Story Archive

Zero Tolerance for Imagination

As Matthew and Martha Miele explained it, their first-grade son was playing “Power Rangers” during recess at Our Lady of Lourdes school in Cincinnati, Ohio. Principal Joe Crachiolo called the Mieles to explain that their son would be suspended for three days because during the game, he was pretending to shoot another student with an imaginary bow and arrow. “I didn’t really understand,” Martha Miele said. “I had him on the phone for a good amount of time so he could really explain to me what he was trying to tell me.” The Mieles met with Crachiolo to ask him to reconsider, but he held firm. “I have no tolerance for any real, pretend, or imitated violence,” he said in writing after the meeting. “I can’t stop him from pretending to be a super hero,” Martha said. “I can’t stop him from playing ninja turtles. I can’t stop him from doing these things and I don’t think it would be healthy to do so.” Her husband agrees. “His imagination can go limitless places,” Matthew Miele said. “We try to encourage that as parents.” (MS/WLWT Cincinnati) ...It takes years for trained school professionals to beat that kind of imagination down.