Saturday, November 08, 2008

We don't need no education

Kelsey skipped school yesterday.

There was about 40 minutes left in the day, and the teacher was talking about the buses. Kelsey thought since she was talking about the buses, it was time to go. So she put her stuff on and left. Out the door. By herself. No one stopped her.

She realized as she was walking home that she'd made a mistake, but she just kept coming home. By the time she got here, she was bawling, a little confused, and terrified she was going to get in trouble.

I was at work, but Eric was home, thankfully. He called the school, but no one answered. So he called her teacher directly, who was upset a child could just leave without being noticed. I'm sure she was imagining the wrist-slapping she and the school would get for allowing it to happen.

It's not the first time a kid has wandered off from school, and it's hard to keep track of every child at every moment. But, geez.

7 comments:

MJ Krech said...

In the 1st or 2nd grade at Alger School in Grand Rapids, I went to the bathroom down the hall from my classroom. When I came back, the classroom was empty. I panicked and ran the entire city block home to my Momma. As it was still morning, she walked me back and apologized to the teacher, who was in the gym with the rest of my classmates. I had not been missed either. Did I ever feel foolish!

Anonymous said...

I once hid in the shrubs outside my classroom window when I was at Mendota Elementary School and no one noticed. I walked out of the shrubs a short time later when it was dismissal and joined the group going home. I was angry that the teacher yelled at me for something someone else had done. I don't even recall what. I never said anything to my mother and the teacher never knew I was gone. I don't recommend sitting in shrubs, I recall it seemed very buggy and dirty.

Anonymous said...

I find that appalling - not on Kelsey's part but on the school's part. Don't they have locked gates? Poor Kelsey, hope she's okay.

CJ xx

Amy said...

Amazing and scary how teachers don't really notice when a kid is suddenly gone.

CJ, I don't know of any schools with fences and gates around them. And you certainly can't keep doors locked from the inside in case of a fire.

It's a wonder kids survive to adulthood.

aims said...

Amazing that the teacher would not even notice!

Kelsey must have been in her own little world - the poor mite...

Heidi said...

I am I a bad person if I laughed out loud?

Well, if so, no laughing here...

I can't believe no one noticed! No cameras at that school?!?

On the other hand, I understand paying half-attention and being confused. I'm glad she's okay.

I skipped school once. But I went back. Who does that?!?

Amy said...

Heidi, you only skipped school once? Somehow, I find that hard to believe. No offense. Heh.

Aims, Kelsey is my aware one. Weird, huh?