This photo of school pupils signing out by writing on each other’s shirt is trending.

The act is being condemned. People are making it seem like the world is going to h£ll because a bunch of kids used markers on their white t-shirts.

And I’m here trying to understand the outrage.

What those kids did is simply called Autograph Day or Signing Day.

It has been around for years.
Just a way of marking the end of a school year.

And most importantly to capture memories of friends and classmates in a way that allows them to cherish those special moments shared in school for a long time.

There’s no age limit to preserving memories in whichever art form.

See, there’s a storeroom in our family house in Lagos that’s packed with memorabilia from my primary and secondary school years.

Even as little as drawings on scrap sheets that I used in entertaining my friends (I was quite a good artist in primary school *raises shoulder*).

I would often portray my friends as characters in my drawings.

Whenever I visit home, I always go to that room just to take it all in – the memories.

Sometimes I get teary when I see my 8/9/10-year-old inscriptions and drawings on the inside of notebook covers.
There’s something about seeing the few things left of your younger self, however stupid they are.

So please, let’s not demonize an activity that served to preserve the joy, laughter, and experiences those school kids shared with their mates.

Children are not too young to sign on each other’s white shirts.

That there’s some sort of rascality people attach to signing out doesn’t diminish the intended purpose.

Look closely at the photo and you’d see their names, ‘I Love You’ ‘Basic 2’. Cute stuff!

Intelligent parents who know what sentimental value is all about will carefully preserve those shirts for their kids, so they can always appreciate their nursery or primary 6 Graduation Day – and those who were part of that journey.

Finally, everybody wants to be m@d at something or someone for the littlest reason.
People be looking for something to call out just to be politically correct.

Let’s calm down abeg.

BTV reporting