Teachers trick students with fake Disney trip

[North of Mouse]

ITA and of course as usual this thread most likely will turn into a bash the teacher thread (am not reading past this post).

Only if the shoe fits

In our home we taught our children to respect their teachers. This teacher(s) does not deserve to be respected anymore. She needs to grow up and be taught how to meet out appropriate punishment, and to whom. She is an adult role model for this year (time) in these children's lives, and she needs to learn how to act like one.

 

[luvmy3]

I dislike group punishment but I tell my kids to suck it up because there is not much they can do about it. Group punishment doesn't work or it wouldn't have to be practiced over and over again, and it is. The offenders don't learn a thing and it does not change any behavior. It is a lazy way of trying to instill discipline instead of dealing directly with the problem.

In your opinion. One could argue that single punishments don't work either, otherwise there would no need to use them over and over again on certain individuals.

I'm in the suck it up buttercups camp. These kids are in 8th grade, big deal that they were disappointed, they'll get over it. Of course the fact that they have parents who are making it into a big deal is why these fragile kids cant.

 

[RitaE]

Okay, I've skimmed through most of the thread and I think I got most of the issue.

My problem is the teachers seemed to be having an issue with a few students violating the privacy of the teachers' desks. What they did accomplished nothing toward addressing the real problem. They should have spent their time trying to discover who was going into desk drawers where students aren't allowed and then putting a stop to that behavior.

I really wouldn't care if my child was disappointed with a fake school trip, but
the whole "Well we'll just trick the whole 8th grade class" was just a huge detour into an immature and pointless neener, neener, neener kind of act by the teachers that did nothing to address or stop the problem they were having.

Teachers are supposed to be MORE MATURE than their students. They are Not supposed to run around stooping to trying to one up the tricks of a pack of 13 year old boys.

So next month when somebody decides to go snooping for grade records or the next math test, are they going to stop out of fear that the Math teacher might play another misleading slide show to the whole class?

And if that makes me a "teacher basher" then so be it.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I have been teaching high school freshmen (only one year older than these kids) for 21 years. I would never disrespect my students in this manner nor do I tolerate disrespectful behavior between students in my class. If I was worried that kids might see something on my desk that I didn't want them to see, I would put it away or lock it up. Better yet, I would discuss the problem with them and ask them to stop doing it. I would spell out clear consequences for the behavior and enforce the consequences...without disappointing or humiliating the entire group, many who would kill to travel to Disney World. I can't imagine what the atmosphere in my class would be like for the remainder of the year if I did something like this. Who would want to listen to me? Who would see me as a role model?

 

[joviroxx]

Okay, I've skimmed through most of the thread and I think I got most of the issue.

My problem is the teachers seemed to be having an issue with a few students violating the privacy of the teachers' desks. What they did accomplished nothing toward addressing the real problem. They should have spent their time trying to discover who was going into desk drawers where students aren't allowed and then putting a stop to that behavior.

I really wouldn't care if my child was disappointed with a fake school trip, but
the whole "Well we'll just trick the whole 8th grade class" was just a huge detour into an immature and pointless neener, neener, neener kind of act by the teachers that did nothing to address or stop the problem they were having.

Teachers are supposed to be MORE MATURE than their students. They are Not supposed to run around stooping to trying to one up the tricks of a pack of 13 year old boys.

So next month when somebody decides to go snooping for grade records or the next math test, are they going to stop out of fear that the Math teacher might play another misleading slide show to the whole class?

And if that makes me a "teacher basher" then so be it.

I took it more along the lines of , listen kids, this is what can happen when you snoop and spread rumors based on that. Not a neener, neener thing, not a revenge thing.

Snoop, spread rumors = unintended consequences.

You know, with 13/14 year olds, sometimes you have to SHOW them what can happen .

But even if it were, I still don't get the whole "emotional damage" "bullying" cries.

 

[Fortuosity]

The 8th grade class really believed they were going to Disney? Awfully gullible teenagers, IMO.

 

[timmac]

I don't think this goes as far as outrage, by any means, but I don't think it was really proper, either. Clearly, whatever teachable moment could have come from this was lost long ago. Though I am all for a good joke, and I love a well planned prank, there's something a bit unsettling for me when there's such a clear power divide between those performing said prank, and those on the receiving end.

I also tend to agree that if the form and brochures were sitting on a desk in plain view (which we don't know for sure I don't think), then it's not really such a matter of snooping. Sounds like both sides are probably being a bit over dramatic in the whole thing.

