Circus kids still need to hit the books

Tucked somewhere in the back of many adults’ minds are childhood memories of a trip to the circus.

Perhaps it was a huge three-ring production staged inside of an indoor arena. Or, maybe it was a smaller, more intimate circus with wooden bleachers at the county fairgrounds. Either way, children and a circus just seem to go together.

This coming Sunday at J. Neils Memorial Park in Libby, the Carson and Barnes Circus will set up the big top and present shows at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. And kids will play a major role – not just as local onlookers but as performers in the show.

Seven-year-old Brandon Cavallini swings on the flying trapeze. Amanda Loyal, 11, performs as a bareback-riding ballerina. Others also participate in their own ways, including a trio of girls who put on a high-energy, hula-hoop show.

But just because they take part in the circus, that doesn’t mean they get out of school.

“There are about 15 of them, pre-kindergarten to sixth grade,” said Doug Munson, a retired teacher from Kansas who home-schools the children. “The kids have school every day except Saturday and Sunday. Usually, part of the morning I’m working with media and start with school kids at about 10. From 1 to 3, it’s down time and then it all cranks up again.”

Munson formulates an individual education plan for each child. With many foreign performers, the five different languages are represented in this unique traveling classroom.

“Part of it is teaching English words; some don’t have English down yet,” said Munson, also known as Poppa the Clown. “Some older kids have been to school in Yugoslavia and just got caught up with their grade level when they left. I get them ready for when they go back.”

The circus opens its “season” in mid-March, so child performers leave their schools earlier than their classmates. It also runs into October, well after the time when other kids have gone back to class. As a result, Munson’s “home-schooling” plays an important role.

“We work in small groups, it’s pretty good 1-on-1,” Munson said. “It’s not your typical classroom.”

As for where Munson works with the kids, that varies.

“A lot of times we have school in the cookhouse tent or sometimes when the prop truck is empty, we get them in there, too,” he said.

Munson, 68, is a former physical education teacher from Liberal, Kan. He’s worked as a clown, teacher and public relations representative full-time for the past two years.

“I like the traveling. I get to see a lot of the country, a lot of states,” Munson said. “I work on the midway and meet and greet and enjoy seeing the kids’ eyes bug up. … The older generation also likes to see a clown and get a hug. It’s helping people forget about their troubles for a while and see a clown.”

Munson’s background as a clown dates back to 1960, when he also worked as a bullfighter. With Carson and Barnes, he travels with 130 people in a big top that is longer than a football field.

“When we finish in October, we will have played 24 states and 168 cities and 423 shows,” Munson said.