I didn't know teachers were in place to hand out life lessons.

 

This obviously was malicious, to me it is a nice way of saying, "least likely to get laid and even if you do no one is going to want to have kids with you".

 

Whatever their 'relationship' is it is trumped when the child says he was humiliated and put down. I don't get how this is some far out concept. A line was crossed.

I don't think that's what it was saying. I think it went hand and hand with "Sir-Clowns-A-Lot". Who knows what the kid actually feels and what his parents are telling him to feel. If he won the class clown award, like yankeefan said, he knows some good-natured ribbing.

 

I highly doubt the teachers went into it thinking this kid is never going to have sex and we should embarass the hell out of him. If it was one teacher maybe, but not an entire school staff. I'm going to give them more credit then that.

Did you read the article?

 

It does say how he felt (if you want to insinuate this was his parents whispering in his ear go ahead but I'll take him at his own word).

 

It was two teachers, not a school staff.

It's going through his parents. Parents get more upset about these things all the time then the kids do.

Yeah, I'm dealing with complete facts from the article you are talking in speculation to support your idea. Impossible to discuss anything after that.

You're taking what you read in the article and acting like it's automatically true with only hearing one side of it. I wonder what the teachers have to say about it.

The school system confirmed what the family/student said, I don't get what the disconnect is.

The kid might or might not be drumming things up, but I don't really care.

 

That kind of behavior is totally inappropriate from teachers.

 

I bet you his friends said something worse to him 5 minutes before.

It's a trillion times worse coming from any figure of authority, let alone a teacher.

 

I'll admit, though, that the mom's statement about her kid needing counseling now "because of the awards," along with what *appears* to be some kind of effort on her part to pick the shrink, sounds fishy.

I get feeling humiliated, but this acting withdrawn and counseling crap sounds like a couple of parents trying to make some cheddar from their child's misfortune. And I'm sure the kid earned the awards, I doubt the teachers just decided to embarass a random student for fun.

 

(edited for grammar)

Yep, exactly. I doubt this kid was some quiet kid who never messed with anybody. He was probably the class clown.

 

So what if he was. I dont know how old everyone on this board is, but I still remember middle school and I recall PLENTY of times kids got in trouble for things they didn't do. This is uncalled for, the teachers should be fired, their licenses revoked, and the kid should be awarded a large sum of cash for this in a courtroom.

I get feeling humiliated, but this acting withdrawn and counseling crap sounds like a couple of parents trying to make some cheddar from their child's misfortune. And I'm sure the kid earned the awards, I doubt the teachers just decided to embarass a random student for fun.

 

(edited for grammar)

Yep, exactly. I doubt this kid was some quiet kid who never messed with anybody. He was probably the class clown.

 

So what if he was. I dont know how old everyone on this board is, but I still remember middle school and I recall PLENTY of times kids got in trouble for things they didn't do. This is uncalled for, the teachers should be fired, their licenses revoked, and the kid should be awarded a large sum of cash for this in a courtroom.

 

Why don't you just hang them too?

 

 

I know this is inappropriate for teachers to do (I am one) but if they don't fire teachers for corporal punishment, they certainly won't fire them for this. What will probably happen is the school board will demand a formal apology to the parents, the teachers will get an unacceptable evaluation, probably get suspended without pay for 30 days and then, it's over.

 

Unless you've been in a classroom, you have no idea how difficult it is to deal with students who seem to earn his kind of recognition. And I'm willing to bet the parents have been uncooperative in dealing with their child's behavior problems all year long. Although I wouldn't be stupid enough to flash the light on their child......

 

They made a stupid new teacher mistake. No one on this board can honestly say they have never made a mistake. Let's put this into perspective. No one got killed and I don't doubt with the mentality of the kid in question, he probably forgot about the comment 3 nano seconds after it was made. He probably boasted of the award before his parents figured out it was rude. Pure conjecture here, but these are the same kids who jump up and down for joy when they make a D-. They shout, "Yes! I passed!" and clap their hands gleefully. What outstanding young representatives of our society to come. The only mistake those teachers made was to put it out there for everyone to see. I prefer keeping comments like those to myself.

