Tuesday, August 25, 2009

And just how high was that bar?

This afternoon, I had a meeting with Mr. Funny and one of the assistant principals at the small town they call a school his high school. Since this is Mr. Funny's senior year, we were making plans to send him to a college as far away from Georgia as possible to apply to quite a few schools. Feel sorry for me now. I'm about to be broke. Mr. Funny has worked hard to earn good grades and to score well on his ACT and SAT tests and I am proud of him.

As I was driving away from the school, I had a flashback of the last time I'd had to meet with someone at Mr. Funny's school. That had been a fun emotional scary little meeting with Mr. Funny and the middle school principal.

It seemed that Mr. Funny had photoshopped a picture of the principal's face onto a picture of Hitler with an outstretched arm. To the side was the caption, "We raise the bar this high."

Actually, I thought it was rather creative. And funny.

As the principal threw around words like "expel" and "suspension", I realized he failed to see the humor in the situation. In the end, it turned out that Mr. Funny had not done any of the crime altering of the photo while at school. The principal had found out about the picture from other students which revealed the REAL stupidity in his actions. He had emailed the picture to some friends! Idiot!.

It was up to me to punish him. And punish him I did.

That event was event was almost 5 years ago. Do you think it might be time to lift the photo shop restriction?

40 comments:

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

Most definitely!

And good luck with the college thing!

Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com said...

I'd put him on parole now. Regular visits with his case worker for a few months. That should suffice!

Rosaria Williams said...

Beth,college has its own challenges for young people. You'll just be less worried because you'll be the last one to know anything that happens there. Keep him on a leash, a short one.

cheatymoon said...

Good luck to Mr. Funny with the college admission process... :-)

Laura Marchant said...

Oh my gosh! That is great!

Lori said...

That is too funny. I'm afraid I would have had a hard time not smiling during this meeting. Gosh darn kids!

Kristina P. said...

I think it's pretty funny!

Brian Miller said...

if you lift the restriction he will probably stop posting those photo shop pics of you raising the bar from the school computers...lol. don't even want to think about college expenses. gl.

Amy said...

thanks for coming by today. this was a funny post. your son sounds a lot like my brother..

Unknown said...

He's BRILLIANT! I think its time to put a halt to being the photoshop Nazi

Brenda Susan said...

Guys can be so creative can't they? I recall situations like that with mine, you don't want to squash the inventiveness etc, & you actually feel kinda proud of their creativity but...gotta be the bad guy anyway sometimes. Such a bummer!

Ash said...

He has a brilliant future in graphic design ahead of him - trust me - a good Photoshopper is had to come by.

Set him free!

Chief said...

That is hysterical! If I were his principal, I would have totally laughed

Beth said...

A Mom on Spin - I think we are going to need luck for finding a good scholarship. He has the grades in line. Yay!

Nancy - Parole is an excellent idea!

lakeviewer - I agree. My oldest step-daughter is 4 hours away at college and we don't have a clue. Until it comes time to pony up the funds.

Movie - Thanks! We need all the luck we can get. It gets rather complicated with all the due dates, fees, etc.

Midwest Mommy - Thanks!

smiles4u - Throw in the word expulsion and it is easy not to smile. I was scared to death for him.

Kristina - I knew you would!

Brian Miller - I'm almost curious as to what he can come up with on photo shop. He's pretty funny.

Amy - So, does the brother have a happy ending?

dizzblnd - I agree!

Brenda Susan - Exactly! You said just what I felt!

Em - Graphic design would be rather cool....

Chief - Actually, later the principal did laugh about it. The picture gets brought up at our principal meetings from time to time.

Anonymous said...

I see GRAPHIC ARTIST in his future!!! But he might need to stay away from MARKETING.

Candice said...

LMAO!! I love it.

You should have bought him a new car for that one. ;)

Unknown said...

LOL for Mr. Funny and his sense of humor! Definitely think you should lift the restriction(s) and push him in the direction of an arts major; maybe SCAD?!

PippaD said...

Just as long as you can check his next report card hasn't been altered using his skills...

beth said...

umm...i think it is hysterical that he did that and i would have had a hard time punishing him. but, i guess you're right, expulsion would have been a great motivator for me. regardless, i think it is awesome.

