Published: April 19, 2008 01:21 am         

What's bugging you?

GREENVILLE — I dare you to eat a bug.

It’s the old childhood dare.

One student and teacher embraced the dare Friday and decided to chow down on a chocolate-covered cricket.

“It was crunchy,” said Lamar Elementary School Principal James Evans, as he used a toothpick to remove a leg stuck between his teeth.

Students decided that they wanted to see Evans eat the tasty critter. It was all for a good cause though, as the money students paid to see Evans eat the bug will go toward DrugFree Greenville’s Walk-a-thon today.

But third grader Zach Norman felt a bit sorry for Evans and decided to launch his own campaign. In the spirit of campaign season, he tried his best to talk other students out of voting for Evans.

It didn’t work out quite the way he had planned. So in sympathy, Norman decided to join Evans in his snack.

“It was good,” Norman said. “I wanted to do it for DrugFree Greenville because it helps everybody. I would eat one again.”

Apparently the urge to eat crickets is contagious at Lamar Elementary because two other teachers decided to join in the fun.

“I said if the kids did well on their TAKS, I’d eat a cricket,” said PE teacher Paula Talley.

Co-worker Alanna Smith promised if the school raised at least $5,000, she’d also eat a bug.

The school beat that mark.

So there will be a few less crickets hopping around this spring.