Do you think a school should do this?

["Got Disney"]

We have just finished with end of the year testing. Not an easy task for students/Middle schoolers to sit in a chair for 3 hrs and test for 4 days but they do it. EDIT: ADDED AFTER POST 20; They are 6th 7th and 8th graders ages 10-14.


The Principle decided she wanted to reward the students for there effort and give them all ice cream sodas or ice cream sandwiches this Friday last period. So I was asked to round up about 15 volunteers to help. Sure no problem.

Well after my 8th volunteer and about 30 LM I started getting replies that a few of the parents did not want to help because of the conditions that were applied to getting this treat.

It seems that the only ones that were going to receive this ice cream are those classes that had 100% attendance in the class all 4 days of testing.

If one student in a class of say 38 was out than that whole class looses out and gets nothing even if that student was out for one day. I was floored. How unfair is that! I mean school policy I get but to me that is rediculous and not only is it unfair to the students that were there all 4 days but the student that was not will be recognized by his/her piers as the one that let them down.

I can see if a child misbehaves during testing than fine exclude that student or the one that did not show up. But the whole class

so I will not get anymore volunteers and not volunteer myself for that day. I have never refused in all my years of volunteering and I am also the lead volunteer coordinator for the school. and event planner. If not for the people calling me back and telling me I would never have known.

I feel like I should be there because of the other volunteers that I asked to come. But I just cant.

So am I wrong on this or is it unfair and am i correct to stick with how I feel and not volunteer. I dont want the kids at the school to see me associated with agreeing with this.

By the way we have a new Principle this year that I dont like.

Edit: after talking with parents I did confirm this to be true with the Principle. Right before I started this thread.

 

[happygirl]

I don't find the rule to be that unfair at all. It incentive for the kids to be there. They all knew as a group

 

[Ppufi]

I agree, that is so wrong! I am a firm believer that people shouldn't be punished because of their peer's actions. If Iwas you, I'd get a group of parents in to talk to the principal ASAP.


EDIT

happygirl:"I don't find the rule to be that unfair at all. It incentive for the kids to be there. They all knew as a group."


They're middle schoolers. The ones in my school, at least, skip religiously. You can't control your peers, especially teenage ones.

 

[java]

So if a child was sick and the parents were following the guidelines given by the government for swine flu and KEPT THEM HOME. The whole class doesn't get a treat?
That seems like the silliest thing I have heard in a long time. Someone should have a chat with the principal. Explain to the principal why you won't volunteer.

 

[vettechick99]

if the kids knew it ahead of time, then they already know they aren't getting a treat. that's how it goes!

 

[happygirl]

SO then what do you propose. Giving ice cream to just a few?? That is mean to make a few get some and other don't

 

[happygirl]

So if a child was sick and the parents were following the guidelines given by the government for swine flu and KEPT THEM HOME. The whole class doesn't get a treat?
That seems like the silliest thing I have heard in a long time. Someone should have a chat with the principal. Explain to the principal why you won't volunteer.

Yes, Why is it okay to break the rules?

 

[java]

Yes, Why is it okay to break the rules?

Because then it encourages people to send in their sick kids to school. Which is my peeve. If your child is sick keep them home. And I am not seeing where she said this part of the "rules" was announced before testing.

 

[monsterkitty]

Did you hear this information from the principal, or other parents? If the principal did in fact tell you that only classes with 100% attendance would be rewarded then I would state my displeasure to her. If the parents are the ones who are giving you this information, I would call the principal and get her side of the story. If it is true, I would once again state my displeasure.

If the information is correct and the class had to 100% attendance then I think the principal is in the wrong.

eta: As a teacher I would also state my displeasure. I would also be buying ice cream for those in my class who did show effort but didn't get the treat from the principal because of the stipulation. Remember, the school isn't doing this, the principal is.

 

[horseshowmom]

We have state testing this week. In our school, every student who has perfect attendance during testing will receive a treat on Friday.

Honestly, the objective is to get kids to school during testing (which is mandated by the state and the number absent can affect your situation). The reward only works if you reward everyone who comes. Otherwise, once a class has a student absent (for example, the first day of testing), the others know they won't get the reward so the encouragement no longer works for them.