 

[design_mom]

I took it more along the lines of , listen kids, this is what can happen when you snoop and spread rumors based on that. Not a neener, neener thing, not a revenge thing.

Snoop, spread rumors = unintended consequences.

I've already posted previously in the thread that I would be "annoyed," but not "outraged" if this happened to my kid. However, I do think it was mean and inappropriate.

I wouldn't be upset about the fake permission slip on the teacher's desk. (Nobody should have been snooping.)

I wouldn't have been upset if disappointment had been a "natural consequence" of believing the snooper's rumor. (If the teacher had said "No, sorry, the class trip is to Windsor, not Orlando.")

But I think the teacher feeding the rumor with details during the slide presentation (which the article in the OP indicates the teacher did), then saying "Ha! Ha! Gotcha!" is pretty mean. Especially because I would bet there were a lot of kids who either didn't hear, or didn't believe, the rumor before they got to the video presentation. But if they heard the teacher "confirming the rumor," then they'd start to believe it.

Again, I wouldn't call for the teacher to be fired. And I wouldn't expect my child to be traumatized for life. But I do think it was mean, and inappropriate, if the teachers appeared to confirm the rumor then had a "gotcha moment" at the kids' expense.

 

[luvsJack]

The 8th grade class really believed they were going to Disney? Awfully gullible teenagers, IMO.

A lot of schools do a big trip at the end of 8th grade.

 

[North of Mouse]

I took it more along the lines of , listen kids, this is what can happen when you snoop and spread rumors based on that. Not a neener, neener thing, not a revenge thing.

Snoop, spread rumors = unintended consequences.

You know, with 13/14 year olds, sometimes you have to SHOW them what can happen .

But even if it were, I still don't get the whole "emotional damage" "bullying" cries.

Do you punish all your children every time *one* does something they should be punished for? If so, I feel for your children. That's exactly what happened here. Do you actually think the *one* student that was guilty got the message?? Because, I sure don't.

The 8th grade class really believed they were going to Disney? Awfully gullible teenagers, IMO.

Have you or your children had the opportunity to go to Disney? Well, I didn't, so I would probably have been one of those *gullible children*. Because I would have wanted to do it so bad, that I would have believed my teacher. She actually had the gall to say to a rather timid sounding voice, when asked about the cost of airfare . "Oh, we got some good rates on that".

That's why I'm still fuming, and it's a good thing I'm not up there because I would be right in the middle of wondering how this teacher could *ever* be a role model, and a respected teacher for my child again. It's "I can lie", but you can't.

From what's going on there, I'm certainly far from the only one that is extremely upset by her actions.

 

[joviroxx]

Do you punish all your children every time *one* does something they should be punished for? If so, I feel for your children. That's exactly what happened here. Do you actually think the *one* student that was guilty got the message?? Because, I sure don't.

.

Well, first of all, noone was punished here. Its not like they took something away. They were taught a lesson as a group. Whether it was misguided or not, it wasn't a punishment.

I also figure that even although it was one kid snooping, MOST kids enjoyed the rumor and spreading the info this one kid "got". So, in essence, 1 kid might have been guilty of snooping but most were guilty of spreading rumors of information obtained from snooping.

Secondly, Im PARENTING 2 kids, not a teacher of many. I don't expect my kids' teachers to parent, that's my job. What I do expect is that my kids respect and follow classroom rules. I also teach my kids that rules sometimes might be silly, that they might not agree with a rule, but it is a rule. But that said, I have been known to say "I don't care whose fault it is, stop it, or you both are grounded". They have learned to work things out between them.

So, you don't really need to feel for my kids. Though not perfect, and neither am I, they are both incredible independent, strong kids with a good self image. I was going to say self-sufficient but although that goes for DD, 15yr DS can be a complete mess LOL.

 

[North of Mouse]

Well, first of all, noone was punished here. Its not like they took something away. They were taught a lesson as a group. Whether it was misguided or not, it wasn't a punishment.

I also figure that even although it was one kid snooping, MOST kids enjoyed the rumor and spreading the info this one kid "got". So, in essence, 1 kid might have been guilty of snooping but most were guilty of spreading rumors of information obtained from snooping.

Secondly, Im PARENTING 2 kids, not a teacher of many. I don't expect my kids' teachers to parent, that's my job. What I do expect is that my kids respect and follow classroom rules. I also teach my kids that rules sometimes might be silly, that they might not agree with a rule, but it is a rule. But that said, I have been known to say "I don't care whose fault it is, stop it, or you both are grounded". They have learned to work things out between them.

