The recent story of a student who was given an “award” for having the most homework excuses has generated a great debate across the social media world.
Cassandra Garcia, an Arizona third grader, received the “Catastrophe” award for having the most excuses for not turning in her homework during a classroom awards ceremony. According the Garcia’s teacher, the award was a joke – but it has raised the ire of both the student’s mother as well as a huge number of internet users who are watching the scenario unfold.
This raises a series of questions:
- Who is at fault? Did the teacher exercise questionable judgment, or was this an attempt at motivating a child who regularly failed to hand in assignments?
- Does this constitute bullying by the teacher? Was this an attempt to humiliate the student or to create a change in a negative behavior pattern?
- What is the role of the parent? Should this story have even made it to the media? Does the parent have any responsibility for the student’s lack of homework performance?
I’m not ready to completely absolve the teacher because I don’t know that publicly discussing the issue was the best approach. However, I do know that if I was that third grade student, embarrassment at school would be nothing compared to what I would have to deal with when I got home.
If I was ever recognized for my lack of work, my parents and I–not my parents and the newspaper– would be exchanging some words.
I think, ultimately, this leads us to a larger issue, which is the increased need for teachers to not only instruct, but also take responsibility for lessons that should most likely be taught at home. Every year, we hear more and more stories of parents who aren’t taking an active role in their child’s education. In this scenario, this mother contacted the media regarding this ‘award’ instead of focusing on the real problem: that her child simply wasn’t doing her home work.
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As a retired teacher there is a lot of information missing. Did the student receive any other awards? Did the school have set awards and require for each child to receive one? At my school we had various awards, ready made, available: Showing most improvement, perfect attendance, citizenship, highest grade in various subject areas, best artist, etc. It was my desire that each child receive an award so they did not go home empty handed. There was one time when I had a kindergartener and none of the awards were appropriate. Due to behavioral and academic issues I could not in good conscience award him any of the standard awards. After much thought, I distinctly remember creating the best show and tell award. He had brought a dead mole to school. Maybe a similar situation existed here.
My annual awards ceremony, at times, brought a lot of laughs. One year a second grader wrote a descriptive paragraph detailing her mother, a deputy, pole dancing, complete with a colorful illustration. After obtaining mother’s permission to share why her daughter was receiving the best writing award I read and displayed the student paper. Upon which her mother jumped up from the desk placing her hand on her weapon as she feigned anger. Everyone fell out with laughter.
Maybe the mom should have been presented with the catastrophe award for lack of involvement/communication with the educational system.
You’re definitely right there Barbara. Thanks for sharing your story – the dead mole for show and tell got a few chuckles around the office.
Since the teacher’s name is “blowman” you might consider that this is just a funny thing someone made up…