I get feeling humiliated, but this acting withdrawn and counseling crap sounds like a couple of parents trying to make some cheddar from their child's misfortune. And I'm sure the kid earned the awards, I doubt the teachers just decided to embarass a random student for fun.

 

(edited for grammar)

Yep, exactly. I doubt this kid was some quiet kid who never messed with anybody. He was probably the class clown.

 

So what if he was. I dont know how old everyone on this board is, but I still remember middle school and I recall PLENTY of times kids got in trouble for things they didn't do. This is uncalled for, the teachers should be fired, their licenses revoked, and the kid should be awarded a large sum of cash for this in a courtroom.

 

Why don't you just hang them too?

 

 

I know this is inappropriate for teachers to do (I am one) but if they don't fire teachers for corporal punishment, they certainly won't fire them for this. What will probably happen is the school board will demand a formal apology to the parents, the teachers will get an unacceptable evaluation, probably get suspended without pay for 30 days and then, it's over.

 

Unless you've been in a classroom, you have no idea how difficult it is to deal with students who seem to earn his kind of recognition. And I'm willing to bet the parents have been uncooperative in dealing with their child's behavior problems all year long. Although I wouldn't be stupid enough to flash the light on their child......

 

They made a stupid new teacher mistake. No one on this board can honestly say they have never made a mistake. Let's put this into perspective. No one got killed and I don't doubt with the mentality of the kid in question, he probably forgot about the comment 3 nano seconds after it was made. He probably boasted of the award before his parents figured out it was rude. Pure conjecture here, but these are the same kids who jump up and down for joy when they make a D-. They shout, "Yes! I passed!" and clap their hands gleefully. What outstanding young representatives of our society to come. The only mistake those teachers made was to put it out there for everyone to see. I prefer keeping comments like those to myself.

 

And perhaps you've forgotten how difficult it is to be a child. Esepcially a child with a learning and/or behavioral disability. I don't need to be a teacher, but I was one of those children (not w a learning disability per se), but I went to a school with not much money, where in class I was constantly bored by the material, and not a single teacher knew how to handle me or the other students who were like me. And many of those teachers did similar things to this, but it never made the news, and our lives were hell. And it doesnt matter how many yeras you;ve been a teacher, unless you were one of those children you have no idea the effect that this has on one's life. It took me years to recover from what some of those teachers did to us, it affected me throughout high school and to some extent even in some of my dealings now.

 

And you know what you're right maybe we should hang them. In elemntary school a teacher is almost like a god to these kids, and the feeling of helplessness and ineptitude a student feels when interacting with a teacher is incredible. These things are far worse than any corporal punishment.

No, I haven't forgotten what it is like to be a child. I'm sorry you had a disability but your teacher was not to blame, nor was the school system.

 

but I went to a school with not much money, where in class I was constantly bored by the material, and not a single teacher knew how to handle me or the other students who were like me.

Welcome to Miami-Dade County. There is not one school with tons of money. We have to make our own copies- that's how bad it is. I have to buy my own ink for the printer in the closet I'm allowed to store my stuff in.

 

In elemntary school a teacher is almost like a god to these kids

Those days are long gone. Kids - as young as kindergarten- question everything. I asked a 2nd grader early on this school year to get out a piece of paper and a pencil. They said they didn't have one. I asked why they didn't. The kid proudly said that it was the school's responsibility to give him his paper and pencil so he can do his work. Most parents don't respect the system and neither do their kids.

 

 

And you know what you're right maybe we should hang them.

Perhaps we shouldn't. Just think- if we hang for this kind of offense, what do we do for more heinous crimes. You can only die once, right?

