Kid Gets 'Catastrophe Award': Mean or Meaningful?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/05/31 19:29:46

Related Topics: catastrophe award, Student, Homework, Teacher, Education, cassandra garcia, ABC News, School, Music, ABC, College, Joke, Billboard, Daughter, Arizona

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686 votes
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	Mean	381 votes	56%
	Meaningful	305 votes	44%

Christina Valdez believes her 8-year-old daughter was humiliated in front of her peers when the girl's Desert Springs Academy teacher gave her a "Catastrophe Award" for "Most Excuses for Not Having Homework." The award was given in front of the whole class, and according to ABC News, the kids were laughing at her. Valdez tried to contact the school about the incident, but says the teacher shrugged it off and said it was just a joke.

Valdez told KGUN-TV, "I think it's cruel and no child should be given an award like this. It's disturbing." Psychologist Sheri Bauman at the University of Arizona College of Education agrees with Valdez, adding, "That isn't an award. It doesn't fit the criteria. [Kids that age] feel less than, they feel fearful of authority of what might happen if they make a mistake." Do you think the "Catastrophe Award" was cruel, or appropriate?

+22

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TasselLady 2012/05/31 20:55:16 (edited)

Mean

+21
Whether she turned in homework or not, it was no reason to humiliate her in front of her whole class. Some adults might see it as a joke, but when you are eight years old that's a whole different matter altogether. Nothing like having the teacher and the whole class laughing at you. Somebody should string up that !#$$ teacher by her knockers.

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Omni to smitty 2012/05/31 20:40:55

Smitty, which is it. Can the child not get an F? Can the child not be held back?

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smitty to Omni 2012/05/31 21:06:39

Well considering my first comment. "you can't fail a kid anymore."

Then you said Hold them back.. Which is technically the same thing. Then I stated you can't as a teacher even if the have an F.

Ahh I see now. See where I grew up failing a student was the same as holding them back.

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~Haru ♥... to smitty 2012/05/31 20:51:25

+1
True

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Inquisitve Kat 2012/05/31 19:44:46

Mean

SodaHead, stop stealing people's questions... I answered this yesterday, from someone else who beat you to it.

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Philo-WHEREAREYOU,USA? 2012/05/31 19:42:16

Mean

+1
...to do it in public; but the kid needs to hear the message that excuses don't work in the real world, so meaningful, too.

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kcandi 2012/05/31 19:41:58

Meaningful

+3
Why should she not get special notice. Obviously she feels "special" from her peers or she'd do her homework like they do.

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caius madison 2012/05/31 19:40:26

Meaningful

+2
One should not be insulted by constructive criticism, but look at the bigger picture. That is a message that a change needs to take place or the student will not become successful, well more than likely won't.

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Wulfdane 2012/05/31 19:40:17

Meaningful

+2
Kids need to know when their failing.

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bluckey18 to Wulfdane 2012/05/31 19:42:26

+1
But not like that or in front of the class the teacher had no rite to do that to her

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smitty to bluckey18 2012/05/31 19:52:21

+1
I think the teacher had every right.

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ajracestables1 2012/05/31 19:39:47

Mean

+1
Stupid.

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Sterling 2012/05/31 19:39:23

Meaningful

+3
Not meaningful but certainly not mean. Come on, get a sense of humor.

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Omni to Sterling 2012/05/31 19:48:34 (edited)

I don't think an 8-year old will consider being made a mockery of in front of all her friends humorous.

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jas wats to Omni 2012/05/31 22:54:32

+2
I betting she thought it was humorous to keep giving excuses

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COCO to jas wats 2012/06/01 07:56:12

Yep.

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mystickelly 2012/05/31 19:38:22

Meaningful

+1
Lol

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william 2012/05/31 19:35:28

Meaningful

+2
for if you take someone who excuses all the time they learn nothing but now she has learned a lesson for life skills.

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bluckey18 to william 2012/05/31 19:41:21

+1
U have a valid point but that teacher had no rite what so freaking ever to do it in front of the class the teacher should of pulled her off to the side and called her mom with her standing there not what she did that was not a joke or fair how many other kids gave her that excuss and did thay get one I feel she is not the only one who has done that to that teacher

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Kat to bluckey18 2012/05/31 20:07:17

+1
For all you know she pulled her out by herself and sent notes home for mommy that were ignored. The kid needs to realize there are consequences in life.

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jas wats to bluckey18 2012/05/31 22:56:41

Maybe if a certain someone had been humiliated a bit when they were in school your post would be somewhat legible.

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syl to william 2012/05/31 20:10:02

People need to remember this girl was only 8 yrs old! Tactics that may (or may not) work with older children, shouldn't be used on a younger one. This incident could seriously harm this girl for her whole life. It should have been done in private with her parents, NOT a public ridicule in front of her whole class.
If I was the parent, that teacher would be in serious trouble with me!

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