I have been fortunate enough to chaperon all of the field trips that Taylor has been on this year and today was no exception. All the Kindergarten classes went to the Library, a park and the Safety Center (the Police and Fire Station, which are housed in the same building, but different sides). The library was wonderful and the kids had a great time at the park. The fire station was beautiful with amazing personnel, despite getting a call.
But I was absolutely appalled at the Police Station tour. The language used by the tour guide was highly inappropriate for 5 and 6 year-olds! He explained to them what happens to people who drink beer and wine and showed them the “Drunk Tank,” and showed them where “bad kids” go. Then he gave them an example of what they might do to find someone who stole another chaperone's wallet and that you never know if a person is good or bad by looking at them. He pointed to me and said, “The lady in the pink shirt is bad.” Okay, not, “Let’s pretend.” Just a blanket statement. My son’s face went white as a ghost. I almost rung the guy’s neck. You see when children have been through what my children have been through, totally uprooted because someone they loved and trusted did something bad that hurt them, statements like that can be devastating. I reassured Taylor that the guide was just pretending. But I was really upset by it. I don’t think that this person realized that children this age see things in black and white, good and bad. What you say to children can leave a very long and lasting impression if you are careful. Thank God that Taylor wasn’t affected by it after I reassured him.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Chronicles of School Days, Issue 7
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3 comments:
Yeah...I wouldn't take a small child on a police department tour. There's nothing POSITIVE in the police dept, if you think about it. Their job is inherently negative. They see the WORST side of people. They don't get called into parties that are going welll, but gatherings that have fallen apart. It's the nature of their job. So, the fire station is a good first start, then a positive visit with police OUTSIDE the station, then later, much later, the station. I'm sorry you had a bad experience there.
He really called it the "drunk tank"??? I would hope that kids in Kindergarten don't even know what that is!!!
I know difficult to believe, huh Katie? I expected it to be much more age-appropriate. And I think it would be okay to take that age to the PD as long as you've got the right tour guide. I can totally see what you mean about it seeing the worst side of human-kind though, Jen.
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