I know you’re kidding, but you touch on a very real point that I think will pass unnoticed by many. You know that this will be in predominantly poor schools. Schools that are attended mostly by people of color. I’m reluctant to make generalizations, but I have encountered far more children of color afraid of or anxious around dogs of any size relative to white children. I don’t know all the reasons why, but my gut says to blame the use of police dogs against people in their neighborhood, in their families, and people on TV that look like them. Maybe my experience is anecdotal and my experience is not the norm, but I no longer assume that all children will be friendly with or calmed by interaction with a dog, even a very calm friendly dog. Having grown up with dogs, it’s hard to empathize with that, but I try to be sympathetic. These dogs are only there to instill fear in kids from a young age and to train them to abdicate their dwindling rights to the people in power.
Even white, privileged kids can be afraid of dogs. My daughter’s friend, who is white and at least middle class, is terrified of our dogs. She won’t come over to our house.
Admittedly, one is 60 pounds, but the other is only 15 pounds and is basically a cuddle machine. She’s terrified of both of them.
I don’t disagree with you in fact, but this comment is what-about-ism and arguing a straw-man since I never claimed privileged kids couldn’t be afraid of dogs. As a result, it comes off a little racist, regardless of your hopefully we’ll meaning intentions.
