It’s a birthday that 9-year-old Hunter Fountain won’t forget but for the wrong reasons. The problem was not that the child — a third-grader at Schall Elementary School in Caro, Mich. — brought cupcakes rather than muffins, which are “healthier,” to school to mark his special day. Rather, it was that each of the confections was decorated with a toy solider.
CBS Detroit reports that the school’s principal, Susan Wright, phoned the birthday boy’s parents and told them the decorations were “insensitive” in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting. Hunter’s mother asked that the plastic figures be removed and that cupcakes be served “neat.” The school complied, sending the dangerous symbols home in a bag.
Wright has refused requests for interviews but said in a statement on Friday:
In the climate of recent events in schools we walk a delicate balance in teaching non-violence in our buildings and trying to ensure a safe, peaceful atmosphere. On one hand, there are those who advocate arming teachers, having armed security guards and creating a fortress of defense in our schools. On the other hand, there are those who feel that guns create fear in schools and we need to put solid security measures in place plus practice routines to be prepared in case an emergency should ever occur. Living in a democratic society entails respect for opposing opinions.
Hunter’s father, Casey, told Townall’s Todd Starnes that he was offended by Wright’s seeming to compare American soldiers with deranged mass murderers. “I support our soldiers and what they stand for,” he said. “These [plastic soldiers] are representations of World War Two soldiers — our greatest generation. If they aren't allowed in our schools — who is?"
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