Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:28     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Have you considered talking to the parents?


OP, here yes. The question is whether it is appropriate and what I would say. It seems most people think I would be out of line reaching out to them to discuss it, although more recently there have been some people who seem to share my concern. Whether that would mean they think I should start a dialogue about this or not is unclear.

I'm casual friends with the parents and doubt that they intended offense or harm from the videos. I'm not looking to lecture them, but it would probably be hard to try to start a dialogue about this without it coming across as me doing so.


I think it would be a short conversation, and end with, "you!"


haha, seriously! OP, what would you even say? If they're racist, cop-loving people, who are you to tell them to change their mind?
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:26     Subject: Re:Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
The glorification of policing to young kids is real and it's pretty pervasive. Shows, toys, even clothing--it's surprising how hard it can be to avoid clothes and toys that are cop-themed. You might not notice unless you're trying to avoid these themes.


Also, no it isn't. I wasn't particularly trying to avoid those themes five years ago when my son was a little kid, and he didn't have one single police themed item of clothing or toy. I know I've seen some lego themed police toys in stores, but my son was never into legos, so we never had any,


It's funny that you mention Lego, because they are among the biggest players in this. If you walk into a Target today and go look at the Lego aisle, you'll see what I mean. Almost everything that is not cross-branded with a movie is a police set.


Ok, I'll take you at your word on that, since my son never liked it, I don't really know about Lego. But, he never had any police-themed clothing or other police toys. He mostly liked baseball stuff, and wanted to be a baseball player at the time. Now, he wants to be a math professor, which is likely a better fit for him.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:25     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Have you considered talking to the parents?


OP, here yes. The question is whether it is appropriate and what I would say. It seems most people think I would be out of line reaching out to them to discuss it, although more recently there have been some people who seem to share my concern. Whether that would mean they think I should start a dialogue about this or not is unclear.

I'm casual friends with the parents and doubt that they intended offense or harm from the videos. I'm not looking to lecture them, but it would probably be hard to try to start a dialogue about this without it coming across as me doing so.


I think it would be a short conversation, and end with, "you!"
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:24     Subject: Re:Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle

OP, here yes. The question is whether it is appropriate and what I would say. It seems most people think I would be out of line reaching out to them to discuss it, although more recently there have been some people who seem to share my concern. Whether that would mean they think I should start a dialogue about this or not is unclear.

I'm casual friends with the parents and doubt that they intended offense or harm from the videos. I'm not looking to lecture them, but it would probably be hard to try to start a dialogue about this without it coming across as me doing so.


I would strongly advise against this. They're not close friends of yours, and they have the right to raise their children as they see fit, within the bounds of the law. Let it go.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:23     Subject: Re:Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:
The glorification of policing to young kids is real and it's pretty pervasive. Shows, toys, even clothing--it's surprising how hard it can be to avoid clothes and toys that are cop-themed. You might not notice unless you're trying to avoid these themes.


Also, no it isn't. I wasn't particularly trying to avoid those themes five years ago when my son was a little kid, and he didn't have one single police themed item of clothing or toy. I know I've seen some lego themed police toys in stores, but my son was never into legos, so we never had any,


It's funny that you mention Lego, because they are among the biggest players in this. If you walk into a Target today and go look at the Lego aisle, you'll see what I mean. Almost everything that is not cross-branded with a movie is a police set.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:22     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:Have you considered talking to the parents?


OP, here yes. The question is whether it is appropriate and what I would say. It seems most people think I would be out of line reaching out to them to discuss it, although more recently there have been some people who seem to share my concern. Whether that would mean they think I should start a dialogue about this or not is unclear.

I'm casual friends with the parents and doubt that they intended offense or harm from the videos. I'm not looking to lecture them, but it would probably be hard to try to start a dialogue about this without it coming across as me doing so.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:20     Subject: Re:Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
The glorification of policing to young kids is real and it's pretty pervasive. Shows, toys, even clothing--it's surprising how hard it can be to avoid clothes and toys that are cop-themed. You might not notice unless you're trying to avoid these themes.


Also, no it isn't. I wasn't particularly trying to avoid those themes five years ago when my son was a little kid, and he didn't have one single police themed item of clothing or toy. I know I've seen some lego themed police toys in stores, but my son was never into legos, so we never had any,
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:18     Subject: Re:Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
It was two classrooms, and I don't think there is anything so surprising about this. Kids have no power, and in pre-K they are constantly angling for how to get some. Whining, wheedling, negotiating...and dreaming about having a job where everyone has to listen to them and what they say goes.

The glorification of policing to young kids is real and it's pretty pervasive. Shows, toys, even clothing--it's surprising how hard it can be to avoid clothes and toys that are cop-themed. You might not notice unless you're trying to avoid these themes.


That was my fear. I think it is worth talking to the teacher and asking the school to be more conscious of what police-themed media the kids are being exposed to.


I don't think so. Lots of little kids also want to be firemen, or vets. or doctors. It's a very hands-on thing that they can easily understand. Nobody at age 4 is like, I want to sit on my butt all day in front of a computer and run reports, or write briefs about patent law.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:17     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do we think of black cops?


That we should hire more of them. And women. And people who speak Spanish.


But if all cops are bad....or is just only white cops that are bad?


Policing as a concept is morally suspect. I’m sure lots of cops are decent humans, but they choose to engage in a job that protects the elite and requires violent suppression of the poor and POC.


This is parody. It has to be.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:15     Subject: Re:Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
What do we think of black cops?


That we should hire more of them. And women. And people who speak Spanish.


But if all cops are bad....or is just only white cops that are bad?


Policing as a concept is morally suspect. I’m sure lots of cops are decent humans, but they choose to engage in a job that protects the elite and requires violent suppression of the poor and POC.


Same could be said of the military. Lots of little kids want these jobs, but in reality, most upper and upper middle class kids ultimately go into something else. It's not worth getting into for a preschool video. OP is overthinking it.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:12     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:Y’all are heading down a path that will get Trump re-elected. You know that, right?


I bet you sometimes go on TV as a "Democratic strategist."
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:11     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Y’all are heading down a path that will get Trump re-elected. You know that, right?
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:05     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do we think of black cops?


That we should hire more of them. And women. And people who speak Spanish.


But if all cops are bad....or is just only white cops that are bad?


Policing as a concept is morally suspect. I’m sure lots of cops are decent humans, but they choose to engage in a job that protects the elite and requires violent suppression of the poor and POC.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:05     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry that you’re going through this, OP. Ignore the boot lickers in this thread. It’s absolutely necessary to talk to your kids in an age-appropriate way about this.

“I heard Larla say that she wanted to be a police officer during the end of year video. A lot of people think police help people, but a lot of the time they hurt people more than they help. If I were Larla’s mommy I’d ask her to pick a different job that helps everyone.”

Just stop! This is ridiculous.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2020 13:03     Subject: Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do we think of black cops?


That we should hire more of them. And women. And people who speak Spanish.


But if all cops are bad....or is just only white cops that are bad?


Systemic racism is bad. Not white cops. But if you don't have diversity, you are more likely to allow systemic racism run rampant than try to dismantle it.