Is it considered discrimination????

[kc10family]

Is it considered discrimination to require one parent to sign and get notarized a document of “rules” set by a organization so a child can participate and not require all parents to do the same?
If parent A does not get the “rules” form notarized then the child cannot participate in the organization. But Parent A is the only one required to do this. Is this considered discrimination?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would think that a permission only requires one parent to authorize. If there is a situation where the two parents disagree, the disagreeing parent would have to specifically rescind, in writing, the authorization. I cannot see any reason where a organization should require both parents to sign a document.

 

[karibritt01]

I believe OP meant the parents one 1 child are asked to sign, while none of the other participating children/parents are asked to sign.

OP... I think I would ask them WHY only this one set of parents is asked to sign. It could be that the other parents already have signatures on file. If no other parents were asked to sign, and they have no valid reason for requiring this particular set to sign, then you may have a case for discrimination. But honestly... I would just sign and move on.

 

[kc10family]

let me start again.

10 kids participate in a organization

all kids have a parent sign the rules form saying that they read the rules and agree to follow them

then one (of the ten) parents is singled out and reqiured to return a notorized "rules form" or the child can not participate.

Is that discrimination?

 

[allison443]

OP do you mean that of all the kids who are signing up for this activity, only the parent of one child were asked to sign this acknowledgement of the rules? And all the other kids' parents didn't have to sign?

Let me guess...there is more to this story. (isn't there always?) Was this one parent selected randomly, or was there some prior history with this parent not following the rules, or claiming they didn't know the rules, or saying they never were told of certain rules, or claiming something was done a certain way in the past, and they didn't know how it was done now, or not meeting the requirements of the rules?

If there is a valid reason then why would it be discrimination? Unless it's considered to be discriminating against people who don't follow rules

 

[allison443]

let me start again.

10 kids participate in a organization

all kids have a parent sign the rules form saying that they read the rules and agree to follow them

then one (of the ten) parents is singled out and reqiured to return a notorized "rules form" or the child can not participate.

Is that discrimination?

Why was this one parent singled out?

 

[themilesfamily]

So only one family would have to have their rules form notarized, providing proof that it was in fact the parents who signed?

I'm sure you have a good reason, but yeah it would probably be discrimination. Not illegal, but you would be discriminating against one family, asking them to do something that other families weren't asked to do.

 

[Imzadi]

Let me guess...there is more to this story. (isn't there always?) Was this one parent selected randomly, or was there some prior history with this parent not following the rules, or claiming they didn't know the rules, or saying they never were told of certain rules, or claiming something was done a certain way in the past, and they didn't know how it was done now, or not meeting the requirements of the rules?

If there is a valid reason then why would it be discrimination? Unless it's considered to be discriminating against people who don't follow rules

What she said. Is there a known forger in the family? Exactly WHY is one parent made to get the document notarized, is the question.

 

[themilesfamily]

I wonder, too, is that a proper activity for a notary public? Is that something you really should be asking a notary public to do? OP, maybe you could just require the parent to sign the form in your presence rather than bringing in a notary, so there is no question that they signed the form and are aware of the rules.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I think asking them for them for the notarization without providing any reason would be opening yourself up to having your actions questions.
Unless the one family who was asked to notarize was the only family that was a certain religion, race, make-up (single parent, foster, same sex parents, etc.) it still would probably seem unfair and weird but not be legally discrimination.
I would think you would only want to ask someone to do that if you had a background with them not following the rules last year, or insisting they did not sign, etc. In that case, I would just inform the family that because of the issues the organization had with the family last year you are requiring them to have their form notarized to preempt any repeats of the problems. That is fair and reasonable and a lot nicer than just telling them they cannot participate at all (which is also totally okay if the family caused problems last year--but the flip side of that I always run into is I hate to "punish" a child becauis the parents are unable or unwilling to do what they should--so this seems like a good way to try to get -past that issue and force the parents hand a bit into behaving for the sake of their child).

 

[NHdisneylover]

I wonder, too, is that a proper activity for a notary public? Is that something you really should be asking a notary public to do? OP, maybe you could just require the parent to sign the form in your presence rather than bringing in a notary, so there is no question that they signed the form and are aware of the rules.

My understanding of Notary's is that all they do is check that the person signing the form is who they say they are. They do not care WHAT the form is.

 

[kc10family]

OP do you mean that of all the kids who are signing up for this activity, only the parent of one child were asked to sign this acknowledgement of the rules? And all the other kids' parents didn't have to sign?

Let me guess...there is more to this story. (isn't there always?) Was this one parent selected randomly, or was there some prior history with this parent not following the rules, or claiming they didn't know the rules, or saying they never were told of certain rules, or claiming something was done a certain way in the past, and they didn't know how it was done now, or not meeting the requirements of the rules?

If there is a valid reason then why would it be discrimination? Unless it's considered to be discriminating against people who don't follow rules

from what I see/hear it seems to be the people who are in charge just dont like the parent. Not sure what the deal is with it all, but the kid is very nice and seems to do what is asked. I have never seen the parent do or say anything "bad", he just asks questions (nothing that I wouldnt ask).
This is making me think twice about the people and this organization. I am not so sure I want to let my kid participate with people who treat parents this way and in front of the other kids and parents.

I am sure it comes from something in the past, but I have been at every practice this summer (we are new to the organization) and have seen nothing wrong with child or that parent.

oh, this is only a summer run thing.

I just dont see why he would have to get his "rule form" notarized but non or the rest of the parents do.
And if he doesnt follow the rules, why let them participate anyway. Its not a public thing, the kids audition to get in. Tell the kid they didnt make it in this year if you dont like that parent.

