I don't even think this was a mistake ! ... it's not like they, um, really got married, or kissed. It sounds like silly make-believe.

agreed, runningesq! How ridiculous that this even became an issue!

Exactly, Running! It sounds like he was just humoring the kids in their dress up game. Who would complain?

Totally a non-issue. Sounds like it was a fun make-believe recess and he sounds like an awesome teacher for playing with his students... and obviously if one of the kids wanted to fake-marry him, he must be well-liked by his students.

Although I haven't met this man myself, from what I've heard from kids who have had him, he is a cool guy who just likes to have fun. He shouldn't have even apologized. It sounds bad out of context, but it was just a joke. Screw the insecure parents, this guy is legendary.

this doesn't sound malicious or with the perceived intentions.

he sounds like a pretty great teacher to me.... many teachers don't socialize with the kids or play with them at all! these kids obviously like him and he must be great with kids.
people are so quick to complain about EVERY little thing in today's world

Ahh! I thought that he was really married to her LOL.
They're just playing pretend, he's probably indulging her, I mean, I played 'monster' and 'pirate' and anything to my son, and it really doesn't mean anything harm should come to him although I may be chasing him around the house yelling 'arrrgh. I'm going to eat you now!'

I dont think this should have been an issue either. They have play houses and such in the lower grades, its normal to act out the normal things in life,

It's not even something I consider to be a "mistake". He was play-acting with kids. If a woman did that, no one would bat an eyelash. Stuff like this is why there are so few male elementary teachers much to the detriment of our kids.

Give me a break. It's ridiculous that this has even become an issue. Now teachers can't even participate in make-believe. Those parents that made calls to the school should be ashamed of themselves.

I think it's rediculus that he should even have to appologize. He participated in the childrens make believe games, which are a vital part of groving up and children don't believe that they really happened, so why should the parents? I would love my children to have teachers who participated in their games, especially one who was so liked that he was invited to play an important role in them.

I do not teach young kids, but a huge unwritten rule about being a teacher is being fun. If you cannot go along with what your kids are doing, then what kind of teacher are you, really? If I can't participate in friendly banter with my students, and he can't PLAY A GAME with his students, that just sounds ridiculous to me.

When I was in summer camp as a little girl, I "married" a camp counselor named Matt. The girl counselors "married" some little boys too. It's not a big deal because it's not real, and it's all to make the kids feel good. Kids know you don't REALLY get married at school or summer camp. It's a game. It's a non-issue.

Geeze, I wonder what they uptight parents of the world would have had to say about my high school history class, where my teacher hid a fake gun in the closet, and when we did war demonstrations, he would start picking people off. I'm sure they would have had a field day screaming about how he really wanted us dead and how it was inappropriate.

i'm glad the comments reflect my opinion on this - i think it's cute that he played along with the kids - he didn't do anything inapropriate like touch her anywhere other than her hand presumably, so who cares?!?! why the overreaction?

I read this yesterday and thought that it was stupid. People are just being stupid to make him apologize. He was having fun and if teaching can't be fun, who would want to do it?

While I agree that this whole thing is overblown and he should not have to apologize. I did find the graduation gown and white sheet part to be a bit much. Was this whole thing planned? Who brought those items? Impromptu pretend play is fine, even great. But, planning the whole thing and bringing props might be a bit much.

That said, he does sound like a great teacher and the parents are over reacting.

Everything that I wanted to say has already been said -- totally blown out of proportion and ridiculous. Don't they have anything more pressing to worry about -- like adults that are REALLY doing bad things to children? Instead of one that socializes with the kids at recess?

The guy should be promoted, not fired! He was doing EXACTLY what I would want my kid's teachers to do, and what I myself have done as a pre-K teacher.

Oh my goodness, who would call this a mistake? I think this is adorable.

I just hope no one reminds the girl of this later, she'd probably be mortified lol

There was an episode on Army Wives once where this little boy also took one of his mom's friends on a date, I thought it was too cute.

i do not think he should be fired... what is wrong with ppl i think its cute ..jeez whats next

Why are they acting as if he molested the child? It's PRETEND marriage! They're acting as if he really did take a child bride. UGH! People today freak out over the most mundane things, yet things that do pose a danger to their child slip right under their noses.

I'm all for fun at school and have a lot of teacher friends, but a professional "marrying" a fourth grade student seems like a lapse in judgement to me.

sarahinparis - In all the schools I've ever been to, there is an area in the classroom that has a dress-up area. And I would than assume that that area had, well, props. Maybe the graduation gown was donated to the school so the children could pretend and play dress up. Maybe another student brought in the sheet as part of some sort of project, and it made it's was to that area. He was probably already wearing the tie for work. I highly doubt he sat down with the kids before-hand and said "We're going to have a pretend wedding. Does anyone know what we can use for a gown?" Even if he did, I think it's good to educate children on the events that happen in the culture that they live in. It was creative.