So, you don't really need to feel for my kids. Though not perfect, and neither am I, they are both incredible independent, strong kids with a good self image. I was going to say self-sufficient but although that goes for DD, 15yr DS can be a complete mess LOL.

Oh, yes, she *did* take something away ---- innocence, trust, joy, excitement. There's still a certain amount of innocence at that age. Some, if not most, thought that a Disney trip would soon be theirs. Who says they knew that a snooper had spread these things? After the first or second person told, it would been, "Have you heard that we are going to Disney for our trip". Who would have passed on, oh, so and so snooped and saw that the teacher is looking at Disney brochures, etc. etc.

Anyhow, I feel very strongly about this, and the lying and showing of the video - so wrong from a teacher. I just don't see this as children being weak, just too trusting. That teacher would never have my respect as a teacher again, and I would push for a pretty convincing apology to children and parents and appropriate punishment.

There's been pranks in the schools here by students, and you know what? They are punished for them - no harm was meant - but the punishment was meted out. Teachers that pull *out of control pranks* should not be treated differently - maybe she will learn from it too - never to pull pranks - kind of beneath her level as a teacher (one that teaches others, and by definition expects others to *learn* from her.)

You and I are just going to have to agree to disagree --

 

[kaytieeldr]

If the teachers knew who was doing the snooping, she could have just left something saying this kid wasn't going to pass or that he/she was going to get some kind of fake award--"Class Snooper" maybe?

I don't know, just something that was more driven at the kid that was snooping.

ETA: I don't think this is a life changing event and some day the kids will laugh about it. I just don't like class punishments.

That'd work if they knew who was snooping. Punish that student (or those couple/few). This sounds like the teacher knew there was snooping being done, but not by whom.

Have you or your children had the opportunity to go to Disney? Well, I didn't, so I would probably have been one of those *gullible children*. Because I would have wanted to do it so bad, that I would have believed my teacher. She actually had the gall to say to a rather timid sounding voice, when asked about the cost of airfare . "Oh, we got some good rates on that".

Where can the teacher/recording be heard, and who did a voice analysis to determine that response was given in a noticeably different tone from her normal speaking voice?

 

[Emteach]

I agree it was little much but those kids will get over it. They shouldn't have been snooping, it wasn't their business and it was a lesson learned. It's not like they took a trip away from them, it was not ever happening in the first place.

 

[shellybaxter]

I wonder how people would feel if this were about an office full of people and a rumor about a large bonus instead of a class of children. It is easily the same thing. What is one employee "happened" to see a confidential memo on the bosses desk about large bonus checks going out after a big meeting on Friday and then spread that rumor around the office. We all know that rumors spread pretty fast in an office environment. What if the boss "was trying to teach everyone a lesson" and let the rumors go on and even prepared a powerpoint about how well the company had done this last quarter and how the management wanted to reward the employees for a job well done. And then with the last slide just said something like "Bazinga" from Big Bang Theory or "Gotcha" and announced that profits were down and then handed out some layoff notices. Adults would be fuming. They would feel betrayed. They'd be calling thier unions (if they had one). Someone would most certainly call the press. Some would probably even call their lawyers. And most people would be calling the boss a jerk or worse.

 

[sam_gordon]

I wonder how people would feel if this were about an office full of people and a rumor about a large bonus instead of a class of children. It is easily the same thing. What is one employee "happened" to see a confidential memo on the bosses desk about large bonus checks going out after a big meeting on Friday and then spread that rumor around the office. We all know that rumors spread pretty fast in an office environment. What if the boss "was trying to teach everyone a lesson" and let the rumors go on and even prepared a powerpoint about how well the company had done this last quarter and how the management wanted to reward the employees for a job well done. And then with the last slide just said something like "Bazinga" from Big Bang Theory or "Gotcha" and announced that profits were down and then handed out some layoff notices. Adults would be fuming. They would feel betrayed. They'd be calling thier unions (if they had one). Someone would most certainly call the press. Some would probably even call their lawyers. And most people would be calling the boss a jerk or worse.

From page 4 of the thread...

I think a better analogy would be...

