6 Year Old 1st Grader Hunter Punished with the Cardboard Wall of Shame at Lincoln Elementary in Grants Pass, OR Because His Mother Got Him To School Late

READING, WRING AND THE CARDBOARD WALL OF SHAME …

Why is it that it seems that those in control of educating today’s children in schools have the least amount of judgement? Sadly, we are presented with yet another example of school officials who should be flogged for their actions. A first grade boy at the  Lincoln Elementary in Grants Pass, Oregon was punished by having to sit behind the cardboard wall of shame while eating lunch in the cafeteria with his classmates. WHAT? This was his punishment for not something he did, but for something his mom did. It appears that little Hunter was late to school because his mom’s car has trouble starting in the morning sometimes. So let’s understand this, the 6 year old has to suffer this embarrassment as a punishment for something he did not do, nor could control? Seriously? I am all for holding children accountable in school, teaching them manners, how to interact with others with respect and teaching them there are rules, but this is insane and over the line.

An Oregon school district is reviewing its tardiness punishments after a picture posted on Facebook of a 6-year-old sitting behind a cardboard screen in the lunchroom generated widespread outrage.

The Grants Pass School District issued a statement saying it “is taking the concerns raised very seriously,” and the punishment “was never intended to isolate or stigmatize students.”

Nicole Garloff says her son, Hunter, was upset when she dropped him off late at Lincoln Elementary School, so she checked on him at lunchtime. She found him sitting behind a cardboard screen. She took him home, and posted a photo on Facebook. So did the boy’s grandmother.

Pic – Facebook: Laura Hoover

Just how ignorant are those who are educating our children? District school officials wrote  that their practice of separating students behind a cardboard shield during lunch “was never intended to isolate or stigmatize students.” WHAT!!! What else could it possible do but ISOLATE OR STIGMATIZE a student. ARE YOU FRIGGING STUPID!!! What else could putting some one behind a barrier do but isolate them. We are told by our liberal edumacators that dodge-ball is stigmatizing to children. That keeping score in stigmatizing to children. We need to give everyone an award and prize so not to make some children feel … “uncomfortable”. BUT THIS IS OK.

UPDATE I: Backlash from parents over the Cardboard wall of Shame …

The boy’s parents got an apology from principal Missy Fitzsimmons on Thursday and were confident no more kids would be `placed on display” like that again. Exactly, how long was this going on?

Officials at Lincoln Elementary in Grants Pass say they plan to change the consequences for students who are tardy after a grandmother’s photo of her first-grade grandson stuck behind a cardboard wall in the school lunchroom prompted widespread outrage on Facebook and in phone calls to the district.

In a posting on the school’s web page, district officials wrote Thursday that their practice of separating students behind a cardboard shield during lunch “was never intended to isolate or stigmatize students.”

UPDATE II: Grant’s Pass, OR School District 7.

Over the past few days, there has been considerable general and social media attention regarding the Lincoln Elementary School Attendance/Tardy Catch-up Protocol.  Yesterday afternoon, Principal Fitzsimmons was able to meet with both parents to discuss their concerns.  The meeting was productive.  The parents’ concerns were politely discussed and, ultimately, the issues were resolved to the satisfaction of both the parents and the school.  All parties involved believe that an appropriate resolution has been reached and are anxious to move forward with their normal daily routines.

As a result of the concerns raised, the District ended the learning catch up location at Lincoln Elementary School.  Going forward, a separate, supervised classroom has been designated for necessary catch-up work.  The District and Lincoln Elementary will continue to work with families on an individual basis to encourage and promote student attendance.