The assignment was for a 5th
grade class. After checking in, getting the paperwork and key, the admin lady
noted a name on the attendance list and told me: "Do not let him use
the stapler unsupervised. He tends to eat the staples".
The
teacher in the adjoining classroom repeated this warning: They think it's a
form of Pica but the
doctors are not sure. I had to look it up. It's an actual thing.
"He
has actually swallowed some so you really have to watch him. He is not allowed
to have staples or a stapler in or on his desk."
This
isn't the first time I've experienced weird things kids do. Three years ago there
was a kid inserting
a rock up his nose to see if it would fit!
As
I take roll, I take note which face and desk goes with "staple eater".
As the day progresses things go pretty much without incident. I did have to
quietly motion to him to not chew on his pencil or eraser.
I
did let slide when he switched to the arm of his sweatshirt and later to his
thumb. I was pretty sure he couldn't completely swallow either one.
