It sucks in this day and age, when kids turn “pastries” (the last time I checked a pop-tart on its own was a weapon of mass construction) into guns, or West Virginia or New York State, that we have to be extra vigilant about items brought in for Sharing Day.
But in an obvious effort to cover my ass, I am sharing my letter to the teacher (while ccing the administration and my husband that I sent at 9:04 this morning) to let both of you know that while I agree with all policies to protect the children, sometimes a kid’s imagination needs its assurances as well.
Good morning Mr. Schautzenklampfer,
I just left the school after writing you a note to apprise of the fact that Thing 3 brought in what he calls the “staff” of whom I believe is the wizard Gandalf from Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”
Essentially, it is just a piece of falling limb (about 4.5′ long) from a tree in our backyard with a blue Lego ball placed between the fork of the limbs by packing tape.
I left the note affixed to the packing tape and placed the staff behind your desk, to inform you that I wanted to make sure that I was doing my best to perform within any school policy regarding any “weapons” on campus even though it’s not a weapon, it’s a piece of wood with a Lego ball “suspended” from the fork of the limb. I also left commentary that if you need to have me come up and get the staff to please do call me. Again the staff is behind your chair at your desk, it is not available to Thing 3 or openly available to any of his classmates. The front office staff (Yanosh Greenblexter) and the temporary substitute teacher is aware of the situation and that I was leaving you a note.
Upon my leaving the classroom, Thing 3 realized that today is not his “sharing day.” But after I left the note and staff behind your desk I just figured that if you needed me to come get it you would let me know.
Thanks,
Molly
So what to do now? Do I sit by the phone and wait for the call that my kid has been suspended? Do I rail against the tide and fight for change of insanely fearful adults who’ve forgotten that childhood imaginations are places of wonder and security and safety?
My kid’s about as apple pie as you can get. Here’s a pic of him yesterday feeding grass to our dog. That’s right, he fed our dog grass. … Well, see for yourself:
So now I wait.
Thank you.
UPDATE 9:43am from Mr. Schautzenklampfer:
Hi Molly,Thing 3 can share today instead of on the 16th. No problem! Thanks for taking the time to explain and keeping us informed.
-Heinrich Schautzenklampfer
Phew! Now I can go to yoga with my cell phone off. 🙂
Grass Oil by Molly Field 
It’s awful when you have to do that. To repeatedly say something so that they will (hopefully) get the message
Yes… And they are supposedly the educators. The teacher is great, no complaints at all, but I know she will have to cover her butt… The fact that she wasn’t there when I dropped everything off (I signed in on the computer, etc., as a matter of more CYA) doesn’t help.
I think everyone is just a little to hyper-sensitive these days. I guess I may be naive but I still believe that most people are good at heart and don’t intend to hurt or injure their fellow man. I think we have made everyone afraid to do anything anymore because it could be taken wrong. I think we should all just lighten up a little.
Ok I should have spell checked that one. That would be “too hyper-sensitive”……..
How hyper-sensitive if you… 😉 yuk yuk. I couldn’t resist.
Thanks for commenting!
How are you?
Doing great 🙂 but yes too hyper-sensitive lol….. How about you? Was the yoga great with the phone off?
it was good. the end was the best though, my teacher read this quote and it has almost changed my life in less than 24 hours: “A meaningful life isn’t a popularity contest. Do what you feel is the right thing, and you may not get approval from the world. Do it anyway.”
-Marianne Williamson
Pastries chewed into a possible gun shape….I couldn’t remember what it was and thought of a chicken nugget. Yes, I am commenting both on your post and the comment you left on my post earlier. We are like old friends who can pick up a conversation like we have only been apart for minutes even though we have never actually met, right? Your son feeding the dog grass is going to keep me laughing for days. He is so cute.
I am so glad the Gandalf staff was shown without incident. I agree with everyone above, it’s a shame that we have to assume every child is about to go on a murderous rampage when all they want to do is participate in show and tell or eat a poptart.
yes, it’s a crazy world. i would like to do both: eat a pop-tart for show and tell.
i love that we have these seemingly disjointed conversations on the web; it makes me feel like we are talking over a fence line. xo
It’s scary that todays society is hindering our young ones imagination. I am also worried about my child’s safety but where does the line between healthy imagination and mentally unhinged cross? I’m getting anxious just thinking about this.
don’t unhinge! we need you!