Posted on 06/14/2007 8:18:08 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
INDIANAPOLIS -- Sixth-grader Matt Porter didn't enjoy getting "Most Likely Not To Have Children" and "Sir Clowns-a-Lot" awards from two teachers at his school.
His parents aren't pleased, either.
Matt said he received the awards in front of classmates during a ceremony at the Decatur Intermediate Learning Center at the end of the recently finished school year. His mother and his stepfather have asked the Decatur Township school system to reprimand the teachers, and they want an apology.
"Words cut deeper than any knife could. They hurt," said his stepfather, Joseph Sims. "When you hurt a child like that, you not only hurt him mentally, but it does hurt physically because you withdraw within yourself. That is what Matthew has done."
The certificates were signed by the teachers who distributed them. Matt recalled what the ceremony was like.
"I was standing in the middle of (the two teachers), and they (were) reading them off," he said. "Everyone was laughing."
Matt felt humiliated.
"They (were) putting us down and everything," he said. "That is not what their job is for, to put kids down. They are supposed to teach us."
Amy Sims, Matt's mother, said she met with a school official over the matter but was not satisfied with the response.
"She just told me that the teachers would call and apologize to him, and we've not heard anything at all," Amy Sims said.
Gary Pellico, spokesman for the school system, declined to say whether the teachers have been disciplined. He said system officials regret the incident.
"We don't feel like it was an appropriate awards ceremony at all," Pellico said. "It wasn't part of the school's award ceremony, and it will not happen again."
Amy Sims said her son needs counseling because of the awards. The school has offered it, but an agreement on who will provide it has not been reached, Thomas reported.
I matured very early and had reached my full height (5'7") at age 10 - I was also on the heavy side (thankfully, the weight kind of fell off once I hit middle school), but at that age, I towered over all my classmates, had full-blown acne, and a woman's body. Needless to say, I stood out of the crowd. To complicate matters, I was also a klutz, and had broken both my ankle and wrist that year.
My PE teacher in 5th & 6th grade was a little bitty ex-gymnast with a nasty disposition. She riduculed me constantly over my lack of athletic ability in our endless sessions on tumbling, balance beam and parallel bars. At the end of the year, she informed me that she'd be presenting me with the "Cripple of the Year" award at the ceremony where they were going to pass out the Presidential fittness awards. I was sick to my stomach for a week at the thought. Of course, she actually never went though with it, but it was a truly miserable experience. Adults should know better, but sadly, not all do.
THAT IS NOT A JOKE! And teachers have no place joking at the expense of kids. I call it bullying. Especially with the lame awards they gave to kids that didn’t deserve anything.
I agree. You have to be really careful about humilitating kids. I don't see the problem with "Sir Clowns A Lot," but I guess you have to know the context. Not Having Children seems to be abusive to me.
There are better ways to have fun at children's expense if you need the humor--and I understand that teachers might. My daughter's fourth grade teacher gave all the children nicknames. Hers was princess. He told me once in conference that she thought that was flattering. Knowing my daughter as I do, I thought it was hilarious and richly deserved. The teacher took a chance on telling me that. But she never knew...
‘The Happiest Days of Our Lives’ by Pink Floyd (from The Wall).
Well, when we grew up and went to school,
There were certain teachers,
Who would hurt the children in any way they could,
By pouring their derision,
Upon anything we did,
Exposing every weakness,
However carefully hidden by the kids.
personally, i loathe awards that mean nothing... awards are something for which to strive... on the other hand, i want my kids to be able to take a joke... it's a balance... what to do, what to do... i can see giving a child "Sir Clowns A lot" if that child is a clown... however, the "Least Likely to have Children" was in poor taste...
Ah, yes, let’s teach our children that it’ ok to humiliate, insult and riducule. Not sure what this kid did to deserve these “awards” but this is not the route to take, kidding or not kidding, imo, it’s not the least bit humorous. “most likely not to have kids” what the hell does that mean, the kid is only in the six grade for God sakes........teachers should THINK before they decide to do something they think is “cute” or “funny”...........
Sort of like when Homer Simpson missed out on Employee of the Week, after every other employee had won, when he was beaten by Inanimate Carbon Rod.
Excellent post. It's one thing for kids to tease or mock each other...that's part of growing up...it's wrong for adults, especially teachers to do it.
I have no respect for FReepers who think it's OK for teachers to act like children.
Well, we don't know that for sure. Sir Clowns-a-lot sounds like it's all in good fun, it's the other one that bothers me.
I coach my grandson's basketball team and I always give out some silly awards as well as some genuine ones at the end of the season. "Biggest hot dog" gets a big hot dog hat, "Most likely to be late" (for practice or a game) gets a $5 SpongeBob watch, etc. I think awards like this build comaraderie and team spirit.
It is OFF LIMITS to point out such things. Just as “fatty” is an acceptable insult in this PC world. Supposed to shame them from overeating I guess.
Bow to liberalism if you want.
I don’t like double standards in this politicized world.
I have pictures around here somewhere of my two boys when they were that age. Sweet and innocent? Looks can be deceiving. Fortunately for all concerned they grew up to be fine young men.
In accordance with the rules, I am pinging both my boys to this reply.
Wooooooohoooo, look at you, big with the insults!
I am a reading specialist, thankyouverymuch. Obviously, YOU have the problems with comprehension. Read between the lines, especially with a story from the MSM that makes that poor widdle kid a VICTIM of meaniemean teachers who don’t know anything. Puleeze.
Yep.
Being the butt of a joke every once in a while is something we all go through. School is supposed to prepare us to operate in the real world. Stuff like this happens all the time in the real world. Learning to laugh at yourself is a very important life lesson. This was harmless. The reaction is disturbing.
So did Ted Bundy....
You're wrong. Working hard is much more important than just being good. Eventually, an 8 year old that works hard at basketball will be good, maybe he'll never be a great athlete, but learning to work hard is one of life's most important lessons and will carry a person much further.
Maybe he's gay........
Apparently this idiot has never heard the expression "sticks and stones". He is doing more psychological harm to his child than the teachers.
We have become a society of pansies, raising a generation of super pansies.
ROFLMSS!!!!! That's EXACTLY what I warn people (especially teachrs) about in regard to my daughter!!!
And now it's time for me to head out to pick her and her friend up from school...half day today and tomorrow is the last day!!!
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