Kids Tell All

During my time as principal, some children told me things they knew their parents would not be proud of. All the children who came to my office ALWAYS knew the right thing to do; however, they might have done something they shouldn't have done anyway! I would always ask them what they should have done instead of what they did. I'd ask them if they were being respectful, responsible, safe, or kind. The answer was usually no for any misdeed they had done.

One of these times, I had a fourth-grade student set a napkin on fire with a lighter he had brought from home. Of course, he denied his wrongdoing. I had him go out and wait in the outer office. After much questioning and camera viewing, this boy was the suspect. The guidance counselor and I searched the cameras and received a phone call saying the lighter was in the upstairs bathroom. A fifth grader gave the lighter to his teacher because he found it in the bathroom. On camera, we saw the suspect exit the bathroom where the fire had happened and then quickly go into the upstairs bathroom while he was taking the lighter out of his pocket. After tracing the path on camera, I was sure that the boy in the outer office was the culprit. Cameras do not lie. The boy's dad was called to pick him up since he was suspended. A little conference with Dad and his son occurred before leaving my office. The boy admitted setting the napkin on fire at this point. His Dad said the boy had set the trash can on fire at home. I handed Dad the suspension paperwork, and the boy turned and looked at me as he said, "At least I didn't set my pants on fire like my dad did when he was in school!". Dad just kept on walking straight out the door. Proud moment, I'm sure.

Later...