Is this really a reward?
By lisagayle
@lisagayle (393)
United States
April 25, 2007 11:49pm CST
Let's just say you have a child that made accelerated scores on thier state mandated testing last year and they were given a certificate and told they would be taken to lunch at a resturant not too far from thier school for a reward, the teachers told them tha it would be paid for and everything, then a few days later, the same teachers that told them it would be paid for had to eat thier own words, because the principal told them that it was reward enough just not to have to eat lunch a t school that day. To me this is a load of bull, those children are helping the school keep thier top accredidation in the state and they are just going to be put on a bus and driven to the resturant and then made to pay for thier own lunch. Is this a real reward? I do not think so. Plus what about those children who got those accelerated scores, but thier parents do not have the resources to pay for thier childs lunch? They get left out and the children whose parents have the resources get the reward! This is not right nor is it fair, I am one of those parents who is extremly proud of thier child for getting accelerated scores. But I am also one of the parents that cannot come up with the money to pay for my childs lunch at this resturant. What would you do? I do not have anyone to borrow the money from and even if I did I would probably never be able to repay them.
9 people like this
19 responses
@momoftwingirls (859)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Is this a public or private school? If this is public, then I would say this is typical of a public school. Always making promises and never following through.
Gotta love the public school system, always ready to brainwash our children, but never ready to follow through on a promise to pay for a sinple lunch that show be a reward for good testing scores.
As you can see, I am not a big fan of the public school system.
2 people like this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
It is apublic school and they have never done this kind of thing before. they have always kept in mind that most of thier student body comes from less that wealthy families.; I wish we could afford to send her to private school, but we can not. And the private schools in this area are too darn far away to drive her to every day also.
@gypsylady28 (945)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Our school is pretty good about this stuff, they get rewarded with a pizza party usually. Sometimes it is in the classroom, and sometimes they have it at the local park that is near the school. They get to go and play in the park, then they have pizza delivered, and they bring a drink from home. It usually costs us $1.25-$1.50.
2 people like this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Ours has always been good about this stuff too, until now. They usually foot the bill compleatly due to the poverty level in our area. But I just do not think it is fair to reward the ones that can afford it and punish the one who cannot. Thank you for your response.
@bindishah (2062)
• India
26 Apr 07
I think this is unfair. If you were told that the school would pay for your kid's lunch then thats how it should be. Otherwise refuse to participate in this event. Rally around all the parents and protest by refusing to let any of your children go to this restaurant and pay for their own food. Tell the school you do not want/need such a 'reward'.
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Most of the other parents and I are going to the school Monday to raise heck. Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@cyrile07 (236)
• Philippines
26 Apr 07
that's entirely outrageous!!! how can a school do that?? i mean your right, the school should treat those kids who make the school known... do you have a parents meeting in your school? i mean here in the Philippines we have a parents-teacher meeting almost every other two months.. it is a discussion of parents and teachers concerning the kids in school and outside school as well... i think you should have a parents meeting about this situation and discuss this matter among the teacher and parents,... I really agree to you it is very unfair to kids whose parents cant afford to pay at a restaurant.. :( i wish the principal will know that those kids has to be rewarded.. Im so proud of your kid and to you as well... Goodluck...
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
You said it. Yes we have parent teacher meetings, but they are only twice a year and if htere are any other problems, we can make an appointment to see the teachers or we can e-mail them to express our concerns. But like I have said, a lot of us are going to the school to raise cain on Monday morning about it all. We are MAD. Thank You.
1 person likes this
@curvychick77 (1084)
• United States
26 Apr 07
How unfair is that?! As opposed to them telling the kids they will be paid for then making them pay. I find it wrong and unfair for those kids. It's basically a broken promise by making them think they will be treated. It would be more of a reward if it was paid for them as promised and not make them spend so much on lunch. I don't have kids but I had a simillar experience when I was younger. My mother could not afford to let me go, so I didn't go. I was upset but my mom didn't have the money, and she explained to me, I understood but I still felt cheated, not by her but by the school.
2 people like this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Very unfair. I explained it to my daughter and she understands, but oh how she cried the night she was telling me all bout it, this is even more unfair, the kids who made average scores got to have an ice cream party in the cafeteria and did'nt have to pay for it. What is the deal there? I told her that I would find a way some hoe to make it up to her. It just makes me so mad, and when she is hurt like that, it hurts me so deeply, I was crying with her for her hurt feelings. It hurt my feelings too. Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@Rianda7642 (19)
• United States
26 Apr 07
That is awful. I don't believe school officials should lie to students. If the students have to pay for their own lunch, then why can't they decide where to go? I don't know the age of the kids but if they are younger I know they would be happy to go to Mcdonalds or somewhere with a play area.
1 person likes this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
They are sixth graders. There is only one resturant in the little town where the school is. And they do not want to go the fifteen miles to the next town where the students would have a variety of choices. I think they are just being butt holes.
