Interesting phone call...

[Aerkuld]

Originally posted by fingpilot
... Blowing up the baby Jesus statue in the school Christmas display...

HAAA, HAAA!
I just spat pita chips over my keyboard!

I spoke on the phone with my monster this morning. He's at home at his Mom's and reading (well, that's what he told me). He did sound very humbled. After the long conversation about why you have to be careful about what you say, where you say it ,and what it might mean to other people I asked him what he had meant by 'blow-up'?

"Did you mean with explosives?"
...Silence. I could almost hear him thinking -WHAT?
"What sort of blow up?"
"I don't know, I just said it"
"Do you think you could have meant like a balloon?"
"Yes, like a balloon"
"If anyone asks when you go back to school tell them that's what you meant"

I am going to write a letter to the school anyway. I will try a little subtle sarcasm. I'll explain that I am suprised by his behavior and the only thing he has ever blown up before was his bicycle tires and that I won't let him near the electric inflator until he's 18, and even then to never try to inflate anyone with it.
I'll then tell them that if they think that that's ridiculous, then think about how more likely that is than a six year old with demolition skills.

[cstreit]

Wussification of American men...

I can actually envision a day when boys are chemically castrated so as not to be "aggressive" in school.

Even if he DID say, blow you up, big friggen deal. When I was 6, 7, 8, whatever I'm sure I said a lot of things to people that were over the top. I had a toy Thompson sub-machine gun, I "shot" my buddies wtih it all the time and seriously outgunned the guys with sawed-off broom handles. I set booby-traps with water balloons... So did ALL the boys, that's what boys freekin do.

I agree, speak up. Ask them why IN THIS SITUATION it will be appropriate to suspend him for the day... In "the good old days" the punishment was directed at the crime rather than a blanket applied response.

Even better idea (with your son in on it). Loudly question him in front of the "security officer" about his explosives experience, what other plots he has going, and who he works for.

Wanted to add though, that we do have to hold our children to a higher standard in some areas than we were as kids. Things have changed like it or not. I remember early on where pinching a girls behind was a funny joke in kindergarten, but now it would not be viewed as "boys will be boys, but don't do that".

[ikarcuaso]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Please explain exactly why? (No sarcasm). Why would a race "insult" invoke a violent response, whereas an insult about your hair, or the way you dress or your sexual orientation wouldn't invoke the same response.

Think of a person of color who might be in an otherwise all-white environment (or the reverse situation, for that matter). Let's say that person felt he/she was treated differently because of skin-color. Now think of someone who has experienced this repeatedly over the course of his/her life. Can you see from where the sensitivity might arise? And yes, this does occur in this day and age more than many people are aware or would like to admit.

I'm not necessarily saying a violent response, but maybe a feeling of greater offense than from a criticism of, say, one's attire.

[lisa_spyder]

For the love of God when is all this tripe going to STOP?!

I am an only child; but have 2 cousins (brothers) with whom I am very close - there are my "older brothers". They (we all) used to wrestle and rough-up daily...we used to play cowboys and indians - with play guns (absolute no-no today). We used to play "zorro" with play swords (another absolute no-no). They used to have peeing competitions in the garden (not me - missing the equipment!). There were BOYS just being BOYS.

They used to have scuffles in the school yard (private Grammar school too); would come home with skinned knees and elbows, sometimes a black eye...and now they are in their 40s and are both balanced, caring, successful professionals who have both excelled in being great Dads and husbands.

I have 3 children - 2 boys and a girl. I expect them to have respect for others and themselves and to behave accordingly. I DO NOT expect them to be controlled to the point where they are no longer kids just doing kid things. I am absolutely sick to death of boys not being allowed to have a bit of a go at each other to burn off some steam. What's wrong with a bit of a scuffle?

How in hell do you hold a 6 year old accountable to this degree for saying he wanted to blow a girl up? If the teachers listened to what kids said to each other all the time and applied their ridiculous rules then the whole goddamn school would probably be on suspension!

Sadly it's the same downunder and it's changed rapidly. My eldest son is now 14. When he was little and at daycare he and a few of the other boys used to have peeing competitions - who could pee the farthest and hit the garden shed ... the staff thought it very funny, but handled it well explaining to the boys that really they shouldn't do it and it would be much nicer if they peed in the toilet like they should. We parents were all informed in a mirthful way (the boys are really just being boys) and asked if we could assist by having a chat with our respective sons. Nowadays something like this is treated with so much gravity it's laughable.

Superman is right - engage the school. Question and demand answers. We as parents must make our disapproval heard otherwise the whole situation will only become worse.

I think this current way of thinking is damaging our children. I fear for their futures as adults. The bureacracy is going to ruin our kids. It's up to us as parents to try to balance this.

