A father was left stunned and deeply upset when his young daughter returned home from school with a gift that he found completely unacceptable. The elementary school responsible for the project quickly faced backlash, ultimately issuing a public apology after the controversy gained widespread attention.
The incident, which unfolded in Perth, Australia, has ignited concerns about the appropriateness of classroom activities and the level of oversight exercised by educators when designing projects for young children. The father, Trent Howard, was horrified when he examined the seemingly innocent Father’s Day gift his daughter had brought home—a printed activity dice featuring various messages. While some of the dice’s sides contained lighthearted, playful messages, one particular phrase left Howard in utter disbelief.
A Gift Meant to Cheer Up Turns Into a Shocking Incident
The dice was intended as a fun and uplifting gesture, containing humorous phrases designed to match different moods. For example, one side featured a picture of a banana, accompanied by the phrase “For the days when you have gone round the bend.” However, another side bore a far more disturbing message, which Howard found to be deeply unsettling.
Upon reading the phrase, Howard was appalled. In an interview, he expressed his outrage: “To create this and hand it out to children—disgusting. The message was clear: ‘If you’ve had enough, shoot yourself.’ How else could anyone interpret that?”
He continued, “I have a dark sense of humor myself, but there are lines that should never be crossed. This is beyond inappropriate. It’s not something that should be handed to any child, in any context.”
A Teacher’s Explanation Only Adds to the Outrage
Howard’s wife, Renea, also voiced her concerns, recalling that when she confronted the school about the gift, a teacher attempted to downplay the situation. According to her, the teacher explained that the dice had been designed as a joke and was never meant to be taken seriously.
“The teacher told me it was meant to be funny,” Renea shared. “But there’s absolutely nothing funny about making light of something as serious as this. It’s inappropriate on every level, and it’s beyond me how this was ever approved as a classroom activity.”
Psychologists and mental health professionals have since weighed in, warning that language surrounding sensitive topics must be handled with extreme care, especially when children are involved. Perth-based psychologist and counselor Bailey Bosch emphasized how literal young children can be.
“Kids don’t always have the ability to understand nuance,” Bosch explained. “They might not realize something is meant as a joke, and if they’re struggling with their emotions, words like these can have a much greater impact than we might expect.”
She also noted that it isn’t just children who could be affected. “Even for adults, certain words or phrases can be incredibly triggering. Something like this should never have made it into a classroom.”
The School’s Apology and Public Outcry
As the story began to circulate and more people expressed their outrage, the school was forced to address the issue. The Department of Education acknowledged that the activity was a serious lapse in judgment, admitting that the dice had “clearly not been thought through” and that the situation highlighted “a failure in proper oversight.”
Following the backlash, the school formally apologized to the Howard family and assured them that such an activity would never be repeated.
Howard, however, believes that more needs to be done.
“We need change across the board. This isn’t just about a single incident—it’s about making sure schools understand the weight of their words and actions. Suicide is something that has affected so many families, including ours. It’s not a joke. It’s not something that should be treated lightly. This has to stop.”
A Stark Reminder of the Importance of Mindful Communication
Shockingly, another option on the dice allegedly suggested: “A bullet to take when all else fails.” This added another layer of concern for the Howard family, as they felt the gift was not just inappropriate but actively harmful.
They have since lodged an official complaint against the school, arguing that the distribution of such a gift could contribute to dangerous messaging among children.
Mental health advocates have echoed their concerns, emphasizing that children should never be exposed to messaging that could normalize or make light of serious issues like self-harm.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly harmless classroom activities must be reviewed with a critical eye. Whether intentional or not, careless wording can have real consequences, and educational institutions must take greater responsibility in ensuring the emotional safety of the children they teach.