A weird post - half brag/half is this strange.

Robbie is up for Author of the Month at school. He was learning crostic poetry.. you know you write a poem using the letters of a word:
Jumpy
Excitable
Ascerbic
Nocturnal
Not Neat
Iffy
Entertaining

So he liked that kind of poetry and decided to do his own word. He chose DETONATE. Here is his poem:

Do You Hear It Ticking
Eager To Escape
Time is running Low
OH NO
No Way to Get Out
All Your Hope is gone
Time is almost done..
Eh.. uh.. *PKOWW*

He put it in the recycle pile, but the teacher saw it and told him it was good and they submitted it.

AND THEN.. the principal called him down
to tell him she thought it was brilliant.. but that it was ALMOST inappropriate. Robbie had no idea why because in his mind it was about a guy who escaped from a building that was blowing up. Honestly? He probably thought of it from a video game.

Anyway.. i get that they have concerns about bombs in school and that sort of thing.. but he is EIGHT. He's popular, social and gets great grades.. was the reaction from the principal odd? She did a good enough job that he didn't feel his creativity was dampened. But I don't know.. is there such a thing as TOO cautious?

Message edited 5/3/2010 6:00:29 PM.

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this weird..

WAY TO GO

In middle school I wrote a poem about a butterfly escaping a closet. It got lots of attention then I was called a copycat tho no one could find a source.. i was devasted.

Later in High School I wrote another poem called HOPE. It was about a suicidal girl's last moments. The last things her 5 senses felt. The idea was Hope was lost.

I got pulled in, talked to, counseled, parents spoken to, etc. I HATED it. I wasn't suicidal. I felt so sad that someone would give up a life so easily. I am against suicide. But they never let up. Drug tested me, asked my parents to watch me etc. Even tho I had no other signs and I was an A-B honor roll student in sports and active in Choir and Girl Scouts

I have NEVER written another thing since. I often wanted to be a writer but I got so turned off to writing after being constantly harassed. I figured I obviously moved them, why not take it for what it is?

By my senior year I was selected for GT English. I had qualified for years but they had overlooked it due to my poems. I have always skipped it. I can easily say those two experiences have ruined my creative drive. Told my teachers, principals and dad that I refused the class because I didn't want to end up being put into some mental ward because of my paper on hamlet!

My father was furious at the schools.

Ironically 16yrs later I still qualify for Honors English but in college now and I still pass on it.

Message edited 5/3/2010 5:59:13 PM.

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this weird..

As a teacher, I think that the poem is great (especially for an eight year old), but at the same time, I'd probably run it by my school psych just in case. We are supposed to report anything having to do with guns, bombs, war, etc. I'm not saying I agree with it 100%, but this is the policy. I think it is wonderful, though, that the message came across in a way that your son is still excited about poetry!

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this weird..

I wrote a poem in the first grade. the gist of it was that "my mommy left me all alone"

the published the poem in the senior yearbook, but NOT before my mom was called to the school to verify that it was something I made up.

I DO think that 8 is a little young to worry about potential violence, especially if he's never exhibited any kind of behavior to further indicate it.

its an AWESOME poem, and you both should be proud.

I guess the principal was just dotting all I's and crossing all t's.

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this weird..

i thought it was fantastic...

but i guess i can see why it might have caused the principal to step in.

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this weird..

Posted by Teachergal

As a teacher, I think that the poem is great (especially for an eight year old), but at the same time, I'd probably run it by my school psych just in case. We are supposed to report anything having to do with guns, bombs, war, etc. I'm not saying I agree with it 100%, but this is the policy. I think it is wonderful, though, that the message came across in a way that your son is still excited about poetry!

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this strange.

Thanks guys..

I guess it does make sense ESPECIALLY since Robbie's had some behavior challenges this year. I am glad she handled it in a way that made him feel good about himself. I guess it just stinks that creativity itself becomes suspect in school.

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this strange.

I think it was handled really well - she showed him that he has talent, but he just needs to be more aware of what he writes, that's all. I think it's great that he is so creative and I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this strange.

Short answer:

SMACK that g0ddam principal SILLY already!!!

Re: A weird post - half brag/half is this strange.

I think in this day and age it is the principals place to ask the question. Just think if this was another kind of kid and a conversation like that could head something off at the pass. I appreciate the position they are in and do not think it silly at all.

That said, I think the poem is fantastic and that your son is brilliant but I'm still glad the principal was't afraid to ask,