[DanielDudley]

When I was a kid, they didn't send you home for stuff. They made you stay after school. Kids quickly learned that they didn't want to be kepy late and behaved. Now kids learn that misbehaving gets them a day off.

How brilliant is that ?

[lisa_spyder]

How true...

an after school detention was always a deterrent.

I had a conversation with a school mother a while ago who disagreed. She dissaproved with afterschool detentions because they impinged on her time and plans. Her idea was no matter what, her life shouldn't be affected by the school's policies - I was speechless. BTW her kid? He was an absolute ***** who was on first name terms the local police station by the time he'd hit double figures. So, the school attempts to reign in her child's behaviour but instead the principal cops an ear full from her about how it affects her plans and how her child should be given lunchtime detentions instead (he was 13 at the time, not 6 or 7).

I suppose this is the flip side isn't it. School administrations increasingly have to deal with parents like this idiotic mother...what message is she sending to her kid? It's OK - just don't get into trouble on my time ...

[Tyson Schmidt]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Don't want to say because you might use it on me and I'd have to break out skillz and go all Stan Lee on you

Yeah, I remember the thread about the guy calling you a "slope" because you didn't turn right on red with a no-right-turn sign staring you in the face.

Did you ever find out what the heck a slope is?

[Moneyguy1]

Slope was a term assigned to Asians, referring to their foreheads.

[ikarcuaso]

Who you callin' slope, biotch?!

[Tyson Schmidt]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Slope was a term assigned to Asians, referring to their foreheads.

I don't get it.

Asian foreheads don't seem peculiar to me.

But they do smell like soup. (I'm totally kidding, I made that up!)

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Tyson Schmidt


But they do smell like soup. (I'm totally kidding, I made that up!)

and taste like chicken

[Tyson Schmidt]

Originally posted by nostatic
and taste like chicken

Who doesn't? (except the Turks of course. I always feel sleepy afterwards too. weirdest thing)

[rcecale]

I apologize for the repeat post, but this video just seems so appropriate to this thread...

Link.

"6 years old"...YGBFKM!!!!!

Randy

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Slope was a term assigned to Asians, referring to their foreheads.

Insulting as he11

[dentist90]

Originally posted by Aerkuld
School: Well he told a girl that he was going to blow her up.

School: Well normally when a pupil has made a threat such as this they get suspended.

School: Well that's up to the security officer, but it is the procedure...

Y'know what this is, don't ya? Typical CYA policy. The school doesn't want to be responsible if anything ever goes wrong. They don't seriously believe your boy is going to follow thru, but a security officer?? Suspension?? What about a guidance counsellor to sit with him and tell him why this, that and the other aren't nice?
In this ridiculous society we have created don't be surprised if the little girl's parents sick a lawyer on you and/or the school for the emotional trauma she just endured.
I guess if he'd hit her it would have been a sex crime?? WTF.

[widgeon13]

What's wrong with the teacher just asking your son what he meant and explaining alternative things to say or alternative behavior. It's been a long time since I had a six year old in school and obviously a hell of a lot longer since I was six years old but this is comical and also very sad that a teacher cannot handle this situation w/o parents and security, especially at six years old.

At six, kids say things that they have heard adults say. In many instances they don't even know what it means. I remember my older sister telling my father "not to cream his jeans" one day when he was urging her to do something and she was a little slow in her actions. All I remember is that my father damn near choked and asked her where she learned that. At school. Can't remember how old she was but I quickly knew I wasn't going to say that. At that point in my life, I had no freakin idea what the phrase meant, she obviously didn't either. Too funny.

Don't know how many people will remember the Art Linkletter program, he had a segment on the program called "Kids say the darndest things" absolutely hilarious.

[holtjv]

Originally posted by rcecale
I apologize for the repeat post, but this video just seems so appropriate to this thread...

Link.

"6 years old"...YGBFKM!!!!!

Randy

this video pisses me off.

[rcecale]

Originally posted by holtjv
this video pisses me off.

I guess maybe she needs to kick your azz!

Randy

[dentist90]

Originally posted by widgeon13

Don't know how many people will remember the Art Linkletter program, he had a segment on the program called "Kids say the darndest things" absolutely hilarious.

My favorite Linkletter interview:

ART: Johnny, if you could be any kind of animal in the world, what would you be?

Johnny: I think an octopus.

Art: That's unusual. Why an octopus Johnny?

Johnny: So if someone was mean to me I could squish them with my 8 testicles


Does anyone seriously think this kid needs therapy? I hope not.

[david914]

Originally posted by dentist90


Does anyone seriously think this kid needs therapy? I hope not.

The kid is fine. It's the adults that need help.