A dad was left outraged when his daughter came home from school with a ‘disgusting’ gift for him.
In a startling turn of events, an elementary school has issued a public apology following an incident that left a father in shock over a controversial gift his six-year-old daughter brought home.
The young girl, eager to share her school project, proudly presented her creation to her father, only for him to be rendered speechless by its inappropriate nature.
The situation quickly escalated, drawing attention from the local community and prompting a swift response from school officials.
This incident has sparked a broader discussion about educational oversight, the appropriateness of school activities, and the importance of safeguarding the emotional well-being of young students.
Trent Howard, from Perth, Australia, was given a printed activity die as a gift from his six-year-old child, intended to lift his spirits.
Each side of the die featured a food or item suggestion designed to bring some cheer. One example included a banana, described as “for the days when you have gone round the bend.”
However, one particular suggestion left Howard completely stunned.
In an interview with 9News, he expressed his outrage: “To create this and distribute it—disgusting. ‘If you’ve had enough, shoot yourself’—what else could that possibly mean?”
He added, “I have a weird sense of humor, but that doesn’t belong in anyone’s sense of humor.”
Howard’s wife, Renea, also spoke to the outlet, explaining that a teacher had told her it was intended as a joke.
“They wanted to be funny—that’s what I gathered from what the teacher said,” she explained. “But it wasn’t funny. It’s completely inappropriate for kids to be exposed to such a serious topic in a joking manner without any support or context.”
Following the incident, the Department of Education told 9News that the activity was “clearly not thought through” and demonstrated “a serious lack of judgment.”
The school has since apologized and assured that the activity will never be repeated.
Howard expressed his frustration, stating, “We need change everywhere in society. We have suicide in our families. It’s not cool. It needs to stop.”
Psychologists warn that careful language is crucial when communicating with and around children.
Shockingly, one of the suggestions allegedly read: “A bullet to take when all else fails.”
The Howard family has lodged a formal complaint with the school, arguing that the gift promotes harmful messaging.
Perth-based psychologist and counselor Bailey Bosch emphasized that children “can take things very literally” and may struggle to express their distress.
She adds: “Let’s also remember there are adults around that could be completely triggered by some words such as bullets or death.