@tater03 (1765)
• United States
26 Apr 07
No, I don't think that this is a reward at all. And it is so terrible to say that it will be paid for and then to change their mind. However it came about they should honor what was first said and pay for the students. This might not be the correct thing to do but if it was my child I would keep him or her home and call it a Mommy's day and go to the local park or something. That is just so terrible when schools do things like this.
1 person likes this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Thank you for your response, like I said before, I would keep her home that day, but she cannot miss any more school this year or be held back.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I saw where you stated you and some other parents are going to go down and discuss it with the principal. I think you should and that is the right approach. This isn't a reward, it's a way to single out the kids with money. I know myself I'd be in the same situation as you. We couldn't afford the money for the restaurant. I'd be having a royal hissy fit at the school as well especially if they first said they were paying.
I think what I would do if they don't change how they are handling after talking with them, is have your child stay home that day. Let him play hookey and have a special lunch at home with mom. I normally don't recommend skipping school but considering how unfair the situation is and how miserable he's probably be in school then staying home might be best.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Oh well it was a thought. I agree sometimes that limitation on how many days they can miss can be a big pain in the rear.
Good luck in talking with the principal. I hope he rethinks things. They should keep in mind not everyone has money like that especially on really short notice.
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I would do that if she had not already missed the amount of schoo to the point where if she misses any more she will be held back a year. She had a very bad case of strep throar and missed five days of school with it and she cannot miss any more days or she will flunk and with her good grades, that would be tottally stupid. Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@denden (802)
• Philippines
26 Apr 07
I think it is really a reward for you that you are being blessed because u have a kids that is accelerated.And u will give also reward to your child for his/her eagerness to study.But i think it is not necessary to have a reward but you will have to tell her/him the important of education in a mans life.
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I agree that I am blessed to have a accelerated child, but I still think it is just plain wrong to telll them that they are going to be rewarded, and then take it away form them just like that. Thank you for your response.
@cjthedog64 (1552)
• United States
26 Apr 07
That should have been discussed among the school people before saying anything to the kids. I've never heard of taking kids out to eat, but ordering pizza or something to the school instead. Even just taking the kids to a park for a field trip and letting them do picnic lunches would be a reward. But telling them one thing and then changing the rules isn't a reward at all.
1 person likes this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I agree with you that they shouls have kept it quiet till they had it all worked out. Thank you for your response.
@blackkatdreamer (1461)
• Canada
26 Apr 07
I think its unfair and extremely cheap. plus another example of those with the means getting awarded and those without getting left out... I'd send a petition around to the other parents... bet their not happy either
1 person likes this
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
26 Apr 07
That isn't any kind of reward at all. What are they teaching those children? Besides teaching the children that only those that have money deserves rewards they have also taught those children that adults lie. That is the worse lesson that an adult could teach a child.
I am so sorry that your daughter is having to go through this. Several times as a child I got left out of things like this at school because my parents couldn't afford it.
1 person likes this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Thank you for your response, I am sorry you had to go through this kind of stuff too. If there was a way to change our money hungry culture, I would do it in a heart beat. Thank you for caring.
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
26 Apr 07
You are absolutely right about this. If the children were promised a free lunch for raising the school standards by scoring well on standardized tests, then they should definitely be treated to a free lunch. I think the principal realized how much it was going to cost the school district and renegged on the original plan. If they school cannot afford to take all the children out to lunch, then they should do something that they can afford to do like throw a pizza party in the school or an ice cream sundae party. This is what my school district used to do. If it were me I would call the superintendant's office and state my concerns. It's definitely a case of giving with one hand while taking away with the other.
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I am going on Monday to have a fit at the school. I am about to explode. I agree with you about the reward they promise, should be a promise they can hold up to. Thank you for your response.
@mnflower (1299)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Man I would be at the school so fast and in the principles office and then I would be at the next school board meeting and for sure they would never forget me cause this is way wrong and sending the wrong message to your kids, I would even write the major or call the major of your town and let him know how the kids are being awarded for these accomplishments for this is wrong and not fair to the kids, or the parents of the kids for that fact. I for sure would not just sit back and let this slide I would make a big stink about it even call the local radio station and tell them someone will put it on the air about this abuse, this is teaching a child the wrong lesson, you don't tell a child one thing then turn it around on them especially in a school.
@SilentRose19 (1733)
• United States
27 Apr 07
That is horrible, I would be talking to the school about that. I cannot stand people like that its just ridiculous when you tell a child one thing and do another, its just not fair to the children. Sometimes I wonder if the teachers are looking for the best interest of the children or the best interest of the schools bank account.
@Allieloopy (84)
• United States
27 Apr 07
That is a lot of balony and I would have a few words with that principal. This is not fair to the kids. It just shows them that money counts a lot more than preformance.
I don't agree with the whole state mandated testing anyway. Our kids are not being taught skills but just to take tests.
