My Son Drew a Picture So Disturbing His Teacher Had To Call an Emergency Meeting With Us
Kids can sometimes do, say, and even draw things that can be misconstrued. This was the case for one 6-year-old whose teacher called an emergency meeting with his parents over a drawing he did at school. The parent’s post was shared on the "We are Teachers" Facebook page. They explained that their son’s teacher asked them to explain the drawing.
“I asked him to draw his family and he drew this. Would you mind explaining?” the teacher asked. The mother explained their son had drawn the family on vacation, snorkeling in the Bahamas.
The 6-year-old’s drawing, which was understandably misinterpreted, has sparked a conversation amongst parents and educators about the importance of intervention in situations like this.
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The 6-year-old’s parents explained the situation in the Facebook post.
“Our six-year-old handed us a note. His teacher had called my wife and I in for an emergency meeting. We asked our son if he had any idea why and he said, ‘She didn’t like a drawing I did,’” they wrote.
They met with their son’s teacher the following day.
“We went in the next day and his teacher pulled out the drawing and said, ‘I asked him to draw his family and he drew this, would you mind explaining?'” they shared. The mother then told the teacher it was a picture of the family on vacation, snorkeling in the Bahamas.
Seeing the drawing for ourselves, we can't help but chuckle at that. But we also understand why the teacher was concerned.
Teachers and parents shared in the comments that there is an easy solution for a situation like this.
Other parents and educators shared their opinions on how the teacher responded to the 6-year-old's drawing, sharing that there is a simple solution.
“As an early childhood teacher, when in doubt, I just say, "tell me about your drawing." Sometimes adults jump to VERY different conclusions than a child intended,” one teacher commented on the Facebok page.
“My first daughter's preschool teacher said the best thing to say to find out about their confusing art is just say, "why don't you tell me about your picture?" Problem solved!” someone else commented.
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Though the drawing misunderstanding was funny, it highlights a serious topic: the importance of intervention.
Although the teacher’s misinterpretation of her student's drawing is certainly humorous, she evidently cared for the student and was concerned the drawing pointed toward a more serious issue such as depression, anxiety, or even suicidal thoughts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 children in the US between 2 and 8 years old has been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.
Anxiety is also the second most common disorder in childhood, per the National Library of Medicine.
Early detection and prevention are crucial for both parents and educators. In addition to talking to the child's doctor and possibly speaking with a therapist, it is also important to encourage them to be open and honest about how they feel without judgment.
The drawing sparked debate about whether the teacher was overreacting.
Even though most Facebook users seemed to understand that it was a simple misunderstanding, others blamed the teacher for blowing things out of proportion. Some people, however, applauded the teacher for intervening because it could have been a serious situation.
“Kids draw all kinds of pictures that can get misconstrued. Obviously, a teacher would watch for a pattern, coupled with behaviors," one person commented. "This is just ridiculous that she wouldn't ask the kid first, and just rush to calling parents into school....”
Another wrote, “ONE SENTENCE a teacher is supposed to say to a kid about their pictures. So tell me about your picture."
But others pointed out that she reacted appropriately. As one user wrote, “The teacher did the right thing. These interventions have saved lives. Seriously.”
“As a mental health therapist who works in schools and is certified in art therapy, You always ask the student first for their explanation. If a teacher does not still believe him, a simple call to the parents asking if they took a snorkeling trip to the Bahamas in a conversation could verify it without bringing the perceived assumption to a level of concern," someone else commented. "But kids will tell you what the drawing means and is about for the most part and majority of the times I have been involved. (To include K-12). Great learning moment for all.”
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