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Post by Sasquatch on Mar 7, 2012 16:38:40 GMT -5
My son (first grader) was asked to do a project for "hobby day" at school.
He chose bowhunting. He made this choice totally on his own, at school, with no input from me.
Today I get a call from his teacher asking me if there is "any other hobby he could pick."
I remained calm and polite and asked why. She explained that because the hobby concerned weapons and killing animals that it might offend/freak out some kid in the class. She was concerned about how he could make any kind of display or project without causing a problem.
Now the teacher grew up on a farm, and ate wild critters, but she's still
worried about the topic. She said she spoke with the principal about it,
and they both would just prefer that my son pick a different subject.
(At least that's the gist I got).
I told her I considered the very idea that this was a problem as a slap in the face and an insult to my identity, and that if John's topic had been about wanting to wear a dress that there wouldn't have been any issues, that in fact they'd have probably been afraid to even bring it up.
I ended by politely saying that I would contact the Principal to get his take and make a decision based on that.
Advice?
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Post by oneshot on Mar 7, 2012 16:47:54 GMT -5
So far so good.
I like your position.
I like your sons topic!
I personally would keep the bowhunting topic and let them force the issue
After that I would write a very nice letter to the ed. of your local paper letting everyone else know what the school adm. did. Way too much PC for me.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
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Post by wileyonetoo on Mar 7, 2012 17:44:05 GMT -5
I think you're spot on sas. I would be having a chat with the Principal as well. As oneshot said, way too much PC involved. Not surprised at all, though.
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Post by ssrhythm on Mar 7, 2012 17:45:51 GMT -5
Had to speak up on this for my first post on here...
Please do not cave into this! Don't be strongarmed into becoming one small step for political correctness; one huge leap for the United States of the Offended. BTW, your response was very, very sharp. Well done, sir.
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Post by Indyhunter on Mar 7, 2012 18:04:04 GMT -5
I wonder if you called the hobby "archery" instead of bow hunting if that wouldn't loosen their britches a bit. He could talk about what he knows about the equipment and also throw in the different uses such as target shooting and HUNTING which he intends to do and is perfectly legal. Might be a way to get in the back door on them if they keep putting up a fight.
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Post by Sasquatch on Mar 7, 2012 18:33:44 GMT -5
I wonder if you called the hobby "archery" instead of bow hunting if that wouldn't loosen their britches a bit. He could talk about what he knows about the equipment and also throw in the different uses such as target shooting and HUNTING which he intends to do and is perfectly legal. Might be a way to get in the back door on them if they keep putting up a fight. I am thinking kind of like you....perhaps a compromise. I had thought of "scouting" as a way to get around it. Scout.ing for what? Hunting of course! Archery is another good idea. I feel I have to make some kind of stand. This feels like a ninety-five theses moment. |
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Post by kevin1 on Mar 7, 2012 20:33:25 GMT -5
Considering where you live it's probable that a quarter of his classmates have sat in a blind or up a tree with Daddy, compromise with "archery" if it will grease the skids, but stand your ground.
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Post by indyqdog on Mar 7, 2012 20:36:55 GMT -5
the idea is not vulgar or offensive at all. if first graders are offended by it, so be it. Telling the kids that America is the best country in the world and that we have freedom of speech is completely contradicted by the rigorous ongoing oppression of how offended people get. Also, this is Indiana. Most everyone at least knows a hunter.
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Post by windingwinds on Mar 7, 2012 21:47:22 GMT -5
Keep up the good fight Sas! And very spot-on on how they'll avoid gender issues but attack hunting.
Last year I recieved a letter from principal on my 8th grader missing 3 days, so I called him. He made a very snide remark about parents letting kids skip school for hunting. To which I replied well there is no longer a fall break, no longer parent-teacher conferences, and of the 3 he missed, 1 day he missed was because the night before he was sitting in E.R until 1 a.m. getting his arm xrayed for a possible fracture caused by FOOTBALL. To me it's the same as a adult planning a vacation day, they can miss 5 days so yeah if I want him to go hunting one nice day then I can.
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Post by featherduster on Mar 8, 2012 6:08:35 GMT -5
You could tell them they are right, archery is kind of barbaric.
How about guns and hunting.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Mar 8, 2012 6:25:11 GMT -5
Just skip going to the Principal and head straight for the Superintendent office. Your going to end up there anyway.
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Post by turkeyscout on Mar 8, 2012 8:27:49 GMT -5
Bowhunting and Archery is a very good hobby, we got your back SAS! Education is the key to understanding...   ....turkey scout |
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Post by parrothead on Mar 8, 2012 8:35:15 GMT -5
As a teacher it wont matter if is called a hobby or not you wont be able to bring the bow to school. I talk to my room all the time about hunting and the animals I harvest. They will ask me what I killed and when and how. I am on your side but this is just the society we live in now and its sad. We had a 5th grader bring 3 knives to school and one was open in his book bag. Police had to be called and he was kicked out for rest of year. Smart kid and good kid just a dumb move on his part.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2012 8:38:32 GMT -5
Tell the teacher your child has given in, and changed his hobby to home made sausage making. Get a piglet, for ease of portability and a good sharp knife, and a Hobart. Get it all on video.
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Post by swilk on Mar 8, 2012 8:40:17 GMT -5
What I would like to do about it and what I would actually do about it are two very different things.
What I would actually do is politely tell the "teacher" that my child had done exactly as he was asked to do. Tell the "teacher" that I fully supported his choice of topics and leave it at that. If the "teacher" (or anyone else) decided to take it to the next level my choice of action would depend on what they chose to do.
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Post by swilk on Mar 8, 2012 8:45:15 GMT -5
As a teacher it wont matter if is called a hobby or not you wont be able to bring the bow to school. I talk to my room all the time about hunting and the animals I harvest. They will ask me what I killed and when and how. I am on your side but this is just the society we live in now and its sad. We had a 5th grader bring 3 knives to school and one was open in his book bag. Police had to be called and he was kicked out for rest of year. Smart kid and good kid just a dumb move on his part. Things have greatly changed since I graduated HS in '93. Would an unstrung longbow or recurve still not be allowed? I took "archery" as a PE in college. I took a rifle to school for my "how to clean a firearm" speech in speech class. |
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Post by esshup on Mar 8, 2012 8:49:01 GMT -5
I did a science project on muskrats that also had trapping as an important part of the project. Took traps to school, etc. This was in a large city and had no problems, but that was years ago.
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Post by parrothead on Mar 8, 2012 8:53:58 GMT -5
I asked a couple of years ago if I could bring my bow and leave it in the truck while at school so I could hunt after. I was told I would be arrested and fired if I was caught with any weapon in my truck. I said OK.
In 88 I brought my ML to school kept it in my locker and in history class showed how to load it and then took it back to my locker. It is very sad how times are.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2012 9:00:24 GMT -5
Sounds like a good place for a Archery in Schools project, which is Ky. born btw. Maybe Hoosiers aren't ready for it yet?
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Post by Sasquatch on Mar 8, 2012 9:03:05 GMT -5
As a teacher it wont matter if is called a hobby or not you wont be able to bring the bow to school. I talk to my room all the time about hunting and the animals I harvest. They will ask me what I killed and when and how. I am on your side but this is just the society we live in now and its sad. We had a 5th grader bring 3 knives to school and one was open in his book bag. Police had to be called and he was kicked out for rest of year. Smart kid and good kid just a dumb move on his part. We never considered bringing the bow...it was just going to be some kind of display with a picture of a deer and maybe Hunter Dan thrown in there, and a paragraph about going hunting with dad. |
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....turkey scout
