23 FEB 07: THE NO-PAPER TRAIL

Tuesday's blog entry was absolutely NOT written with a sequel in mind. But one developed Thursday, far from the table where I filled out tax forms. This new case shows there are times and places when paper still comes in handy - such as a restroom stall.

Did you hear about what the administrators did at a middle school in Valley? They removed all the (ahem) toilet paper from the restrooms, in an act of punishment. Some students might wish this was done in the classroom - because it would end pop quizzes.

The bathroom tissue was taken out at W.F. Burns Middle School because some girls decided to roll the restroom. Aw c'mon - how else are you supposed to train future Auburn University students?

Once the bathroom tissue was removed, middle school students had to ask the teacher for some if they needed to relieve themselves. And parent Brandi Worthy says children were given only a few sheets. This could give a whole new meaning to the phrase, "roll your own."

Brandi Worthy told the evening news she understands the need to punish middle school students for rolling the restroom. But she says the action by W.F. Burns administrators went too far, because toilet paper is "not a privilege." It's NOT?! Then she needs to hear my Pastor at church - who preached a couple of weeks ago about the days of Sears catalogs.

Brandi Worthy says students were humiliated by having to ask the teacher for bathroom tissue. In her words, "It's not a prison." How many students laughed at that statement - including the straight-A students, who have to endure repeat lectures for the rest of a class?

What makes this punishment even more interesting is what the principal of W.F. Burns Middle School has posted on the school's web site. Priscella Holley's tips for school success include: "Keep your child well stocked with school supplies. All workers must have the proper tools!" You'd think that includes "doing a good job" in the restroom....

(Another one of the principal's tips says: "Expect to see samples of school work regularly." No, I refuse to go there....)

It turns out this is not the first bathroom vandalism problem at W.F. Burns Middle School. Soap dispensers were pulled off the walls removed awhile back, so students now have to use hand sanitizers in classrooms. Did a science class do a germ experiment, to see if those things really work?

The Chambers County School Superintendent says as of the end of Thursday's school day, the bathroom tissue was restored at W.F. Burns Middle School. So the rationing is over - which should make for some interesting class discussions about World War II.

I've heard other strange stories about school restrooms in this area. A few years ago, a Smiths Station woman told me parents had to provide toiletries for the restrooms because Lee County Schools did not. I presumed this was due to budget cuts - but now I'm wondering if students were washing each other's mouths out with soap.

During my school years, the worse bathroom vandalism I recall other than graffiti was the "paper towels over the drain" trick. I never understood why some students did that - because they weren't Bounty towels, so they'd leak all that water sooner or later.

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION returns from a long hiatus, to ask what you think about the punishment at this Valley middle school. Should students be deprived of toilet paper, if they leave a mess in a restroom? Or is this asking for trouble - such as pages ripped out of textbooks by desperate children?

BLOG SPECIAL EVENT: Here it is - the first entry in our project to give the Aflac duck a name:

Richard,

I think the obvious would be Danny the Duck, as in Dan Amos, but that's not my entry.

I'm gonna say Alfred. Yes, Alfred the Aflac Duck.

-Chuck Leonard-

So it could be Alfred, as in "What, Me Worry? I've got that insurance!"

We're looking for your duck name suggestions as well, so please send them to us. Now let's check other interesting items from Thursday:

+ The sun came out in Columbus, with a high temperature of 77 degrees F. Could it be possible? Could the Leadoff Classic softball tournament beginning today will have nice weather? No wait, they're playing Sunday....

+ Auburn Mayor Bill Ham delivered his annual "State of the City" address. He did it in front of a sign which said, "Auburn: The Alabama you need to know." What's that supposed to mean? Do I draw wrong conclusions, if all I see is Phenix City?

+ Dawson Mayor Joseph Allbritten was arrested in Dooly County on drunk driving charges. It's his second DUI arrest in a couple of years - yet there's no better time to be Allbritten's friend. Remember last time, when he wound up with a $500,000 lottery ticket? [True!]

+ Senator Johnny Isakson spoke to the Georgia General Assembly, and revealed he helped weld a fence at the Arizona-Mexico border a couple of weeks ago. So he's moved from "Rock the Boat Johnny" to "Weld the Bolt Johnny."

+ Speaking of boats, the Georgia Senate voted unanimously to revoke the drivers' licenses of people who abandon their boats. Please give your vessels a polite funeral - such as playing "Taps" as you let them sink in the river.

+ The Columbus Cottonmouths handled Huntsville at home 5-2. It was your typical Columbus-Huntsville game -- with a Havoc player knocked out by a hard check, Columbus Civic Center security escorting away a rowdy fan, and Mike Vee on WEAM-AM suggesting the referee let players fight if it's a "mutual decision."

(The Cottonmouths now have won nine consecutive games at the Civic Center. But thankfully, no one is calling Coach Jerome Bechard's home rink the "Boom-Boom Room.")

+ Instant Message to the woman who stared at me, as she turned left at 8^th and Broadway: My car had a yield sign. You didn't have a stop sign on Broadway. So I was doing the right thing, by declining to go first. Were you expecting me to drive like a NASCAR addict or something?

SONG OF THE DAY: It's amazing what can come to mind as you scan the TV dial - such as I did Thursday at 12:00 noon, starting with "PBS Kids" on channel 28:

I love you - you love me.

We're a great big family.

But then I turn to Doctor Phil and see

Families act dysfunctionally!

COMING THIS WEEKEND: Thoughts on a blogger who's just been sentenced to prison.... and which local reporter is leaving now?....

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