Distribution Of Coal

I was all set for a nice little holiday message. I'm really in the spirit this year, so it was going to be uplifting and warm.

Then I had to read this story from the Associated Press:

A Hagerstown father says his five-year-old son knows nothing about sex, but the boy was written up for sexually harassing a kindergarten classmate.
Washington County school officials told Charles Vallance that his son pinched a girl's buttocks earlier this month in a hallway at Lincolnshire Elementary School. The school says that meets the state's definition of sexual harassment. Vallance says his son was only playing around and had no sexual intent.
School officials say the incident will remain in the boys file until he goes to middle school.
Citing state data, the (Hagerstown) Herald-Mail reports that 28 kindergarten students in Maryland were suspended for sex offenses in the last school year. Fifteen of those suspensions were for sexual harassment.

First of all, coal in all the stockings of the Washington County school officials and Lincolnshier Elementary School. Can a 5-year-old really know what sexual harassment is and how to do it?

But what struck me as outlandish (if the story itself wasn't enough) was the last paragraph. Are you telling me 28 KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS were suspended for sex offense? KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS?

And 15 of those suspensions were for sexual harassment? What were the other 13 for? No, wait. I don't want to know.

PC isn't just that thing sitting on your desk or lap (you know, what you are using to read today's rant). PC is a disease, a virus, something people wave around because they are afraid to take personal responsibility.

If these kids really are guilty of sex offenses, why aren't we teaching them right from wrong about this in pre-school so they don't commit these acts as kindergarteners? Yes, that sentence is dripping with sarcasm.

But this isn't. How can we hold 5-year-olds responsible for something they haven't been taught is wrong? And if you think the conservatives hate sex ed in high school, wait until they deal with this.


Ok. I'm done spitting for now.

Back to the warm holiday message.

If you are traveling, be safe. If you are staying home, be welcoming. Whatever your holiday season, enjoy it with family and friends.

Yes, the season can be stressful, but only if you let it. Do what you can with what you've got and don't sweat the small stuff.

And I'll see you next year.

Oh, well imagine/As I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor/And I can't help but to hear/No, I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words/"What a beautiful wedding/What a beautiful wedding," says a bridesmaid to a waiter/"And, yes, but what a shame/What a shame the poor groom's bride is a whore." -- Panic! At The Disco