Anonymous - I completely agree that if it was a female teacher, we would never even have heard a thing about it.

It wasn't a mistake, and he shouldn't have apologized. It makes people think he did something wrong. Far from it. He was acting like teachers should act, being there for his students and showing them that he cared. (Rather than standing on the sidelines and ignoring them.) I'd much prefer the former for my child! It's really a shame that the people who truly love children and that would be good influences for them, are shying away from anything to do with them anymore. Just because of ridiculous stuff like this!!

I don't get what the problem is. They were playing it's not like they actually got married or did anything wrong.

So... he put on a graduation gown, had one of his students say a few words (I assume they had some sort of "officiant") and ran down a ramp holding hands with one of his 10 yr old students? If I were a parent with a child in this classroom, I'd wonder why I was even called on the phone or sent a letter about this. IT'S A GAME. A one time game the he went along with at the end of the year (I read a longer article) after much class discussion. Really? This is what we're worried about?

I don't think this represents a "lapse in judgment" at all, unless the lapse to which they are referring is the teacher seeming to prefer one female student over the others. But in light of the entirety of the story, even that argument falls flat. If I had been this teacher, I wouldn't have apologized for a lapse in judgment; I would have apologized that my actions had been so taken out of context and my genuine affection and respect for my students had been so twisted that my recent behavior required explanation.

@ Lilsugar: Your comment doesn't make sense. The school day is set for a specific length for this budget cycle already, so regardless of any upcoming cuts, a playground game played at the very end of this now closed school year - that couldn't have lasted more than a half hour, if that - is irrelevant to any upcoming "budget cuts."

I dont understand the budget cuts thing either..? Its not like budget cuts are significantly reducing the amount of time children spend in school, its always the same, and there have always been extra activities other then just straight book learning...clubs, and things like Clue Me In, and especially for the younger children make believe and pretend activities.

I feel really badly for him that HE feels badly for it. I changed schools aproximately 1-3 times a year, and i can tell you now, 15 years later, that the only classes that really stood out for me and meant something were at 11 and 12 years old, (5th and 6th grade). Our 5th grade class had its own currency and economy. We were allowed to do basically whatever we wanted.. I had a gift card business, which sounds strange and lame for an 11 year old, but i can tell you i was the richest kid in that class. I sold cards by the day, had a layaway plan, and the most solid impact anyone had made with the money. Other kids had art supplies, school supplies, chocolate, etc, You name it. We were able to purchase things from the teachers store, either for our selves or resell..it was really awesome. I think of it and mentally thank him more then i ever thought i would.

The second class was when we had a mock murder trial in 6th grade. We had all of the components of a regular trial, and we acted it out, slowly, and with examining all of the "evidence", etc.

It makes me sad that in a time where we need as many good influences for our children as possible, that we are blowing good things out of proportion.

I am a teacher. And my male 3/4/5 year olds always ask me to marry them. They bring me flowers. They bring me fake cookies and cakes. Almost every day in the sandbox they hold a sandcake birthday party for me. And of course I play along. I would even participate in a fake marriage. There is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with a fake marriage on the playground. It's not as if this teacher asked his student to marry him and kidnapped her off to Vegas. The little girl asked him and probably would have been really upset if he'd said no. I don't think I would ever have the heart to disappoint a child like that. And fourth graders especially would be upset, and that's just not fair. I think it's crazy how careful male teachers have to be, that they have to deny a fake marriage or face the ring of fire. I understand the need for caution, I really do - for both male teachers AND female teachers, but it's when things like this get blown out of proportion that just makes it silly nonsense. If this had been a female teacher, no complaint would ever have been made. And female teachers have messed up before, just as bad as some male teachers.

As far as the "pre-planned" thing, I'm sure it wasn't pre-planned, when my kids ask me to do soemthing, like the time we went on a time machine back to the ages of dinosaurs, I left them with another staff to grab a few things. We teachers tend to think quick on the spot, and so do fourth graders.

This is really just ridiculous, and I just wish that my male teacher when I was her age, had have been like this teacher was, instead of the ass that I got. And I think my mom would have been a lot happier too, he caused me so much grief. My mom would have been thrilled to hear that I was actually ENJOYING going to school and enjoying my teacher, and she would have been thrilled that he was humouring me.

This is really nonsense, he shouldn't have to apologize, this was no mistake, it was him being involved in the crucial imaginative play of a child, and there is no mistake in that. I'm sad that he apologized for it, and that now the children at his school won't get to experience how wonderful of a teacher he seems to be because (not that he probably didn't before) now he is going to feel that he needs to be EXTREMELY careful with anything he does or says, and now he'll think twice about participating with his students, just because some parents got their knickers all in a twist.

