8 Year-Old Gets 'Catastrophe Award' for Most Homework Excuses

[Viva Las Espuelas]

She's a mother
In all her parental glory, I'm sure she's more satisfied talking to a TV station about her "outrage" over her wittle baby being embarrassed at school.

Pendeja!!

The mother of an 8-year-old Arizona girl who was presented with a"Catastrophe Award" for apparently having the most excuses for not having homework believes her child was humiliated by her teacher.Christina Valdez said her daughter, Cassandra Garcia, came home one day from class at Desert Springs Academy in Tucson, Ariz., with the paper award.The do ent, which looks like a colorful card, contained the following message: "You're Tops! Catastrophe Award. Awarded to Cassandra Garcia. For Most Excuses for Not Having Homework."The teacher signed the card "Ms. Plowman," added the date - May 18, 2012 - and even included a smiley face.The teacher announced the award in front of the entire class, and the other students laughed at her daughter,Luck_The_Fakers_Valdez said in a Thursday interview with ABC TV affiliate KGUN-TV in TucsonLuck_The_Fakers_.When she contacted the school to complain, the principal "blew me off," Valdez added. "She said it was a joke that was played and that the teachers joke around with the children."But Valdez told KGUN that she didn't find any of it funny."I think it's cruel and no child should be given an award like this. It's disturbing," she said, adding that she was not aware her daughter had a problem with homework, and that the girl had been enrolled in an after-school homework assistance program.Desert Springs Academy's principal declined to comment to a KGUN reporter, the affiliate reported.

[BacktoBasics]

I'm all for criticizing lazy parenting and I'm all for pointing fingers at whiny mothers but this award is obnoxious and uncalled for. If this kid was in fact enrolled in an after school program for homework can we not assume that this mother is at least seeking some guidance and help. To insult and publicly humiliate an 8 year old really shows what an egotistical self righteous coward this teacher really is. This teacher really showed her true love of teaching by mocking a defenseless little girl in front of her peers.

Not all surprised to see you defend that.

[BacktoBasics]

I'm all for criticizing lazy parenting and I'm all for pointing fingers and whiny mothers but this award is obnoxious and uncalled for. If this kid was in fact enrolled in an after school program for homework can we not assume that this mother is at least seeking some guidance and help. To insult and publicly humiliate an 8 year old really shows what an egotistical self righteous coward this teacher really is. This teacher really showed her true love of teaching by mocking a defenseless little girl in front of her peers.

Not all surprised to see you defend that.

[BacktoBasics]

I'm not fixing that either.

[cantthinkofanything]

I'm all for criticizing lazy parenting and I'm all for pointing fingers and whiny mothers but this award is obnoxious and uncalled for. If this kid was in fact enrolled in an after school program for homework can we not assume that this mother is at least seeking some guidance and help. To insult and publicly humiliate an 8 year old really shows what an egotistical self righteous coward this teacher really is. This teacher really showed her true love of teaching by mocking a defenseless little girl in front of her peers.

Not all surprised to see you defend that.

Let's try something. Close your eyes. Replay the story in your head. Pretend your are in the classroom situated above everyone. You hear the award given out, the class laughing. Now open your eyes. What color is the girl? Is she laughing too? Does she have a knife? Doesn't look so defenseless now does she?

[manufan10]

I'm all for criticizing lazy parenting and I'm all for pointing fingers at whiny mothers but this award is obnoxious and uncalled for. If this kid was in fact enrolled in an after school program for homework can we not assume that this mother is at least seeking some guidance and help. To insult and publicly humiliate an 8 year old really shows what an egotistical self righteous coward this teacher really is. This teacher really showed her true love of teaching by mocking a defenseless little girl in front of her peers.

Not all surprised to see you defend that.

Was this your daughter?

[Viva Las Espuelas]

He obviously doesn't see how stupid taking this to the TV station is. Considering the source, Its no surprise.

[BacktoBasics]

Was this your daughter?

No its just an obvious observation. No one is more critical of the current state of parenting and the absolute void of responsibility and general babying behavioral patterns we see daily. I'm always first in line to drop the blame on the home front before the school front. I think its a good thing to ride and push young kids. But what was gained by condescendingly awarding this child for failure? This was not a push in the right direction. Mocking, insulting and belittling an 8 year old is about as unproductive as it gets. Its classless and cowardly.

Had this teacher sent the mother this award I might...might have laughed but she choose to embarrass a child she should be motivating.

As a parent I would probably be pissed off too. Her job is to teach not insult, belittle or attack the psyche of a child. If the kid is unteachable or unmanageable then say something but this ing school yard form of entertainment is in poor taste.

[manufan10]

He obviously doesn't see how stupid taking this to the TV station is. Considering the source, Its no surprise.

If the mother and the daughter were really humiliated, by a class no larger than 30, how much more humiliated should they be now that this has been brought to light by national media? Now there is even more people laughing at them.

