Now I'm the first one to do it, and I take out the biggest chunk when I have to bite my kids' heads off for being naughty. But I have to say, I really don't think my girls' offense was big enough to send them weeping to the principal's office last week. So here's the story:
Several weeks ago (I mean six or more maybe) Brooke and Janelle came home singing a song about someone spilling applesauce, set to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb". I remember asking them about it, and it seemed fairly innocent if not a little obnoxious. Then just last week both girls came home upset and probably fearful of what their dragon-mother would do when she found out they were sent to the office. From what I can piece together, they sang the appplesauce song, along with a third friend, all those weeks ago, and as far as they could tell, the spiller of the applesauce thought it was funny too. But the other day she (the spiller) came home and mentioned it to her mother - I don't know how or why it came up, or how it was explained, but it made the mother VERY concerned that her daughter was being harrassed. She called the girls' teacher and said something to the effect that the three girls were singing a mean song to her daughter and wouldn't stop. The next day at school, they were told in no uncertain terms that what they had done was mean and had upset the girl and her mother, and they were to miss the rest of the week's recesses and to go to the office as punishment. At the office they were given a chance to explain and told to make up a nice song and write apology cards for the girl. She was one of their friends so they had no trouble doing that. More than anything, they were kind of shocked that so many weeks later their dumb little song came back to bite them in the butt. Was the girl truly offended and simmered with anger for that many weeks before exploding to her mother while the three girls were oblivious? Did the mother misinterpret her daughter's story and think it was something much worse than it was? Did the teacher misunderstand the mother and assume the three girls really were ganging up on their friend and continually harrassing her with their nursery rhyme variations? Good grief. I told them, much to their relief I'm sure, that I didn't think they did anything heinously wrong or deserving of the punishment they had received, but that SOMEWHERE along the line, someone seriously exaggerated the situation!
Several weeks ago (I mean six or more maybe) Brooke and Janelle came home singing a song about someone spilling applesauce, set to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb". I remember asking them about it, and it seemed fairly innocent if not a little obnoxious. Then just last week both girls came home upset and probably fearful of what their dragon-mother would do when she found out they were sent to the office. From what I can piece together, they sang the appplesauce song, along with a third friend, all those weeks ago, and as far as they could tell, the spiller of the applesauce thought it was funny too. But the other day she (the spiller) came home and mentioned it to her mother - I don't know how or why it came up, or how it was explained, but it made the mother VERY concerned that her daughter was being harrassed. She called the girls' teacher and said something to the effect that the three girls were singing a mean song to her daughter and wouldn't stop. The next day at school, they were told in no uncertain terms that what they had done was mean and had upset the girl and her mother, and they were to miss the rest of the week's recesses and to go to the office as punishment. At the office they were given a chance to explain and told to make up a nice song and write apology cards for the girl. She was one of their friends so they had no trouble doing that. More than anything, they were kind of shocked that so many weeks later their dumb little song came back to bite them in the butt. Was the girl truly offended and simmered with anger for that many weeks before exploding to her mother while the three girls were oblivious? Did the mother misinterpret her daughter's story and think it was something much worse than it was? Did the teacher misunderstand the mother and assume the three girls really were ganging up on their friend and continually harrassing her with their nursery rhyme variations? Good grief. I told them, much to their relief I'm sure, that I didn't think they did anything heinously wrong or deserving of the punishment they had received, but that SOMEWHERE along the line, someone seriously exaggerated the situation!
7 comments:
wow...I think that is all I can say is wow! Your poor girls I think you should call and complain that they are being harassed for singing a silly song!
That is so stupid. And to miss recess for that? I don't think so.
Personally, I would notify the teacher and principle that one week of punishment is over board for the fact that they did not intend to harm anyone.
If they continue to insist it is just, then pull them out everyday for lunch. You can have your own daily talk that we need to make sure our songs/ jokes are never at another's expense in a much more effective way than just sitting in the office.
Do know the punishment is a result not of the act committed, but to appease a mother. Sad but it is how things are done often.
Your poor girls! This seems like a strange situation. Doesn't their teacher know them better than that? And why weren't you notified by the teacher or principal of the offense and punishment? I would call and talk with both of them. Just because another mother is over protective or her daughter was having a sensitive day does not mean your kids should be punished so harshly. Wouldn't it have been better to sit all of the girls down together and teach them something about kindness and communication? I think they all got the wrong message from the school's reaction.
I think you should sue the teacher, principal, parent,parent's parents, child, state, city, school district, Federal government,onlookers and the makers of the applesauce.
Anonymous comment made me laugh. We have had a few of these type of situations happen at our house too. Boys seem to often do silly things that uproar others but are pretty much innocent. I've handled it differently depending on the situation. Sometimes we've talked with the teacher and cleared things up. Other times it's just a time where the kids rack it up for one of those life experiences. Even as adults sometimes we offend someone when we didn't mean to or get a ticket when we didn't feel like we did anything wrong. I do think the schools seem to be hypersensitive these days and blow things way out of proportion at times. As long as the girls feel supported by you that's the most important thing.
I think Anonymous sounds like a certain lawyer type I know...looking for a little extra work. :-)
Personally I agree with the Gatherums, but I wouldn't notify the teacher or principal...I would just take them out of school for the period when they are to be surviving their "punishment." And then after the fact...tell the teacher and Principal that you disagreed with them and rather than make a deal out of it.
I would of course take the kids over to their friends house and make them apologize and then talk with all of them about what it means to be friends...let the parent see you making sure your kids are being good...
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