AP
It’s come to this
The students were allowed to choose their own incentive to meet the reading goal, but instead of a reward, the class chose a punishment: Students who failed to meet the goal could either stay inside at recess until it was met, or have their faces written on by classmates who met the goals.
Nine students didn’t meet the goals. Three of them chose to forgo recess, and the other six chose to have their faces marked on.
“Although all the students in the class agreed to the incentive, once it occurred it was not so well received. Nor should it have been,” Smyer said.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
I am not for grading on a curve or molly-coddling kids in school. I think we need tough standards and higher expectations out of students and teachers. But this is outrageous, over-the-top and highly uncalled for.
hawkdriver on November 19, 2012 at 7:45 PM
This is why the opinions of fourth graders should be scrutinized.
Then again, I’m not sure our electorate are much better at making decisions anymore.
blink on November 19, 2012 at 7:46 PM
Finally, something in school NOT designed to inculcate self-esteem, but shame.
keep the change on November 19, 2012 at 7:48 PM
BLANKET PARTY!!
Ugly on November 19, 2012 at 7:50 PM
This is crazy. My best friend in grade school had dyslexia so his reading skills weren’t quite as good as others, should he have had his face marked on? They need to shame the teacher at a PTA meeting in the same way.
Russ86 on November 19, 2012 at 7:56 PM
You’re kidding, right?
hawkdriver on November 19, 2012 at 8:03 PM
The teacher in question, is literally allowing the inmates to run the institution. They are nine years old, and they are under the care of a teacher because they are too inexperienced to make trustworthy decisions.
sharrukin on November 19, 2012 at 8:07 PM
Hey, what’s really outrageous was when my seventh grade math teacher joined the children in my class to pretend an assignment was due when it wasn’t, specifically to embarrass me, the class nerd, knowing how abashed I would be at “failing” my homework.
In nerd terms, kind of a mock execution.
Mrs. Mandeville, if you’re still alive, you better believe I still hold a grudge, and you’re still a b!tch.
Seth Halpern on November 19, 2012 at 8:08 PM
Fine line between shaming and humiliation
Fezzik on November 19, 2012 at 8:18 PM
To make it more real-world the kids who didn’t read should have blamed the kids who did and then elect a teacher who would write on their faces.
29Victor on November 19, 2012 at 8:21 PM
Overall the method doesn’t seem so bad, but I guess this teacher forgot he needed to use some common sense when the kids were picking their own punishments.
I think it is time to get over it.
NotCoach on November 19, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Well at least they didn’t kill Piggy.
LincolntheHun on November 19, 2012 at 8:30 PM
No kidding. Sheesh! I don’t even know who Mrs Mandeville is, but that was harsh.
Ugly on November 19, 2012 at 8:35 PM
BTW – Google or Bing “Mrs Mandeville” and see how many results you get.
Ugly on November 19, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Think of it as a learning experience. Had you ever given a thought before that to how bad that jock who was giving you a swirlie felt when he didn’t hand in his homework?
sharrukin on November 19, 2012 at 8:38 PM
hahaha…
Ugly on November 19, 2012 at 9:01 PM
Yup, a replacement for sitting in the corner wearing a “dunce cap”. The kids choose this over forgoing recess, so no problem here.
whatcat on November 19, 2012 at 9:17 PM