No, I haven't forgotten what it is like to be a child. I'm sorry you had a disability but your teacher was not to blame, nor was the school system.

 

but I went to a school with not much money, where in class I was constantly bored by the material, and not a single teacher knew how to handle me or the other students who were like me.

Welcome to Miami-Dade County. There is not one school with tons of money. We have to make our own copies- that's how bad it is. I have to buy my own ink for the printer in the closet I'm allowed to store my stuff in.

 

In elemntary school a teacher is almost like a god to these kids

Those days are long gone. Kids - as young as kindergarten- question everything. I asked a 2nd grader early on this school year to get out a piece of paper and a pencil. They said they didn't have one. I asked why they didn't. The kid proudly said that it was the school's responsibility to give him his paper and pencil so he can do his work. Most parents don't respect the system and neither do their kids.

 

 

And you know what you're right maybe we should hang them.

Perhaps we shouldn't. Just think- if we hang for this kind of offense, what do we do for more heinous crimes. You can only die once, right?

 

By disability I mean I was ahead of the class, but the school had no advanced programs. Regardless, the way the teachers chose to handle students like me was their fault and the fault of the schools. And it wasn't my individualized ability and or problems that caused any psychological damage it was the teacher's ways of handling such problems. I had one good teacher in that school that gave several of us side projects that we had to complete in additon to our coursework in order to keep us engaged. A great example of what I'm saying is, kid is hyperactive and possibly suffers from ADHD, finishes an exam early b/c he knew all the answers. Without noticing begins tapping his pen annoyingly on his desk. Teachers asks who is doing it, kid beign honest whispers to her it was me sorry and stops. Teacher gets angry and gives kid an F on the exam. And thats just one of many examples. That is not a good teacher, and things like that happening constantly to children is not good for them psychologically.

A great example of what I'm saying is, kid is hyperactive and possibly suffers from ADHD, finishes an exam early b/c he knew all the answers. Without noticing begins tapping his pen annoyingly on his desk. Teachers asks who is doing it, kid beign honest whispers to her it was me sorry and stops. Teacher gets angry and gives kid an F on the exam. And thats just one of many examples. That is not a good teacher, and things like that happening constantly to children is not good for them psychologically.

That doesn't even make sense. A test is graded on its own merit. Unless the kid was using a tap-code to help others cheat, there's no way that the child's test is going to be invalidated due to a perceived behavioral problem.

Here is an updated piece on the situation including more detail on what some of you thought of as innocent awards.

A school corporation is apologizing after a family questioned two "awards" their son received.

 

The family says Decatur Township teachers gave Matt Porter the "most likely to not have any kids" award and another certificate that says "Sir Clowns A-Lot." It may have been a joke, but the family isn't laughing.

 

Matt Porter Jr. struggled to pass sixth grade and occasionally did things that got him called out.

 

"I would be told to sit down and stuff like that, but not any serious trouble," he said.

 

Matt says he improved his grades and behavior in the past two months. When Decatur Intermediate Learning Center gave out end-of-the-year awards, teachers gave Matt two certificates: "Most likely to not have any kids." and "Sir Clowns Alot."

 

Matt says the embarrassment took place in front of two classes. "They were laughing and pointing at me. I went to sit down and they were pointing and everything."

 

"I was just disappointed in the school," said Matt Porter Sr., Matt's father.

 

Matt's parents are upset that one award says, "for always doing things in the middle of class that have nothing to do with what's going on. And having the ability to have no idea what's going on at any given moment."

 

"I don't think it's something you can call an award. Awards are something you get for being good and exceeding at something," said Porter.

 

"He worked really hard the last nine weeks so he could pass and then they give him the 'Sir Clowns A Lot, saying he doesn't have the ability to know anything at any given moment just shot that down," said Amy Sims, Matt's mother.

 

Eyewitness News tried to reach the school and the teachers who signed the certificates. Matt wants them to apologize, and not just to him.

