Another reason to Home School.

[Ilovebigcats]

This makes me so mad for so many different reasons. What do you think?

A Blackman Elementary father's protests against the school's policy requiring parents to place a decal with their child's name on it in the window of their vehicle ended in his arrest Friday.

Daniel Inmon of Murfreesboro disagreed with the school's use of a car rider decal to alert school officials as to which child goes in which car at school pickup time.
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Inmon wrote in his letter, "It is irresponsible for any educator to lead parents and guardians toward the possible endangerment of a young person."

Inmon planned to distribute letters to other parents during Friday's dismissal.

He was asked to the leave the campus by the school's principal, Cynthia Ford, and then by a deputy from the county Sheriff's Department, said Maj. Bill Kennedy, commander of the county school system's school resource officers.

Inmon refused and was arrested for improperly being on school properly, Kennedy said.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Inmon was booked into jail for criminal trespassing. Bond was set at $500.

This school year, students were given a car rider decal for their parents to place on the front driver's window. Parents were instructed to write their child's name on the decal.

Inmon believed writing the child's name on the decal is a potential safety hazard and could make the child prey for a predator. He spoke with Ford on Tuesday.

Displeased with their conversation, Inmon filed a complaint with the County Schools office and spoke with County Mayor Ernest Burgess.

He returned to the campus around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and distributed 65 to 70 letters to parents as they waited for their children. Inmon said he was asked to leave, and received a call from the sheriff's office saying that if he returned to the campus he would be arrested.

"I'm a parent of a student and should be allowed to be on the campus to handle business," he said.

Inmon returned to the elementary school on Friday afternoon during dismissal to pass out more letters.

He was arrested after refusing to leave.

Before the decals were issued, parents would write their child's name on pieces of paper or cardboard, said James Evans, the district's spokesman.

He said, Ford ordered the decals because they were more official and to speed up child pick-up.

"It's a safe process, and the parents support the process," Ford said.

She said there hasn't been a lot of concern from others parents about the issue.

"It's a good idea," agreed Brandon Dunkerson.

Deanna Whooten, who is the mother of a kindergartner, said she also has no concerns about the decal being a child safety threat.

"It's fine," she said. "It's effective as it can be to get 210 kids out of the school."

On Friday afternoon, a staff member read the names on the decal, then called the names out on a bullhorn. The students were then escorted to their parent's car by a staff member.

Evans said Ford offered Inmon the alternative of putting the decal on a CD case, which he or his wife could hold up when picking up their child. He said other parents would be offered the same option if they were concerned about using the decal.

Inmon insists the policy be abolished altogether, according to his letter.

He believes his right to redress the government and freedom of speech were attacked.

"I really can't believe I was met with this much resistance," he said.

[Sherry]

Personally, I think having a child's name out there is extremely dangerous, even at a school like that.

My niece played softball, the team had those decals with their names on them everywhere, their parents cars, their equipment bags, etc. One of her teammates had a guy she didn't know start calling her name one day after a game, like he knew her, really well. She didn't go to him as some of the parents became very suspicious of him and confronted him. He took off before the police came. Those stupid name decals came off of everything after that and will never be used again.

I can't see advertising your child's name to predators. They are out there, waiting for an opportunity. I think this parent in the article has a valid concern.

[Shellie]

I watched a safety awareness documentary once and they cautioned about putting your child's name on anything for this very reason.

At the playground a predator sees "Shellie" embroidered on a little girl's sweater. The predator approaches little Shellie and says, "Hey Shellie, my name is Rick. Your momma sent me to pick you up." Well, 8 year old Shellie thinks, "Oh, he knows my name so momma must have sent him."

I shared this with a friend of mine whose daughter had a necklace with her name on it. Just a couple of days later she was at the pediatrician when he spotted the same necklace on her neck. He gently "scolded" her about letting her daughter's name be exposed to strangers.

[Full Quiver]

EXACTLY!!!

[DaJudge]

It is extremely unsafe to put your child's name on anything that a pervert can see.

Around here, they do the car pickup a little differently. They print the kids name on and the school name on a big colored piece of cardstock and the parent can just place it on the front dash of the car. That way, the parent has the option of putting it away after she's picked up the child. This decreases the safety risk.

[PastorDaniel]

Not to mention...a potential predator getting ahold of his or her own decal and beating mommy or daddy to the head of the line...

How can you guarantee that the child is going to the correct car...

Our school has you hold up a name sheet so they can be called...but then the child is escorted to the car by a teacher....and if they don't recognize you....you don't get your kids...

[Penny]

Our school has you hold up a name sheet so they can be called...but then the child is escorted to the car by a teacher....and if they don't recognize you....you don't get your kids...

We had that to when my kids were in k-3 I WOULD NEVER USE IT.

All it was - a sheet of computer paper with my kids name on it, They ask me all the time did you lose your paper?

Nah, I just will not use it, They kept sending home new paper with the kids name, I never used it. They got mad at me, but about half way though the year they gave up.. And called my kids when they seen my car.

[Full Quiver]

when my kids were in k-3

Am I right to read this as public education for 3 year olds?

[A2JGirl]

when my kids were in k-3

Am I right to read this as public education for 3 year olds?

Think that's kindergarten to third grade, all in one building.

[Full Quiver]

I hope so Rachael.

[dolfan]

We don't put my daughter's name on any items that are generally viewable by the public. No decals on the car, no tags, none of that - now or ever.

The other day I walked into a local sandwich shop that also has a video game rental room (Wii, PS3, etc.). You can grab a panini or the like, some coffee, and play video games. I like the paninis and don't go to the game room. Well, the place is never really busy, but I walked in and saw the same guy I had to threaten his life a couple of years ago in the children's section of Books-A-Million for asking my daughter her name and where she went to daycare. He saw me (I was the only other customer in the joint) and walked back to the game room. He wouldn't come back out while I was there. He kept trying to have quaint conversation with the 1 employee who was there. He walked out once and I asked the employee, "He a friend of yours?"
"No, just a customer."
"Good. Keep it that way."
"Something I should know?"
"Who is he here with?"
"His son."
"Changed his cover story. When he practically propositioned my then 3 year old, the kid was his grandson. He's a pervert."
"Thanks for the information."


You can NEVER be too careful.

[MacUser]

Our school has tightened up security also. It's a double edged sword. Meaning that it's small private so it's crazy when they treat you like they don't know who you are. A odd person would stick out like a sore thumb in that small setting.

[Steve]

This seemed an appropriately titled thread to post this in. An exerpt from this blog post.

Sometimes humor communicates best. So, let us begin with an hilariously funny clip from the British sitcom Yes, Minister. This comedy series revolves around career bureaucrats' efforts to prevent a reform-minded Prime Minister from changing the bureaucrats' beloved status quo.



In this clip, Humphrey, a bureaucrat, responds to the Prime Minister's school choice proposal. This type of discussion could just as well have taken place in Washington, D.C., or in any state capital. In fact, we all know that it does.



The writing and acting in this clip so accurately capture the arrogance of the education establishment that the clip deserves to be circulated far and wide.

See the clip HERE