Ever notice how, now and then, you run across a news item that just knocks the wind out of you? One that simply takes your breath away? Or one that leaves a sort of trail, forcing you to remember it for an extended period?

Well, then, read on; this is a good story for any kid who was embarrassed by the necessity of holding in a certain bodily function that resulted in a bad odor and, often, a loud and distinctive noise. Now, a Georgia schoolteacher has come up with a novel solution.

Well, it is normal. But there is a time and a place for even unpleasant normal functions, and that place is not inside a crowded elevator. In this Georgia classroom, it's called the gas station.

The first thing to know about this gas station is that it is not a gas station.

There are no pumps. No convenience store. No windshield squeegees. And, despite what one might reasonably expect, there is no requirement that anyone actually purchase gas.

It is a designated corner of an Atlanta elementary school classroom where students can go when they need to pass ... gas.

Its creator, Candy Sydney-Browning, a 36-year-old second-grade teacher, calls it the “gas station.” The specific spot where students go is the “gusty winds area.” There are air freshener sprays nearby.

It's a safe bet that nobody will want to linger in that corner after a while. It seems pretty certain that there would be after-effects from all that broken wind.

X, being X, presents us with some food for thought on this topic; X writers, after all, are never shy about tooting their own horns.

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First, the obvious observation:

And then, the "I'm an A-hole, and I'm proud of it" response:

And the inevitable "concern for building maintenance" angle:

And, finally, the advocate for the sneak attack:

Fortunately, in this Georgia school, these were American kids; no young dukes, counts, or princes in the mix. Because what you would get then would be a noble gas.

While these episodes often bring about a fit of sniggering - I mean, why do you think there are so many jokes about this perfectly natural bodily function? At least these kids are being taught that there is a time and a place for anything, and the time to emit a loud and odoriferous air biscuit is not when you are seated surrounded by your classmates. So, kudos to Candy Sydney-Browning for coming up with a way to impart that lesson. 

And, lest we forget, the Gas Station has its own patron saint: