What have you found in your child's backpack? Did you ever find poop?

During election season we usually hear from a number of parents who are angry because the school has put literature in their child's backpack asking in so many words for the parents to support a tax warrant or a tax referendum. We have not heard a parent complain about getting poop in a backpack, yet!

I find it funny because after so many years of studying the public education system nothing surprises me. Others may find the following story disturbing.

Cathy
Spelling and grammar errors as well as typos are left as an exercise for my readers.


The following story appears at WINK News.com.

Teacher puts poop in kid's backpack
Story Created: Apr 22, 2009 at 4:28 PM EDT
Story Updated: Apr 22, 2009 at 4:30 PM EDT
YAKIMA, WA (KIMA) - An unexpected surprise in their son's backpack caught some Yakima Washington parents off guard. It was human waste, with a note attached from the boy's teacher. And the school isn't denying that's what happened.



"I'm still kinda in shock over this, because why would somebody do this? It's disgusting," said Jason, the father of the little boy.

It all started on Friday at Apple Valley Elementary, when kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Graham called Jason and told him her classroom was "stinky" and asked if it could possibly be his son.

Jason's son had a couple of accidents in the past. So when the teacher called, he says he told her right away, there was an extra set of clothes in his son's bag. But when the 5-year-old came home, the boy was still wearing his original outfit, and Jason says his son was completely clean.

It wasn't until Jason's wife emptied her son's backpack that they got a big surprise.

"She found a clear plastic baggie with a piece of fecal matter wrapped up in some a brown paper towel with the note on it. ‘This little turd was on the floor in my room’ And that's all it says. Q: Nothing else? A: Nothing else. If it was his did she see him do this? Or did she follow him around to make sure this was his, did she see it drop out? Or just assume it was his because he had an accident a few months ago?"

These are all answers the family doesn't have.

Jason did not receive a call from the school or the teacher.

The superintendent sent an email to say they were looking into it.

But with just a couple months left in this school year, Jason isn't sure he wants his son to stay in her class.

"Not only did she put our kid at risk, it's a health risk, other kids too, you know, on the bus," said Jason.

The West Valley Superintendent says the district's Human Resources Department was speaking with the teacher, Mrs. Graham, and the Apple Valley principal.

That meeting happened Tuesday afternoon, but at this time the principal says they are still looking into the details of what happened, and will talk with the parents further.

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Information from Melissa Wagner, KIMA

The above picture appears at Ithacan Online.