I see no reason for him to have to apologize. What better way to make a child feel important than to single that child out and make them a bride? He did not consumate their "marriage" by touching her in any way. Instead, he ran down a ramp with her! I hope my future children have teachers like this one.

Its ridiculous that firing him was even considered!!! Its called PLAYING! I highly doubt the child was in love with the teacher or feels that they are really married now. Who exactly got harmed according to these people?

I find it inappropriate. "Fun" is playing dodgeball or catch during recess, not getting married (fake or not). I would be uncomfortable with this man as my child's teacher.

I am a mother of a 4th grade girl, and I dont think he even made a mistake. When I was her age I "married" my uncle. When I was younger I "married" the little boy up the street. I wore my moms white summer dress and had a sheet on my head. Its what children do. And honestly I would rather have a teacher who allows our children to still be children and live in their little world of make believe. They are only young once and with what they already see in our world, let them make belive, let them be children, and remember they really are innocent.

I think it's crazy that this is even an issue! I certainly wouldn't have complained as a parent. All teachers are different and, to me, this one sounds like fun! There are absolutely no suggestions of inappropriate behaviour here.

To a fourth grader, a wedding is a boy and girl dressing up, saying they love each other, and having a fun party. Sounds fun! Adults (misguided ones, in my opinion) are seeing something sexual, and I find that sad. Embrace make believe (or at least know the difference between it and reality),

This is totally a non-issue. This is not even a "mistake!" Little girls love to play make-believe...always have, always will. I remember my little girl telling my husband she wanted to "marry" him...it is a little girl's way of expressing sweet, innocent, trusting, pure LOVE. And my husband, said, "Sure, honey, I'll marry you." NO ONE thought ANYTHING about this except what it was...a sweet, make-believe, little-girl-kind-of-thing that just meant she loved her father. I think it's sick to make this into something more than what it is and it destroys innocence. That little girl who asked her teacher to marry her, when she is a little older, may suffer guilt if that man is fired and it could affect her the rest of her life...especially if other kids blame her. I just can't imagine how anyone would want to fire this man. He sounds like he will make a wonderful father one day because he "gets" little girls and their penchant for make-believe! I truly feel sorry for this teacher because he was just being a good teacher and role model. And I feel sorry for the little girl because she may be afraid to show how much she cares or express love to people in the future, if she gets blamed by her classmates (and their parents) for this teacher losing his job. I'm ALL for keeping kids safe from inappropriate/dangerous adults. This is just NOT one of those cases where the adult is dangerous or inappropriate.

In regard to all the "wondering" why there was a graduation gown, sheet, etc. there for the "ceremony," my girls have always attended schools where there were accessories/clothing/costumes/props for plays, playing dress-up, impromptu play, etc. The kids LOVED being able to dress up and act out scenes in a play or just play dress-up with impromptu "roles" in their games of make believe. There is no hidden agenda here, no inappropriate planning, no suspicious behavior, etc.! I just do NOT find it strange at all because we've always had things like that in my children's classrooms, but my children have always attended schools where "the arts" were highly regarded as a vital part of their curriculum, so plays and playing make believe were a part of their everyday school experience.

why is this an issue? do people have nothing better to do then complain about something like a teacher having fun with his students? as long as he didn't kiss her then there is no problem with this!

just think, if he did say no and didn't go along with it, he probably would have gotten in trouble for not being a good teacher.

I guess now a days you can never win, EVER

While I don't think he should be fired, I do think it was a lapse in judgment. If I had a kid who told me their male teacher "married" a student, you can be sure it sounds a little off to me, even if their intentions were innocent.

I've read many comments in response to this issue, and I'm surprised the majority of responders have softened the issue. It seems this teacher is well liked, but he crossed a professional line. Teachers make mistakes, they are human; but this veteran teacher should not have encouraged the act, harmless or not. There are multiple opportunities to create fun in the classroom, I just don't see the "cuteness" in this.

What line did he cross? He participated in a silly game and I am sure all of the students thought it was pretty funny! The line would have been crossed if these were gr.7, or 8 students who are no longer in the make believe stage; but these are 10 yr old kids who at this stage love school and their teacher! Shame on the parents for being so overbearing!

Mr.Rosenblum is one of my favorite teachers!!!!! He is a happy-go-lucky, loving, fun, silly guy. But also one of the most responsible teachers I know! It was just a silly make-believe thing. He loves to entertain his kids that way. He loves his kids and his kids love him, (but not quite enough to marry him, of course.)