Dear Mrs. Scott,
It came to my attention yesterday evening, after returning from our trip, that the book Owen took to school had an inappropriate picture in it.
The book was one that was actually left in our home from the previous owners as a gift, and I never dreamed that an Eric Carle book would have a picture to be concerned about. I know him as the creator of hungry caterpillars and grouchy ladybugs, not for anatomically correct illustrations of humans. Owen simply asked me that morning if he could take the book and I obliviously consented. He said he wanted to make a star for you.
When we got home and looked through his folder and back pack yesterday, Kris saw the picture and we both instantly realized what might have happened at school. Sure enough…when we asked Owen about it he said that he and a couple of the other children were giggling at the less than acceptable “artwork” from Mr. Carle, and the book was taken away.
I realize that it isn’t detailed or crass, but it is not something that needs to be passed around a Kindergarten room and I am very sorry that we allowed that to happen. It is my fault for not going through the books more thoroughly before letting my kids have them and certainly before letting them share with others.
I hope that this incident has not caused further problems with the other children and if I need to send any apologies to any other parents I will humbly do so.
Thank you for your understanding in this situation.
Sincerely,
Mary Kelso
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Oops.
Oh. no. I hate that feeling. Kind of like when I had to tell our pastor’s wife that her daughter had watched “that scene” from Titanic. Amanda played it for them after we went to bed. I’m so sorry. Hopefully it won’t be a huge deal. I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.
I mean that I wouldn’t have thought to check the book either. I should proofread my comments before I post them.
Eeek! Is it wrong that I want to see the book now?? I can’t imagine what is in there! Something similar happened when I was teaching in elementary Sunday School. We were doing collage from newspaper clippings and the “arts and entertainment” section had an entertainer with a navel-reaching neckline where you could certainly see the cleavage lines. Lots of laughing 3rd grade boys and a meeting with the youth pastor resulted. A week later? Concerned e-mails from parents. Yikes. Who would have thought?
It’s so mild that I considered putting the illustration here on my blog, but I don’t have an easy way to scan images and I couldn’t find it on the web, so you’ll have to find it elsewhere.
“Art” like that is tough because in reality I kind of like the way Eric Carle portrayed it, and it’s not that it’s crass in any way but unless a parent is there to control the reaction and prepare the child, it’s just “naked” to them and it gets points and giggles. I think what hurt (if I can say that without sounding whiny) a bit was that it felt deceptive to have something so seemingly innocent in the hands of my child and then to find that it was exposing him to something without my consent. I might have just as easily picked up the book at a bookstore and let him look at it while I browsed something else. I might have even ordered a collection of his books based on the fun and sweetness of the previous books I’ve read.
The book is also somewhat disconcerting in that it seems to portray a fictional creation story that is actually quite beautiful. But it isn’t accurate, and with the controversy the world has created regarding our origin and the fight waged against truth, I have a hard time accepting this book based on the direction it takes young minds on this topic. I guess it’s just another “cup on the edge of the table” for me. It’s not bad…but it’s not worth the risk.
Lesson learned…I need to be more vigilant with literature for my kids. Especially now that Owen is reading.
Ugh. *That* is a battle that never ends! There comes a point when you have to trust that you’ve built good communication with your kids and that they’ll come to you when they run across something inappropriate because there is no. way. you can check everything (especially when you have an avid reader!). What you’re doing right now, though, lays a fantastic foundation for that sort of communication.
Plus, it gives me the giggles a little bit. Because every parent has to deal with that sort of thing.
Christy – I giggled a little too. Partly just thankful that it wasn’t any more sinister than it was.
OK, I’m giggling like crazy! Just because that’s life as a parent, and I can SO identify. Like when Levi got suspended for “pulling down a girl’s pants” (really he just snapped her waistband) or my friend’s son who got in trouble for engaging in “pee wars” at school. Or the time I told somebody on the phone that my parents were in the shower. I was a kid!!! They nearly didn’t live that down!! Life is hilarious sometimes!
Oh no! How you’ve handled it is definitely something I myself will be remembering later on down the road 🙂 You’re such a good mommy!
Well…I didn’t giggle!…until I read “oops” at the end. Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Seriously, I’ve certainly been there with that whole embarrassment thing you went through and was feeling your pain but when you wrote, “oops” I busted out laughing.