This rule is a stretch!
An Upper West Side elementary-school principal is banning colorful rubber-band bracelets, claiming the jewelry-making fad is a classroom distraction that causes fights on the playground.
“The children are playing with the bracelets during class without permission from teachers. [They] are playing with them at recess, and it is causing conflict between children,” PS 87 Principal Suzan Federici wrote in a letter announcing the ban.
“Therefore, starting immediately, your children are no longer allowed to bring any Rainbow Loom bracelets or the kits to school,” the letter notes.
Under the new rule, any kid caught with one of the plastic- bracelet-making kits must surrender it to a teacher, Federici notes.
But students and parents — who claim it’s just good, creative fun — say sporting a bracelet shouldn’t prompt a slap on the wrist.
“This is ridiculous. There is nothing illicit about Rainbow Looms,” said one PS 87 parent.
Another added sarcastically, “Unreal. Those unruly kids.”
Pint-sized Loom-lovers were even more outraged, claiming they should be allowed to get crafty in between classes.
“I think it’s horrible. We should be able to have them at least at recess,” said Cee Krell, 8, a fourth-grader at PS 87.
Other kids at the school called the rule too strict.
“It’s not fair. They said kids were arguing over them, but they weren’t. Now we can’t wear them at all,” said Daria, a fifth-grader.
The multicolored bracelets are made using a plastic kit, which helps kids stretch the bands into patterned bracelets.
The bracelets are all the rage among grade-school-age kids, who often trade and give away the jewelry much like the classic threaded “friendship bracelet.”
The upscale private school Greenwich Country Day in Connecticut also banned the bracelets recently, according to parents.
A Department of Education spokesperson noted: “The DOE has no official ban on rainbow loom bracelets. Under the discipline code, it is at the discretion of the principal to prohibit items they feel may be disruptive to the classroom or to a child’s learning.”
Federici didn’t return calls by press time seeking comment.
Other parents called the rule well-intentioned, noting they trust the judgement of teachers.
“If they’re finding it distracting, they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do. It’s too bad though. It’s such a creative thing,” said parent Julie Rosenthal, 45.
A ban might encourage kids to be more active, other parents pointed out. “It’s silly [but] maybe it’s not such a bad thing. During recess, my daughter sits and looms,” said one parent, describing the bracelet-making process.
But PS 87 mom Julie Klam, 46, was quick to point out another downside to the ban.
“Now I have a hundred thousand rubber bands around my house” she said.
Additional reporting by Frank Rosario