could fly into the class. If you didn't compress the wand loosely to prepare it could jam as it expanded and not fully deploy. Everyone in the class would know exactly how this was done and wanted to also try out the wand. Sometimes I would let a student come to the front of the classroom and try it but I would put them in a totally safe location so it could not hurt any other students. I would also supervise the student as they tried the magic wand.

When I was teaching a high school class one day and had it in my pocket the latch opened and it began to open in my pocket. This can look rather bad as you might imagine. Naturally I would have to get it from my pocket and then fully explain and demonstrate the use of the magic wand. I was very glad that this never happened while I was a teacher in the middle school. It has opened in my pocket while I was driving and this has been a bit strange also., but one day I had a very embarrassing situation happen with the magic wand.

I had it in my pocket and forgot that it was there. I had to take my daughter to the airport. When I went through the metal detector the alarm went off and I reached into my pocket to pull everything out and put it into the tray. As I reached in my pocket I felt the magic wand and now hesitated. The guard noticed my hesitation and asked me to move slightly to the side. She again said: "Take everything out of your pockets and put the things into the tray." I was afraid that she would see it and possibly cause it to suddenly expand and get scared. She might even pull her gun! after all she did have one. People were now building up all around and a lot of people were beginning to get angry about the delay I was causing them, but they also were concerned about any potential threat. I put everything else into the tray except the magic wand and reached into my pocket again and ask I pulled it out I said quickly "Let me explain!". She very quickly said "What is that! and her tone was ominous.

I must admit that now with all the other passengers around me, now two security guards and the airline official it was very embarrassing to have to say: "it's my magic wand." I really felt stupid when she said very loudly; "You're What!". I had to repeat again, "My magic wand!" and I added quickly that I was a teacher and that I used it in the classroom to gain attention. She now asked me to show her how it worked, but she said "Be careful.". I have to admit that it looks a bit dangerous so when I pressed to release the latch I used my left hand to control the speed at which it expanded. Well, everyone was relieved and I was not allowed to take it beyond the metal detector, so I gave my daughter a hug and she was on her own from that point.

I still have the magic wand, but occasionally I wonder what might have happened if this had happened since 9-11. I now carry it in a small cloth sack that I can pull closed and only take it with me when I really intend to use it in a demonstration. At least I didn't create headlines in a local or national newspaper:: "Teacher arrested at airport for carrying a concealed Magic Wand!"