public function addElement($element_name, $type, $contents, $attr_collections, $attributes = array())
    {
        $module = $this->getAnonymousModule();
        // assume that if the user is calling this, the element
        // is safe. This may not be a good idea
        $element = $module->addElement($element_name, $type, $contents, $attr_collections, $attributes);
        return $element;
    }