[BacktoBasics]

He obviously doesn't see how stupid taking this to the TV station is. Considering the source, Its no surprise.

I never said it wasn't stupid taking it to the TV station. Its no surprise that the best you have is to create a stance that I never took so you could tear it down instead of actually discussing the topic. I would never have approached TV or print but that is besides the point.

She did in fact contact the school first. Its not as if she didn't seek an explanation.

But more importantly despite the fact that you don't agree with how she handled it the teacher was way out of line.

You want to attack the parent fine. If its justified its justified but attacking an 8 year old the way this teacher did was completely pointless and only fueled by self serving entertainment. This teacher wasn't "teaching" this kid anything.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Funny. I never made my stance about what the teacher did, either.

Considering the source, Its no surprise.

[JudynTX]

Did the student pass or get held back?

[BacktoBasics]

Funny. I never made my stance about what the teacher did, either.

Then redeem yourself. This mother or who you called a "Pendeja" was blown off by the school over this. Instead of standing by or letting it go she choose to go to war.

So feel free to clarify.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Going to a TV station wouldn't be on my list of options. That's why she's a pendeja. Saying that she had no idea of this problem shows that she's a pendeja. I don't believe she made any mention that she didn't receive any progress reports or anything of the such. If I was unaware of the problem and I didn't receive any progress reports, much less pay attention to her frickin' report card, then I'd be saying I never received any notification of any problem.

I'd deal with that, first, before I went to any damn TV station and before I dealt with the teacher on what she did.

[Chingo Bling]

That dumb bish. Che's not paying attention to her hija. It's her fault that the little mensa got that award. How did che not know that her homework wasn't getting done. That afterschool chit obviously wasn't working.

[BacktoBasics]

Going to a TV station wouldn't be on my list of options. That's why she's a pendeja. Saying that she had no idea of this problem shows that she's a pendeja. I don't believe she made any mention that she didn't receive any progress reports or anything of the such. If I was unaware of the problem and I didn't receive any progress reports, much less pay attention to her frickin' report card, then I'd be saying I never received any notification of any problem.

I'd deal with that, first, before I went to any damn TV station and before I dealt with the teacher on what she did.

So basically you refuse to address the teachers actions which is what specifically prompted the response from the parent.

I don't think her commit about having "no idea" that there was an issue is as telling or damning as you want it to be. It sounds like what she was saying was that she wasn't aware of any current pressing issues and followed that up with the fact that her child was receiving after school care for the very problem the teacher attacked the child over. Basically saying that the issue was being addressed and that she wasn't aware of any pressing problems moving forward...that is until her child was singled out and ridiculed by a grown adult.

Her statement doesn't at all suggest that she was completely oblivious. Only that she wasn't aware of further issue beyond the after school care her child was receiving.

I think you're quick to jump on this lady because she chose to wage a war in defense of her child instead of piling on the kid like the teacher did. You've now overreacted to her overreaction.

[O.J. Simpson]

Instead of wasting your time ing to a TV station about your re ed daughter, how about using that energy to making your kid less re ed?

[manufan10]

She should be happy that her daughter got an award, tbh.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

So basically you refuse to address the teachers actions which is what specifically prompted the response from the parent.

You obviously can't read.

Considering the source, Its no surprise.

[Jt.ONE]

how hard is it to just simply do the damn hw in the first place?

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

lol people who can't see how lazy and egotistical teachers are and instead want to criticize a mom for defending her daughter.

If the teacher was so frustrated and concerned over the daughter making excuses for not doing homework, why didn't the teacher ever contact the mom? Teachers always and moan about not being paid enough, why don't they ever take some initiative and demonstrate why they deserve more pay.

[Reck]

I read the le as "8 year-Old Gets 'Castrated Award' for Most Homework Excuses"

[desflood]

how hard is it to just simply do the damn hw in the first place?

Adults see that more easily than kids do, unfortunately. So many times I've had to say, "Just jump through the damn hoops now, son, and someday when you're an adult you won't have to anymore."

If the girl was actually embarrassed by this she'll start doing the homework. If not, then it's mom with the problem.

[ploto]

If the teacher was so frustrated and concerned over the daughter making excuses for not doing homework, why didn't the teacher ever contact the mom?

But how do you know she did not. I talked with a couple of teachers last week who had screaming parents because their kids are going to fail a class, and somehow in the last month of school suddenly think something should be done about it. These are teachers who have called the home throughout the school year; sent e-mails to the home; sent notes home, and never once heard from the parent. These are schools with all the grades online for the parent to see that the kid has tons of 0's. But nothing. Too late.

If an 8-year old is not doing her homework, the parents have some responsibility. Sending her to some program and expecting them to fix it is not being a parent.

That being said- the award thing is stupid. I am guessing that the teacher (like many elementary teachers) gave every student some kind of award to end the school year, and she gave this girl the award for the most excuses for not doing her homework. All part of the idea that every kid is great at something and she was tops at this.

[mrsmaalox]

Dumb teacher.