9-Year-Old Boy is Principal For the Day

NEWTOWN SQUARE–It wasn't an April Fools joke, was in the hands of third grader Eric Rote, 9, last Friday.

Eric's parents recently won a silent auction at a PTO (parent teacher organization) fundraiser in which Eric would be allowed to be principal for the day.

For Eric, being principal for the day was a lifestyle change starting from the morning.

"I had to wear a tie," said Eric, who hasn't worn a tie since his time in kindergarten at a Catholic school and his uncle's wedding. "My teacher helped me put it on before I got called down by [principal] Mr. [James] Orwig."

To make it extra special, Orwig assisted Eric in pinning on a paw print that said, "Cougar Pride." Eric also had to wear a special ID identifying him as principal and carried a leather-bound notebook, where he took notes of various "important things" such as the afternoon announcements.

He admitted he was a little "nervous" at first becoming principal for the day and also felt a little "pressured" to meet his peers' and teachers' expectations.

"Everyone kept asking me: 'Can we do this?' and 'Can we do that?' Even teachers asked me if they could do things," laughed Eric.

One request from a teacher included a school-wide movie and a request from his friends went as far as requesting a laser-tag day.

Although he didn't approve of those requests, some of Eric's favorite highlights of the day included eating pizza and calling down his friend and his friend's sister to chat and hang out, saying the afternoon announcements and giving the update of the Phillies score over the intercom.

And, as principal, Eric did show his classmates some love by allowing his entire grade watch the Phillies game that afternoon. And a little fun for himself couldn't hurt. Eric found himself at the school gymansium climbing on ropes, and trying out the balance beam and parallel bars.

But it wasn't all fun and games as principal. Eric recalled, after his time at the gym, he had heard crying in the special education classroom and went over to help the student crying.

"I wasn't sure why he was crying but I wanted to help him," said Eric. "So we played a game together and I think that made him smile."

Eric admitted it was tough trying to "make all the right decisions." Under his signature, Eric approved a field trip to the Franklin Institute for three special education students.

"I didn't know if the school had enough money for it [field trip] and how much money the school had but I signed it because I didn't want them to be disappointed," explained Eric.

All in all, it was a memorable day for Eric and one he can write down in his own leather-bound notebook of the experience. And if he could do it again, Eric said he would but "only if Mr. Orwig didn't have so many meetings."

If his coffee shops in Paris and Vienna don't work out, Eric said he would like to be a principal in the future but "probably in Hawaii."