*krystyn* said...

Ha! That's hilarious..I'm thinking you'd be safe in lifting the PS restriction.

Sidenote: is it awkward meeting with other principals about your own child?

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Lift that PS restriction, Mr. Funny sounds very creative and clever, there must be scholarships out there for him. My Big Buddha is off to college after spending a year in his room recovering form High School. Oh, and he seems to be doing great, suddenly he is motivated and focused like never before.

Jan said...

I love that boy.

By all means, give him back teh Photoshop, or I'll send him a copy myself.

Heather K. said...

Wow, that incident had you called into the principal's office? Seems like par for the course for a middle schooler, I'd think!

Michel said...

Good God NO! Just think what he could do to a photo of YOU. you may be able to lift the restriction if his use is monitored. Kind of like a work release program.

It's only funny when it is against other people. He needs to learn that particular lesson first!

Crazy Charm said...

Ha! That's awesome. If I have children and I have to meet with their principal, I hope it's for something as funny, innocent, and creative.

And really? Does the principal not have more pressing matters to worry about?

Mike said...

I need a full time blog illustrator, he sounds like he has my type of humor!

Chris said...

That's friggin' hilarious. I admire the kid's creativity (if not his judgment).

Anonymous said...

i say he makes it into a post card and send it to his principal...because he raised the bar that high- he was able to accomplish good grades! he he he

CiCi said...

When you said it was up to you to punish him five years ago, I thought you were going to say you took him out for ice cream and a new computer.

Beth said...

Jules - Good point!

Candice - But middle schoolers can't drive. ;)

Jane - He is rather artistic but as a hobby and not a career.

Pippa - I hadn't thought about that! I'll keep an eye out on that.

beth - Well, I have always said that I would back up the school.

K13 - Actually, I try to make sure the kids teachers DON'T know I'm a principal (at least not at first - they usually figure it out). I've always wanted the boys to just be students and not a principal's son. As for meeting with other principals, I know they know that kids will be kids.

moll - So, you have a son who has recovered from high school? I'm glad he is motivated. Now is the time when it really matters.

Jan - I'll be sure to let him alter up a few of my photos (not of me but of other family members).

Heather - I used to teach middle school and I kind of thought the same thing.

Michel - You are RIGHT! Would you mind sending me a picture of you?

Crazy Charm - Apparently, it was a slow day that day in middle school.

otin - I may be sending him to college somewhere near you. I'll let him know about his new job.

Chris - I thought it was funny, too.

Mrs. K - Good idea! Maybe he could send him the postcard after he graduates. You know, just in case.

TechnoBabe - Maybe I should do that now...

Hit 40 said...

OH NO!!! My oldest is starting a media class with photo shop right now. I will warn him to behave. No trips to the principal for me. I HOPE!!

essbesee said...

that is hilarious. he sounds funny and creative.

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

Oh, my, oh, my...been there, endured....well, not exactly that but a few "creative" shenanigans of our own. I delight in the hope that someday (if there is any justice in this world)they too will get to enjoy the various exploits of their very own juvenile delinquents...Only I bet it will not be so funny then, hmmm...yeah, I bet we'll be the only ones laughing then....

Everyday Goddess said...

He should only be allowed to use Phtoshop to put my face on Jennifer Annistons body. Okay?

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Oh, heck yeah. Just think of the fun things he could do for your blog.

Good luck with the college apps. From the way it sounds, Mr. Funny will have the pick of whatever he wants.

bernthis said...

sure why not and tell him his time out is over

Pseudo said...

Lift the restriction! You must be so proud of his hard work and achievement. The way my senior boy is going, we might get him here at teh community college next year. fingers crossed.

Wendi said...

When I was in jr. high, I got caught doctoring a picture of my chemistry teacher with the caption, "Light my bunson burner, baby" or something stupid like that. I later found out, after I was given detention, that it hung in the teacher's lounge for the rest of the year.

followthatdog said...

5 years!!! Woman, that is cruel and unusual punishment. I have to access Photoshop at least once a day to remain whole as a person. Please let him use again.

A Free Man said...

Sorry, but that is pretty funny! And creative. But high school is not really the place for funny and creative people to shine, is it?