Mother Angered By Award Given To Her 8-Year-Old Daughter

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 document, 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, Valdez said in a Thursday interview with ABC TV affiliate KGUN-TV in Tucson.

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.

Source

- - -

What do you think? Should the mother learn to take a joke or does she have every right to be upset?

I had just read this. I think the mother should be ashamed. How are you not involved in your child's education? I applaud the teacher, but instead of giving the award to the student, it should have been sent to the mother.

If the excuses were legit, I side with the mother.
If the excuses were made up and/or bad excuses, I side with the teacher.

>Implies kids was embarrassed in front of classmates.

>Tells the world

God I hate America's average citizen.

That's a terrible award. Even as a joke that's just inappropriate, especially children at that age. She has every reason to be upset that her child was given that "award".

A story like this happens every year. Parents need to learn to take a joke.

A story like this happens every year. Parents need to learn to take a joke.

DharmaMember77

That would be a joke for highschool or college age people, not 8 year olds. The concept of sarcrasm and a joke like that wouldn't have reached them.

Poor kid was probably made fun of a lot because of it.

When I was in 5th grade if you didn't do your homework the teached beat the dog snot out of you with a wooden paddle. I got whacked a few times it hurt like hell not only that it was humiliating.

That's a terrible award. Even as a joke that's just inappropriate, especially children at that age. She has every reagon to be upset that her child was given that "award".

Wasdie

as funny as that is....just not for an 8 year old.

As a teacher, a big middle finger for both the teacher and the parent.

Why do 8 year olds have homework??MrPraline

I don't know. Why do eight year olds have homework?

If a teacher is upset about a kid not doing her hw then she should call the parent not go off and pull some stupid **** like this.

That's a terrible award. Even as a joke that's just inappropriate, especially children at that age. She has every reason to be upset that her child was given that "award".

Wasdie

I've had teachers that do stuff like this for most of my education and we all found these kind of things hilarious, even those who it was directed at. Parents need to stop overeacting and if the kid really was embarrased by it then making this a widely avaliable news story is incredibly f*cking stupid.

Bit harsh for an 8 year old. On the other hand, she'll do her homework now.

I've had teachers that do stuff like this for most of my education and we all found these kind of things hilarious, even those who it was directed at. Parents need to stop overeacting and if the kid really was embarrased by it then making this a widely avaliable news story is incredibly f*cking stupid.

Phoenix534

This shouldn't affect her in the slightest. If she doesn't want to do homework, she won't do homework.

This changes nothing.

Kids do need to learn tough love instead of being pampered for everything positive they do.ExoticAnimal

as lenny henry once quoted:

"beat if he's been bad,

beat him if he's bad,

beat him to show how much you love him

beat him till your arms hurt so much you have to beat him for making your arms hurt so much..."

This shouldn't affect her in the slightest. If she doesn't want to do homework, she won't do homework.

This changes nothing.

Necrifer

Why doesn't the parent keep track of her daughter's homework habits?

[QUOTE="Necrifer"]

This shouldn't affect her in the slightest. If she doesn't want to do homework, she won't do homework.

This changes nothing.

Nibroc420

Hm i'm pretty sure she's angry because a teacher made her kid cry to be honest...

This is funny. And it was the mothes fault why her daughter didn't turn her homework. My brother always helps his 7 year old with his homework or else he gets checked.

[QUOTE="Nibroc420"][QUOTE="Necrifer"]

This shouldn't affect her in the slightest. If she doesn't want to do homework, she won't do homework.

This changes nothing.

Ilovegames1992

Hm i'm pretty sure she's angry because a teacher made her kid cry to be honest...

And now having this being news is even more embarrassing!

Ah... Modern journalism...

Ever wondered if big, important stuff is happening in Austria, Poland or Argentina? Well, tough luck. You will read this story about some girl who lost her braces and you will like it.

You will read this story about some girl who lost her braces and you will like it. LordQuorthon

As a teacher, a big middle finger for both the teacher and the parent.

Blabadon

Oh people need to get over it, the award was obviously far from malicious, and I highly doubt she was the only student given a gag award. I remember I won the "Absent-Minded Professor" award in 8th grade for making in Algebra I, yet the highest grade on the end of course exam, and thought it was hilarious. It should also be said that my award, like her's, was given for something well in control of its recipient, and not a personal attack on apperance, religion or anything of that matter.

L

O

L

No one nowadays has a sense of humor. I got 2 awards like this when I was in high school, and one in 2nd grade, and my classmates thought it was hilariously awesome.

I hope this doesn't escalate any higher, because this is incredibly stupid.

If the excuses were legit, I side with the mother.
If the excuses were made up and/or bad excuses, I side with the teacher.

JML897

I can guarantee that it was nearly all "I forgot to do it".

[QUOTE="JML897"]

If the excuses were legit, I side with the mother.
If the excuses were made up and/or bad excuses, I side with the teacher.

WiiCubeM1

I can guarantee that it was nearly all "I forgot to do it".

Yeah. Or "I was too tired", "I forgot my book at school", etc.

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

[QUOTE="JML897"]

If the excuses were legit, I side with the mother.
If the excuses were made up and/or bad excuses, I side with the teacher.

JML897

I can guarantee that it was nearly all "I forgot to do it".

Yeah. Or "I was too tired", "I forgot my book at school", etc.

Just stupid things we all did in school.

That's hilarious.

A story like this happens every year. Parents need to learn to take a joke.

DharmaMember77

You can tell which users had underdeveloped coping mechanisms as children ITT.

if the girl would be in high school i'd say that the mother doesn't need to do a big deal.

but she is 8 years old.

thats humilliating and can be even be traumatic for a kid that age.lightleggy

lol

If that's the worst the kid has to deal with in her school years then she'll be lucky. Although judging by her overreactionary mother I'm guessing it won't be.

[QUOTE="DharmaMember77"]

A story like this happens every year. Parents need to learn to take a joke.

lightleggy

I don't really have an opinion about this one way or another, however was the mother expecting to make it less humiliating by going to the media and actually using the child's name?ujjval16