Principal’s
Corner--February
by Michael Breault
“Do
you love me?”
“Only
if you chase me.”
I
received this on a torn piece of paper from a third grade classroom. As amused as I was by the brief dialogue, I
was reminded of the increasing number of flagrant uses (or misuse ) of the word
LOVE.
Third
graders (fourth or fifth) graders should not be touting love to the opposite
sex nor proclaiming him/her as a boyfriend or girlfriend. I don’t think I’m
being prudish here. These are nine and
ten-year olds!!!
Maybe
I am dating myself. I probably thought
at nine that my grandfather was prudish or “square.” Now as the “grandfather”
principal to 420 elementary students, I worry that they are growing up too
quickly. I tell them they shouldn’t have boyfriends or girlfriends. I want to keep them as children, innocent
(okay somewhat dependent), just using those packaged valentine cut-outs and
being shy to share one with the opposite sex.
When
did these children go from shy to chasing each other and worrying if someone
didn’t respond to a critical question about love and commitment? And where was I during that transformation?
As
the school principal, I will continue to protect and nurture my children. I
will continue to discourage these kinds of love messages because I don’t like
the patterns I see evolving.
I won’t apologize for feeling that way.
Love
is…