Mom puts son on Tampa street corner to tell of poor grades (1.22 GPA)

St. Petersburg Times ^ | February 18, 2011 | Robbyn Mitchell

[inflorida]

TAMPA — Head hanging low, he stood near an East Tampa street corner for nearly four hours Wednesday afternoon.

James Mond III, 15, wore a sign around his neck with a message:

"I did 4 questions on my FCAT and said I wasn't going to do it … GPA 1.22 … honk if I need (an) education."

People honked. Lots of people.

This was his mother's idea. Ronda Holder, 33, a Tampa hair stylist, said she wanted James to realize the importance of an education, afraid he will otherwise wind up on the street.

"I don't want any of my kids to stand by the side of the road asking for change," said Holder, the niece of a former Tampa police chief.

By Thursday, her plan had a life of its own. A local TV crew turned James' punishment into evening news. Franklin Middle School enrolled the teen in after-school tutoring. The Department of Children and Families came to Holder's home to interview James.

DCF spokesman Terry Field said the punishment might legally be considered bizarre, a form of maltreatment.

Experts cautioned that the punishment was extreme and likely ineffective.

[inflorida]

[Krankor]

This is just so wrong. What’s the matter with this mother. I mean, get with the times. She should video the kid and put it on youtube.

[battousai]

Well for one she might also want to send him to a barber and change that hair style, his grades might improve if he could see out of both eyes...

But cudos to his mum for taking a stand, depends on the kids I guess if this will work for him or not, but most times if the ‘experts’ are against it, then its probably the going to work.

[PAR35]

Probably didn’t want to get a reputation in school of ‘acting white’. If you aren’t familiar with ‘acting white’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting_white

It can get you hurt in some schools.

[goodnesswins]

THAT’s the NEXT step....bravo to the Mom....actions have consequences

[Engedi]

More PC protection of kids. They tell the parents to take responsibility for their kids education,grades, etc. So, they do, then they are paid a visit by child protective agency. Funny, they can visit this Mom while other children being abused, havinng been reported, go left unchecked...then they find them dead.

I applaud this Mom:) Need more parents like her out there....

[DaxtonBrown]

[Experts cautioned that the punishment was extreme and likely ineffective.]

Oh, I bet it was very effective. A lesson never forgotten.

[marstegreg]

Experts cautioned that the punishment was extreme and likely ineffective.

Are these the same experts that took away dodgeball and made us give everyone a trophy regardless of who wins?(so no one has to feel bad or actually learn lessons they need later in life)

In my opinion THEY have done the most damage. Kudos to this Mom!

[LostInBayport]

DCF spokesman Terry Field said the punishment might legally be considered bizarre, a form of maltreatment. Experts cautioned that the punishment was extreme and likely ineffective.

I would think the prospect of having to do this again (or wondering what Mom comes up with next) would make it highly effective. The woman cares enough to deliver tough love and the state's liberal gestapo descends on her like Moochelle on braised ancho-chile ribs.

[madprof98]

I love the way she explains her decision:

"This is one child who won't be lost to the streets."

[Krankor]

I believe the lad is sporting the new “lion’s mane” hairstyle- a very popular look among urban youth.

[onedoug]

No athletics for him.

[GSWarrior]

This woman is nuts. I pity her.

[Pining_4_TX]

This kid has probably been trapped in crappy government schools since kindergarten. He would have been better off sitting in a public library and reading every day for all those years. His teachers may be as ignorant and unmotivated as he is.

(I definitely agree about the hair cut!)

[mewykwistmas]

1.22 GPA? Must have misspelled his name during tests.

[Hot Tabasco]

While I fully support what the mom did, I suspect that with a 1.2 GPA his intelligence level is far too low to allow him to do any catching up. His reading level is probably around 4th or 5th grade level........for the kid’s sake I hope I’m wrong and he’s just lazy.

[Navy Patriot]

At least mom and dad are trying to do something. They have five other successful kids, ant this one was OK till halfway through the seventh grade, so he can do the work.

The two huge problems these parents have to defeat are the publik skewls, and the CPS criminals.

More power to 'em.

[McLynnan]

DCF spokesman Terry Field said the punishment might legally be considered bizarre, a form of maltreatment..."It definitely would fall within the category of emotional abuse. It's shame, embarrassment and humiliation. This will be a lifelong memory for him," said Arlinda Amos, a licensed clinical psychologist and ombudsman for the Hillsborough Children's Board.

Gee, a mother insists her child perform in school and she will probably end up facing child abuse charges.

[Soothesayer]

She won’t get any support from the gangsta community and their state employed lackies. They was hopin to get more workas in the drug biness. Obama called for change yo.

[A'elian' nation]

Bring back the public stockades.

Tough love takes on self-esteem.

Guilt and shame make great moral mirrors.