 

"I think the teachers should apologize to both of the classes," said Matt.

 

Late Friday, Decatur Township schools issued a statement saying they had apologized to the Porter family for what happened. They also said the "awards" were not part of the school system's official awards program.

 

Complete statement from Decatur Township schools:

 

"The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township acknowledges you contacting us about the very unfortunate situation that has occurred in one of our schools. As soon as the matter was brought to our attention it was immediately investigated and addressed with the teachers even prior to the situation being the subject of media attention.

 

The awards that were given were not part of the school awards program but were done in an informal individual classroom setting one of the last days of school involving two classrooms. School officials met with the parents and their child as soon as the School District learned what happened. The School District offered to follow-up with counseling services. The meeting concluded with an apology to the child and to the parent on behalf of the teachers and the School District. We were very concerned about the impact on students.

 

We agree that the awards are completely inexcusable. Appropriate actions have been taken with the individuals involved. This incident does not reflect the philosophy and beliefs of the Board of Education and the School District."

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=666...p;nav=menu188_2

Why did he barely pass 6th grade?

 

Does he honestly struggle, or is he a goof off who doesn't do his work?

I don't see how an award called "Sir-Clowns-A-Lot" is inappropriate, sounds like the Class Clown or funniest student award. Heck that was a highly coveted award when I was in school.

 

but "Most Likely Not To Have Any Kids".... I can't even begin to imagine the thinking behind that one.

 

Pretty lame of the teacher.

 

Bad form! :thumbdown

bring back some of the old buttons...it's too dull and dark on the color side.

I won "Most likely to be caught with pants down at a highway rest area." Still don't know what that means, exactly.

bring back some of the old buttons...it's too dull and dark on the color side.

I won "Most likely to be caught with pants down at a highway rest area." Still don't know what that means, exactly.

lol what did you quote?

Why did he barely pass 6th grade?

 

Does he honestly struggle, or is he a goof off who doesn't do his work?

What in the world does that have to do with a teacher handing out a "Least Likely Not To Have Kids Award?

 

Do you know what the role of a teacher is? :banghead

 

Some of you are trying too hard to prove your point/original stance then to make sense.

 

This is going in circles, I'm done.

A great example of what I'm saying is, kid is hyperactive and possibly suffers from ADHD, finishes an exam early b/c he knew all the answers. Without noticing begins tapping his pen annoyingly on his desk. Teachers asks who is doing it, kid beign honest whispers to her it was me sorry and stops. Teacher gets angry and gives kid an F on the exam. And thats just one of many examples. That is not a good teacher, and things like that happening constantly to children is not good for them psychologically.

That doesn't even make sense. A test is graded on its own merit. Unless the kid was using a tap-code to help others cheat, there's no way that the child's test is going to be invalidated due to a perceived behavioral problem.

 

Maybe you didn't pick up my use of third person, but this happened to me. Feel free to send me a personal message and I'll be more than happy to tell you the teacher's name, the school, and people who were present when it happened. My test was invalidated b/c I was tapping my pen after I turned the test in but others were still taking it. Feel free to send me a private message for more information.

I won "Most likely to be caught with pants down at a highway rest area." Still don't know what that means, exactly.

lol what did you quote?

Try the link now. It's from There's Something About Mary. :thumbup

Those 2 teachers should definitely be reprimanded and suspended without pay for 30 days. I also believe they should be moved to another school within the district. Not sure the age, but I believe it was a middle school...which means this kid could see a conflict in his schedule where he may have to take them again. The kid should not move schools, the 2 teachers should.

 

Whether the kid was bad or not, to embarass him with an award of "Most Likely To Not Have Kids" was cruel and damaging. This is not a grown adult, this is a sixth grader. How are these teachers supposed to support good behavior when they themselves bullied this kid? To embarass a kid like that is just them being big bullies.....or do we allow sixth graders to teach other sixth graders now?