The Ruler Slaps Across My Knuckles
...So This is What'll Curve My Spine...
7:30 PM. Saint Thomas More Catholic School Parking lot. Not a car around.
Excuse me MIDDLE of the parking lot.
The dad (me) and two teenage sons launching a hydrogen rocket.
The one ThinkGeek.com sells.
Check out the website:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/86c3/
7:30 PM. At night. As in the school is CLOSED NOW.
The principal pokes her head out at sends a messenger to us:
"Your not supposed to shoot off rockets or fireworks on private school grounds"
Me: "uhhh, this is not a fire rocket or fireworks"
Messenger: "I'm sorry, but you'll have to stop"
So I walk up to Mrs. Fewel, the principal.
Me: "What's up?"
Her: "There's a strict policy about shooting rockets on school property. They are very dangerous and could hurt somebody"(remember - the parking lot is empty).
Me: It's not a rocket. There is no fuel. It's a plastic tube with a big foam rubber top.
Her: "I'm afraid you'll have to stop"
So, dad, the boys and the rocket walk 30 feet to the house.
And then the email:
Jerry,
I must admit how disappointed I was to see when I left last night at
9:30 PM that there was a total disregard for my answer to firing the
rocket in the church parking lot. When we spoke last night I was clear
that permission was not given for launching the rocket. Because you had
no control over where the rocket would land and I had meeting where
there would be cars parked in the space, the rocket was not to be
launched. This was in keeping with previous expectations set by Fr. Bob
around having fireworks set off on parish grounds.
The greater disappointment is the disregard you had for the authority of
the school and parish. As an administrator of the parish I am an
appointed designee for monitoring and enforcing the expectations of the
parish. The better alternative would have been to wait and check with
Father prior to launch as you suggested in our conversation.
I would expect that this will not happen again.
Sincerely,
T.F. (name omitted by blog host)
Principal
St. Thomas More Parish School
- Can you believe it?
I kid you not - that was her email to me!
It's a good thing I saved that cut off horse head...