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Have those who are charged with the education of our children all been infected with some mind-numbing virus? To read reports coming in from schools around the country that would appear to be the case.

According to a February 24, 2006 report filed by KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa, "Two students have been suspended from East High School for writing a leaflet that claims Black History Month and the establishment of the NAACP are racist."

On February 20 there was an Associated Press report that a 12-year-old girl is fighting charges filed by school officials that she committed battery on another student when he was hit in the face by a ball she kicked during a game of Dodge Ball. Five other students who were charged with the same offense accepted probation.

A Boston Globe story in its February 9 edition reports school officials charged a first grade student with sexual harassment and placed him on suspension after he inadvertently placed two fingers inside the waistband of a female student's pants during playground activities.

In recent years such unexplainable actions by teachers and elected school officials have grown from an occasional act frustrating parents to almost constant topics of commentary and media reports. There have even been some serious reports that decades of political correctness, feminism and overprotection of children have created educators so mind numbed they are acting contrary to the well-being of our children.

Third grade students at Allis Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin were directed by their teacher to write and mail letters to the government insisting that they halt the war in Iraq.

In Everett, Washington the school district cancelled the high school production of the play "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" The play, which is set in a diner, features a chubby waitress, a busty drifter, a disabled gas station owner and a delusional veteran. The school board said the characters were degrading and demeaning and sent a message not everyone would understand.

In St. Petersburg, Florida they are ending the tradition of "Show and Tell" because teachers want to avoid creating self-esteem problems for children who don't bring interesting items.

In Portland, Oregon they are not reading the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because it is insensitive and Black students are uncomfortable reading the Mark Twain classic.

In East Providence, Rhode Island the school district policy expressly forbids teasing, emotional abuse and harmful gossip. Decorations specific to any winter holiday are banned from public schools in Yonkers, New York and in Boulder, Colorado school officials denied the formation of a Bible club as not related to curriculum, while at the same time allowing a Gay/Straight Alliance club as being part of the health education curriculum.

Across the country those charged with the mental and physical development of our children are banning such traditional games as Tag, Hide & Seek, Dodge ball, and Red Rover. The justification for these actions to remove dangerous play for the schoolyard is not to avoid physical injuries, but because the games could be harmful to some children's self esteem. Some children are the last to be picked for teams. Other children are not athletically inclined. Those running our schools don't want these children to suffer hurt feelings. Thus, all students are restricted from many traditional games and contests.

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