4 YEAR OLD DRAWS A GUN

There are a number of reasonable explanations as to why authorities apparently overeacted and arrested, charged, strip searched, harassed and searched a citizen's home. First and foremost you must look at the overall context. The School Board just a few short years ago looked hopelessly inept and out of touch in regards to the Ron Archer affair. Mr. Archer was a long time teacher with a nasty habit of sexually assaulting and harassing children. The School Board were strongly criticized for their policies including my favourite known as "passing the trash". With this policy the Board simply looked the other way so as not to offend the Teachers Union. The bad apple (teacher) was then transferred to another school sometimes over and over again if necessary. It's fair to say that our School Board got their image badly burned over that behaviour. Further context would be the Regional Police losing a loaded handgun a few years ago in front of Kitchener Collegiate. To date it's never been found although they did charge an indiviual with the theft of it, however he was acquitted in court. It probably didn't help that the Police still couldn't find the gun. Therefore my theory is that our Regional Police are desperate for a clue, any clue. Along comes a four year old child with a picture of a gun. This is probably the best clue they've had in this case hence they leaped when the overzealous teacher (see above) and the always overzealous and financially motivated CAS seized the four year old and her siblings. Hey when you're desperate to restore your tattered image having to sacrifce a few pawns is a small price for them to pay to make you look better. Keep in mind even the CAS have been under considerable pressure of late due to their alleged overzealousness and willingness to break up families.

So how do we improve the situation? What have we learned? I would suggest that both the CAS and teachers pay close attention. I'm out of my depth in discussing crystal balls and or mind reading but I can "read" pictures at least as good as any teacher out there. Following is a primer on how teachers and CAS can more accurately read and interpret childrens' drawings. Airplane pictures- a no brainer. We all know this represents drug smugglers. Break down the parents doors. Boats- Same thing as planes. Clearly the child knows about drug smuggling using boats. Dog pictures- This is a clear emergency. Pit bulls are life threatening and the authorities must absolutely leap here because afterall Ontario is currently discussing lifting the pitbull ban and you have to act before that happens. A picture of a bottle- Also a no brainer. Do you think a four year old can spell much less say Brewers Retail? Hardly. Raid the home, the dirty parents are probably drinking beer. Balloons- again this is a clear emergency. No four year old knows what a condom is but we all know that a condom blown up looks like a ballon. You can't take chances here. Sexual abuse is a dirty business and what right thinking person would ever fault you for being a little proactive? A picture of a book- This could easily be a Manual for making explosives. The parents may well be international terrorists in which case they have no civil rights anyways. Drawings of apples and bananas- Go back to the picture of a balloon. Do you really think the child is drawing friut? Hardly! Check the shape of that banana again. Clearly this is an indication of a child under great duress in the home and there is no such thing as overeaction here.

Teachers and CAS workers you have been blessed with little or no accountability for a reason. Your judgement, experience and education are almost second to none. Do not hesitate to impose your values and judgements on others. Be forever vigilant because there is evil in the world and you are the true superheroes.