 

[Tink888]

I wonder, too, is that a proper activity for a notary public? Is that something you really should be asking a notary public to do? OP, maybe you could just require the parent to sign the form in your presence rather than bringing in a notary, so there is no question that they signed the form and are aware of the rules.

It's not out of the ordinary. A person can have any document notarized where they want documented verification that the person signing is who they say they are.

OP - it sounds like there is more to the story to me. Like maybe there have been issues in the past with forged signatures or instances where the parent signed documents and they later said the didn't......claimed to be unaware of rules, etc.......the organization has been burned by the parent in some way and it is trying to cover itself and prevent it from happening again.

 

[Imzadi]

My understanding of Notary's is that all they do is check that the person signing the form is who they say they are. They do not care WHAT the form is.

I actually had a bank notary not put a medallion seal on a form once. He said they don't put medallion seals on just any type of form. But, medallion seals are a specific type of notary, required for things like stock certificates. I don't know if there are special requirements for plain notarizing. But, I do notice they always read over what I'm having them notarize and ask questions about the document.

 

[kc10family]

Past problems or not, I guess I just see this as discrimination. If your going to require one family to notarize the form then all families should. And this should be done prior to the kids auditioning for this group not after things are rolling along.
This may be a one time wonder for my DD, we shall see how the rest of the summer goes.

Just wondered what you all thought of it.

 

[themilesfamily]

Yeah, it kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Despite the fact that they may feel they have a good reason for doing it, it just seems a little bit spiteful. I know I would feel bad if I was the family who was singled out to notarize the rules form.

Perhaps they're trying to push out this particular family.

 

[tasha99]

I'm a notary, and I would notarize something like that without thinking twice. That's exactly what notaries do--they just check that the person signing is who they say they are, write it in their notary book, and then stamp and sign. There is no judgment about how appropriate the document is, except in cases of things like birth certificates, which can't be notarized in Oregon.

As for it being discrimination, my guess is it's only legal discrimination if they're singling out a protected class (making the family go that extra mile because of their race, religion, etc.) But it's weird, that's for sure, and kind of obnoxious. Maybe there is a history of the family not following the rules? Even so, you'd think signing it in front of someone from the group would be enough.

 

[ksjayhawks]

My guess would be that there is a history with this parent and the rules. Perhaps the parent him(her)self did not sign the rules in the past--maybe forgot and had someone else do it and then complained/made trouble.

I am sure he was not singled out without a good reason. I would forget about it and let those that run the organization handle it.

 

[bumbershoot]

from what I see/hear it seems to be the people who are in charge just dont like the parent.


I am sure it comes from something in the past, but I have been at every practice this summer (we are new to the organization) and have seen nothing wrong with child or that parent.

oh, this is only a summer run thing.

And if he doesnt follow the rules, why let them participate anyway. Its not a public thing, the kids audition to get in. Tell the kid they didnt make it in this year if you dont like that parent.

Not taking the kid is punishing the kid for what it seems the parents have done in the past.

I would think that LAST summer, when you weren't there, there were problems and it turned out the family hadn't read the rules, and didn't know. Perhaps they didn't take the kid to the last performance, or something like that. Or the kid didn't get a solo (I figure this is a singing thing b/c of your sig?) and the parents raised a stink even though the rules said "no stinks to be raised" lol.

So in this case, the notary could be a way to have "proof" that the parents hopefully read it, because they had to go to the annoyance of having it notarized. Seems a clunky way to do it, if what is oging on in my imagination is accurate.

But I can't really see how someone *else* signing it could have caused a problem.

I jsut kind of think...if this family has proven themselves to be a problem, then they get extra steps to go through.

However, I don't think it should have been made public by the organization if indeed it's the organization publicizing it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Did the organization publicly tell Dad he has to have the form notarized (like handing out the forms to all and loudly saying as they handed him his form that he needs it notoraized), or is Dad publicizing this by complaining and/or asking about why he needs it notarized loudly in front of others? I do not think the organization should make it public that they are asking this--ideally they should put it in writing and hand that letter to dad stapled to the top of the rules he needs to read, sign and have notarized.

I agree with someone above (and it was one of the points I tried to make earlier) that NOT accepting the child into the program if the child is talented and wants to be there because the parents mess up is harsh and it is better FOR THE CHILD if the organization can push the parent in some way to follow the rules and still allow the child to participate.

I agree that probably something happened last year that you are (rightfully) unaware of. Maybe Dad claimed HE did not sign the form, that the non custodial parent or a grandparent or someone else did. Who knows. That the organization is taking steps to insure this child can continue to participate in spite of her family's apparent past history of causing trouble in some way seems admirable to me (as long as THEY are not the ones who made this condition public).
I am thinking of theatre (as that is where most of my experience has been) and I can tell you it is very unfair to ALL of the cast if one member habitually misses (or is late to) rehearsals, misses finals rehearsals, etc and it is near catastrophic if someone in the cast simply decides not to show up for a performance. It is also very disruptive to have "stage parents" insist on being backstage or at final rehearsals (we will set up AV links so they can watch from another room and know their child is safe). Some parents are just not okay with committing to this level so we have very clear guidelines we spell out from the get go and do have both parents and kids sign they will follow. I have had to kick only one child out (just wouldn't behave--she was not ready for that kind of environment yet) and had one child pulled when mom realized we were serious about her not being backstage, but that is it for big problems over the years. I think the signed rules cut out half our issues from the get go (many families DID decide this was not for them when that form came home--which is fine, lots of things aren't for me either; good to learn that from the get go).