A coworker sees a memo on a supervisor's desk/computer that everyone is getting a 2 week bonus and tells everyone what he saw. The company has meeting and talks about how sales are through the roof, expenses are down, the company is just raking in the money. As a "Thank you" to the employees for all the hard work they've done, here's a $50 gift card to a restaurant for all employees. Now, would you be disappointed you weren't getting 2 weeks extra pay? Yes. Would you be upset at the company because they didn't give you what you THOUGHT they were going to give you?

I don't think changing from the bonus to the layoff is accurate though. The kids still "get" something, just not as "big" a something as they thought it was.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I wonder how people would feel if this were about an office full of people and a rumor about a large bonus instead of a class of children. It is easily the same thing. What is one employee "happened" to see a confidential memo on the bosses desk about large bonus checks going out after a big meeting on Friday and then spread that rumor around the office. We all know that rumors spread pretty fast in an office environment. What if the boss "was trying to teach everyone a lesson" and let the rumors go on and even prepared a powerpoint about how well the company had done this last quarter and how the management wanted to reward the employees for a job well done. And then with the last slide just said something like "Bazinga" from Big Bang Theory or "Gotcha" and announced that profits were down and then handed out some layoff notices. Adults would be fuming. They would feel betrayed. They'd be calling thier unions (if they had one). Someone would most certainly call the press. Some would probably even call their lawyers. And most people would be calling the boss a jerk or worse.

Someone tried that earlier. The response was the same - if you get sucked in to believing rumors, your problem.

 

[SandrA9810]

I wonder how people would feel if this were about an office full of people and a rumor about a large bonus instead of a class of children. It is easily the same thing. What is one employee "happened" to see a confidential memo on the bosses desk about large bonus checks going out after a big meeting on Friday and then spread that rumor around the office. We all know that rumors spread pretty fast in an office environment. What if the boss "was trying to teach everyone a lesson" and let the rumors go on and even prepared a powerpoint about how well the company had done this last quarter and how the management wanted to reward the employees for a job well done. And then with the last slide just said something like "Bazinga" from Big Bang Theory or "Gotcha" and announced that profits were down and then handed out some layoff notices. Adults would be fuming. They would feel betrayed. They'd be calling thier unions (if they had one). Someone would most certainly call the press. Some would probably even call their lawyers. And most people would be calling the boss a jerk or worse.

You have the ending wrong. It would be a huge slide show with a final, give yourself a pat on the back and maybe donuts Friday morning as a thank you. They're still being rewarded but not by some big bonus.



Is it just me or does it sound like a big rich neighborhood? Wouldnt most the parents start saying "we can't afford that" from the get go? Passports, flights, the overnight stays... It'd still be hundreds of dollars per student and a mother of twin is distraught? She would've forked over a small fortune. If I told my family my 8th grade trip was to Canada, it would've been a flat out no the moment I said a word about it. I would've been happy to learn it would be on a trip I could go on.

 

[North of Mouse]

You have the ending wrong. It would be a huge slide show with a final, give yourself a pat on the back and maybe donuts Friday morning as a thank you. They're still being rewarded but not by some big bonus.



Is it just me or does it sound like a big rich neighborhood? Wouldnt most the parents start saying "we can't afford that" from the get go? Passports, flights, the overnight stays... It'd still be hundreds of dollars per student and a mother of twin is distraught? She would've forked over a small fortune. If I told my family my 8th grade trip was to Canada, it would've been a flat out no the moment I said a word about it. I would've been happy to learn it would be on a trip I could go on.

It was *not* a big rich neighborhood.

Just looked a video where the one mother said her son told her it would be $250 ea. and they needed to do a fund raiser. She questioned her son, but he said that's what it was. This was on a Fri. of a long week end. They were told on Tues. that it was all a hoax.

 

[bookgirl]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...hers_into_believing_in_disney_world_trip.html

Some Grade 8 teachers tricked some students into thinking they were going on a trip to Disney. Apparently it was to teach a lesson to some students who were snooping.

To me, it is no big deal. These are Grade 8's. I might feel bad it is they were little kids.

Just wondering what everyone thinks?

I think it's funny and somewhat fitting but then again I was the child whose mother actully did take back all my christmas presents one year because I snooped. I did get other gifts but none of the one's I had asked for and snooped around for and found before they were wrapped.

However I think it's the kids who need to be rebuilding thier teachers trust. I doubt I would have done the slide show because that was a bit much. But leaving the stuff in a drawer then acting like nothing when they announced the bowling would have been totally appropriate. The kids were in the wrong and got a lesson in snooping. I feel bad for any kids who were not part of the snooping network and may have got excited by the slide show only to be let down.