Should have previewed. never mind.
Considering that tdn and I both received the exact same letter I think its a distinct possibility…so I’m slightly less impressed than I was originally. Still, at least the school has given their side of the story.
This is ever the problem when you get news and no way to verify the actual story. Do you trust the reporters/eyewitnesses? Is there another side to the story, more facts or information that we don’t know about? Is the story confused, muddled? Are the eyewitnesses wrong? Lieing? Something else? Its so hard to judge sometimes.
Now…I don’t know what to think. The form letters story seems plausable…indeed, thats what I would EXPECT reasonable people to do. Did it happen that way? If so, then its the news story and reporter that needs to be seriously pitted. If not then we are back to the school. Either way I’m not a happy camper about this.
-XT
Yes, but it seems as if he’s responding personally. The reply quoted my original question, and had my title. So it looks like a paste job to me.
Its definitely not an autoreply because I sent him a thankyou back and didn’t get the same email back at me. Definitely a cut and paste job.
-XT
Gotta consider people’s motivations in this. The reporter’s job is to tell the most compelling story possible. The principal’s is damage control. They both have reasons to bend the truth, but since the principal supplied a good deal of detail that the reporter did not, I’m going with his version. I’ll save my outrage for another day.
Interesting. The school says one thing and the parent is saying something different. Perhaps a student is playing both sides against each other for a laugh, or he just doesn’t know any better.
I agree tdn. I’m inclined to accept the schools story on this for much the same reasons you are. I was just pointing out how difficult it is sometimes to judge these news stories when there are conflicting stories. I suppose thats why its never a good idea to make snap judgements when reading about, say, a murder or other crime reported in the news…not until more details come out.
In any case I have to say that its pretty cool to be able to read such a story, discuss it online, and then ask the key people questions about it and get a response in a couple of minutes…instead of stewing in anger for days or weeks before the news source gets around to a retraction (if they ever do). Ain’t this electronic stuff grand? 
-XT
Unless you’re reading a report other than what the OP posted, you’re not reading a direct quote from the parent. I’d take that into account.
Way cool.
Research. It’s what’s for dinner.
What about the possibility that the principal is in some type of CYA mode? I ask because it would seem like a big stretch to say that blue patterned pants/jogging pants are underwear. How would the reporter, other than outright lying which is possible, mistake them?
I too got the same response and agree that it must be C&P. Unfortunately, I’m not real impressed. It seemed evasive to the point of simple ‘cover up’ mode. I dunno.
However, I still have one question… in a situation of this magnitude, where something has been handled so seriously, would someone indeed let a 5 YEAR OLD make the determining decision? Again, I have no kiddos and haven’t ever really been exposed to any, but it seems to me that if he was the only one out of 800 who disobeyed their zero tolerance on Halloween costumes, then the parents would have to be contacted. Seeing as how they’re the responsible ones and all. What say you guys?
I agree…I’m unsure why they would ask the child what he wanted to do instead of calling the parents. I suppose I could see them actually doing that though…I bet they are regretting that action now if they did as I’m sure someone else is going to ping them on it. ‘You asked a CHILD what he wanted to do instead of simply calling the parents?!? What were you thinking???’
Still, for the most part the response was pretty plausable. Perhaps its my knee jerk reaction to automatically doubting the press at work, or maybe its simply that the level of detail in the story was pretty light while the response from the principal was more indepth.
-XT
If this is the real deal (the school’s version) then I am sorry that I jumped on the bandwagon so fast.
Then again, I jumped based on my past experiences: in the pre-school we used to attend, (a Christian one, BTW)–a boy was forced to wear pink snow pants the day his mother forgot his own. He had asked to not have to wear them; he had said he would stay inside and not play outside, plus playground time came right at the end of the day, so even if he got soaked, he was being picked up by his mother etc. She was never called to bring his correct snowpants in. Matt ended up in tears and it was an ugly scene all around. Have you ever tried to force a 4 year old into snow pants?–it’s like trying to hold a greased pig. We could argue the whole pink thing, but that is not the point.
So, this kind of power struggle is not a new concept to me at all–I have seen it.
I am glad that this kids wasn’t humiliated in the way we were led to believe he was. But I stiil think that the parents should have been called, if only to remind them of the policy.
And WTF is Red Ribbon anything? Shouldn’t it be Blue Ribbon (ya know, for winning and all that).
Thanking God I live near Chicago…looking kinda :eek: :rolleyes: at Tulsa…
Red Ribbon Week is to promote awareness of No Drug policy, or abstinence. Or something.
It’s an anti-drug awareness program, observed in many schools and other places.
Well, at any rate, somebody in Tulsa deserves a pitting! I’m not real sure who just yet, but they’re gonna get it, by gum!
Makes sense to me, actually. Say my kid wore his costume to school over his clothes and wasn’t supposed to wear the costume. I’d rather the teacher have him remove his costume and wear his clothing, than have the school call me for my opinion on the matter.
Never hoid of it. We do DARE (for all that works) around here. Nary a red ribbon to be found.
They stopped doing DARE around here when I was in middle school (funding, I think). Now it is all about the red ribbons and signing lame little 'I wont ever drink" pledges. Good times.
Walt’s first job was for the Kansas City Laugh-O-Gram Company in Missouri. Don’t think he ever worked in Oklahoma, though I could be wrong.
Well, if the School’s story is at least somewhat accurate, I’m releaved.
The level of stupidity some people show is insane - a local daycare was closed forever because the dumb ass staff decided to “teach the kids to bring extra shoes”, by sending about 15, 2 and 3 year olds outside, when the temperature was -38 with no shoes and no coats, and leaving them there for 15 minutes for a “fire drill”.
Apparently, kids are supposed to have outdoor shoes and indoor shoes which stay on in the event of a fire, and some of the kids had forgotten to bring the extra shoes.
Yep, you sure taught them - those 3 year olds will never forget their indoor shoes again…
I assume they wern’t allowed to put on their coats, just to really drive the point home.
assholes.