 

[happygirl]

I really don't think parents are going to send there sick kids to school just to get ice cream. If the kids miss fine. Things happen and kids have to learn that

 

[disneyfanforever]

I wouldn't volunteer either. I think it is wrong to base whether the class gets a reward on attendance. My youngest son who is 8 missed one day of testing this year because he was sick. I would hate for him to be singled out of his class as the reason they didn't get a treat. He would be beyond upset if that type of situation had occurred.

 

[java]

I really don't think parents are going to send there sick kids to school just to get ice cream. If the kids miss fine. Things happen and kids have to learn that

Do you have kids in school? We have parents that sent a child in with Chicken Pox so that she could get a perfect attendance certificate at the end of the year!

 

[minkydog]

have you talked with the principal about this? I can see rewarding every child who had 100% attendence. If this is CRCT or Iowa testing, the school is penalized for those children who do not complete all the tests(and you'd be surprised how many do not.)

I think I'd get clarification from the principal and if this in indeed what he/she said, express your thoughts on it.It is punitive toward the students who DID complete testing just because other kids weren't there for whatever reason. You can do this in a non-confrontational way, without threats. If the principal refuses to back down, THEN you can reasonably walk away and refuse to participate. Good luck!

 

[okeydokey]

Testing is stressful for everyone. How about the whole school celebrates and EVERYONE gets an ice cream!

 

[EMom]

Do you have kids in school? We have parents that sent a child in with Chicken Pox so that she could get a perfect attendance certificate at the end of the year!

My child had strep throat last week. I kept her home for a day. I didn't want her to infect the other kids. The next day, she wasn't contagious, but she still felt like crap. Her throat was killing her, she still wasn't eating or drinking, and didn't feel up to going to school......and this kid loves school. They had an important test (benchmark) that is a HUGE percentage of their grades. If I'd sent her that day, she would have had to take it while feeling under the weather and she probably would have done poorly, thus lowering her 9 weeks average.

So, I kept her home because:
1. she felt like crap
2. she wasn't up to taking a demanding test that would determine a large % of her 9 weeks grade

If a rule like this principal's was in place, her whole class would have been diddled over, because I had made the responsible choice for MY child. The lesson that teaches is that this principal encourages sick kids to come to school. He gets the dunce cap.

 

[happygirl]

My child had strep throat last week. I kept her home for a day. I didn't want her to infect the other kids. The next day, she wasn't contagious, but she still felt like crap. Her throat was killing her, she still wasn't eating or drinking, and didn't feel up to going to school......and this kid loves school. They had an important test (benchmark) that is a HUGE percentage of their grades. If I'd sent her that day, she would have had to take it while feeling under the weather and she probably would have done poorly, thus lowering her 9 weeks average.

So, I kept her home because:
1. she felt like crap
2. she wasn't up to taking a demanding test that would determine a large % of her 9 weeks grade

If a rule like this principal's was in place, her whole class would have been diddled over, because I had made the responsible choice for MY child. The lesson that teaches is that this principal encourages sick kids to come to school. He gets the dunce cap.

ITA disagree with what you said, I believe the parents get the dunce cap for sending the kids to school sick.

 

[corndog]

. . . The ones in my school, at least, skip religiously. . . .

 

[dimimi]

Testing is stressful for everyone. How about the whole school celebrates and EVERYONE gets an ice cream!

Agreed! Assuming that most people who missed school were realy sick, why punish that kid? Does the school think a school will test well when they come to take the test sick? The student still has to make up the test...so there is no "incentive" to fake being sick. It's an ice cream treat...no $100! Just let them have a treat for their hard work!

 

[Stacerita]

Let me make sure I get this.....the treat isn't for doing well on the testing, just for showing up and being there? And if one kid in the class was out sick, then the class gets nothing? So they are wanting to reward people for just being there, not for anything they actually bring to the table or the scores they get? I find that lame. If you want to reward them for sitting still and taking tests they had to take fine. But it should be done school wide.