As so many are aware, our 7 year old daughter, Kinsley had a recent bad experience when she was asked by a teacher to colour a picture of a dog. When Kinsley began to colour the dog blue(Kinsley lives with 2 Multi CH. blue Great Danes); the teacher took it from her; ripped it up in front of the class and embarrassed Kinsley further by stating in front of the whole class that 'dogs do not come in the colour blue.' In posting this experience on my FB wall, within minutes a 'buzz' had been created by the outpouring of support, outrage, shock and also quite a few other stories from parents of children having been exposed to moments in their own lives by bad teaching practises. Others related their own experiences of childhood traumatic experiences at the hands of whom parents entrusted their children to teach and guide with honour, integrity and compassion in a caring, educational, supportive, encouraging and knowledgeable, openly communicative professional manner.
Due to the all the comments plus ideas presented by Samantha plus Mila; the Kinsley's 'BLUE DOG EXPERIENCE' Fundraiser was thus born!
This is going to serve several very important and crucial purposes:
1) Kinsley will continue to be publicly supported by the continued awareness being sent her way that what she did was not wrong. Many breeds (Chows, Kerri Blue Terriers, Great Danes, Dobermans and Blue Belton English Setters are just some of the breeds to come in `blue`) come in blue yet it should not have mattered if she coloured this dog polka dots, stripes or even plaid. The instruction from the teacher was to colour a picture of a dog, not of a BLACK dog, not of BROWN dog nor of a GREEN WITH PURPLE Dog.
2) With this public display of support given by friends, family and community; Kinsley's self-esteem and confidence will receive a positive boost so that she can continue being imaginative plus creative. Those that have had conversations with her know that one of her plans for the future involved – wanting to live in her castle with the rainbow drawbridge that her brother Mason and her father Sean will help build and have a space ship to take everyone on a trip around the moon, land for a bit on the moon and then head off to McDonald's in time for lunch! Do we really want to be be curbing this type of imagination and creativity in children this young?
3) With any donation given to BHRR for this Fundraiser – animals in need of BHRR will be assisted – Kinsley defined the animals in need as being 'blue' with sadness and pain before they are rescued and made happy and healthy.
4) YOU as the donator – any amount appreciated – will be sent A) a 'blue dog' stencil – THANKS to Sean, Sam, James and Sally who helped with the dog stencils – 5 for you to choose from – email BHRR after you send your donation for Kinsley to email you the 5 stencil types for you to make your selection from for Kinsley to then 'blue' colour for you AND B) you shall also receive a ONE-OF-A-KIND signed Kinsley Boers 'BLUE DOG' Experience artistic dog creation! So, 2 BLUE DOG EXPERIENCE creative pieces will be mailed your way. All blue crayons, pencil sticks, markers, stamps & s&h will be paid by us, Kinsley's Mom & Dad. 🙂
NOTE: This Fundraiser of Kinsley's shall run until December 31st, 2010.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
PayPal(account gwen@birchhaven.org) or email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org or a check to 'Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services' and mail to:
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Kinsley Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1T0
CANADA
Update: October 26th, 2010: I will be matching the total amount raised so get those donations in if you wish me to only be able to afford to eat PB sandwiches for a very long time! :)-
Donations to date: $530
Kinsley's 'BLUE DOG' EXPERIENCE Friends:
Barry
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jan
Chelsea
Allison & Don
Anonymous
Nairn
Alex & Karen
Anonymous
Mary
Mila
Nairn
Katie
Kinsleys TWO Blue Great Danes – MULTI CH. Bronson & MULTI CH. TAIN