PokÉmon ­ Is it right for your family?
by Sheri Wallace

"They found it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork when they had the cards in their backpacks," says Janice Atchison, school secretary at Armstrong Academy.

Kelsi Bozzo, 7, is also not allowed to bring the cards to school. She attends Fountain of Life Lutheran School and their policy is to confiscate cards that are brought to school.

"If the teacher finds out that you even have the cards in your backpack, she takes them and they're hers!" says Kelsi who also commented that she and her friends understand the rule. "Some kids were playing the cards all the time and not listening to the teacher."

Kelsi is one of the myriad of children whose parents have tried to take a middle of the road approach when it comes to Pokémon. She is allowed to watch the cartoon in the mornings as long as it doesn't interfere with getting ready for school. Her parents have also purchased some of the trading cards for Kelsi, but say Kelsi must earn the cards.

"We have purchased a few of the cards for her, but she hasn't had that much interest in earning them, " says Dawn Bozzo, Kelsi's mom.