Teacher & spotted lantern flies

[Anonymous]

My Kindergartener is into "nature" (visiting nature centers, camping, gardening, learning about wildlife, etc. ) and recently learned about spotted lantern flies, an invasive species making a lot of local plants and crops sick. The local government is begging people to kill the spotted lantern fly on sight and while my 5 year old normally "wouldn't hurt a fly," so to speak, in this case she is enthusiastic about destroying them. She came home from Kindergarten upset because there are many of these spotted lantern flies on the playground and her teacher apparently forbid her from killing any of them. I'm kind of on my kid's side here—it is an actual scientific consensus recommendation that these bugs be killed to protect the local farms and wildlife. Maybe the teacher is just unaware of the many issues with spotted lantern flies and thought my kid wanted to stomp on them just to be mean? What would you do? Write a note to the teacher explaining the deal with the spotted lantern fly, or would that come across as completely obnoxious and I should just tell me child the school playground is apparently a spotted lantern fly sanctuary?

[Anonymous]

I am not sure this is a great idea because K is a little young for this, but if this were a second grader, I would say to kill them but be quiet about it and now is the time to learn how to get things done.

[Anonymous]

I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but i wouldn't fight the teacher on your kid not being able to kill bugs on recess. They are 5. She doesn't need to deal with this.

Also, maybe your kid shouldn't know about killing them either. They are 5.

[Anonymous]

and also, it is too late, and your 5 year old doesn't need to knwo about how the govt is "begging " people to kill them. They're here. it is too late

[Anonymous]

I would do nothing except validate my child's frustration that she can't do what she wants. This is a low stakes experience that your child can navigate/practice self advocacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do nothing except validate my child's frustration that she can't do what she wants. This is a low stakes experience that your child can navigate/practice self advocacy.

+1 You don't need to helicopter parent this one OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and also, it is too late, and your 5 year old doesn't need to knwo about how the govt is "begging " people to kill them. They're here. it is too late

It might not be. We can still make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do nothing except validate my child's frustration that she can't do what she wants. This is a low stakes experience that your child can navigate/practice self advocacy.

+1 You don't need to helicopter parent this one OP.

This. Sorry but the last thing this teacher needs is an email from you about why your 5 year old should be enthusiastically killing bugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and also, it is too late, and your 5 year old doesn't need to knwo about how the govt is "begging " people to kill them. They're here. it is too late

This. Birds and spiders have added the lantern fly to their diet. In Pa, the number of lantern flies has decreased from 3 years ago. No need for your kid to go against her nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and also, it is too late, and your 5 year old doesn't need to knwo about how the govt is "begging " people to kill them. They're here. it is too late

It might not be. We can still make a difference.

You haven't seen a swarm of them. When you do, you'll know there's no point in squishing them. They will have predators who will balance it out. See also: brown marmorated stink bugs.

[Anonymous]

Have your kid found a spotted lantern fly club and have the kids meet before or after school to terminate them. Your teacher will be none the wiser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do nothing except validate my child's frustration that she can't do what she wants. This is a low stakes experience that your child can navigate/practice self advocacy.

+1 You don't need to helicopter parent this one OP.

This. Sorry but the last thing this teacher needs is an email from you about why your 5 year old should be enthusiastically killing bugs.

Nope - don't agree. Attach an article with the government recommendation to your email. Schools are in the pursuit of knowledge and if a teacher is ill-informed, she should find out. - another teacher

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher that is really over the lantern fly killing on the playground. It’s gross. Dead bugs all over and stuck to the bottom of shoes. Please have your daughter do that during family time only.

[Anonymous]

You're the adult, OP, so you should have some concept of "right time, right place".

Don't you think that a kindergarten playground is NOT the right environment to encourage mass obliteration? Even if the species in question is harmful to our environment? This isn't a horde of mosquitoes or wasps directly threatening your child.

Kill lantern flies on your own time.

- Entomologist, who is very aware of the harm this species is causing.

[Anonymous]

This is not a situation where you email the teacher. Keep your powder dry and email her about the things that really matter in terms of your child’s education or wellbeing.

Elementary school recess is chaotic and poorly supervised because school budgets only allow for so many aides. Don’t undermine their rules over something like this.