Education

Sarcastic ‘Catastrophe Award’ Given to 3rd Grader Angers Parent

Modern day education – especially of young children- is infamously infatuated with the concept of “self-esteem.”

And within reason, why not? They’re young, they’re malleable, they’re easily damaged. It’s not as though teachers should be fountains of verbal abuse. However, when it comes to education, reason is rarely involved, as overprotective parents and overly careful teachers frequently end up taking this concept to a ludicrous extreme. That’s certainly what happened in this story, where a little gentle sarcasm from a teacher has been turned into a miniature scandal by an angry parent and some thoroughly dubious education “experts”:

Cassandra Garcia, an 8-year-old student from Tuscon, Ariz., became upset after her teacher gave her the “Catastrophe Award” for the “most excuses for not having homework.“ Garcia was given the ”award” despite having a folder full of completed assignments, KGUN-TV reports.

Garcia’s mother, Christina Valdez, was outraged by the incident, claiming the teacher humiliated her daughter in public for no reason.[...]

Teacher Gives 8 Year Old Cassandra Garcia Facetious Catastrophe Award for Most Excuses for Not Doing Homework, Prompting Garcias Mother to Complain

“That isn’t an award. It doesn’t fit the criteria,” University of Arizona College of Education psychologist Sheri Bauman told the station, saying a negative award like that is inappropriate — especially at such a young age. “They feel less than, they feel fearful of authority of what might happen if they make a mistake.”

This video report from KGUN9 TV in Tuscon gives more details on the incident:

 

Now, granted, this is a bit of a harsh way to send a message to a student about doing homework. However, look at the “award” itself. The smiley face left by the teacher seems to pretty clearly suggest that this was intended as a good natured joke:

Teacher Gives 8 Year Old Cassandra Garcia Facetious Catastrophe Award for Most Excuses for Not Doing Homework, Prompting Garcias Mother to ComplainMore to the point, shouldn’t students receive some form of negative reinforcement if they do things wrong? A joke seems the least threatening way to send a message, as opposed to, say, caning the student, or yelling at them.

With that said, it was probably wrong to make this a form of de facto public humiliation. The kid is 8. We’re not sure even Mao started the public shamings that young.

Comments (156)

1 2 3 4
  • angelcat
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:07am

    Overreaction! Many teachers give tongue in cheek awards at the end of the year. I would bet other kids got awards like this that were just meant to be good natured teasing. In 4th grade, my son got an award for being the “most persnickity” in class. We both laughed about it, and the teacher was his favorite in elementary school. I gave similar awards every year, but my students knew I liked them, and I never gave an award that picked at something that was a real sore spot for them like “least popular” or “weakest math student”. I gave things like “ most pens lost in one year” or “best giggler”.

    Report Post »  
    • Quack Addict
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:20am

      My science teacher gave me an award in high school for giving the longest answers without really answering the question. It was funny.

      Report Post » Quack Addict  
    • florida123
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:23am

      What? this little girl is 6yrs old, not 15…….

      Report Post » florida123  
    • woodyb
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:31am

      Obviously, this parent has never heard of a “BOOBY PRIZE”!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Firebrand
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:25am

      When I was little and didn’t turn in homework, my teacher gave me an award. She pinned it to my shirt. When I got home, my mother gave me multiple awards for the note. Each one prevented me from sitting down for while. I wasn’t too fond of those awards. So, I made sure to get my homework in on time…

      Report Post » Firebrand  
    • rickc34
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:29am

      Not every kid can handle it. Culture barriers and such. Like the parents being ignorant. A teacher with a good sense of humor is a good thing. Parents of this child chill out.

      Report Post »  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 2:23am

      Where are the ADULTS? ? No real adult I know use sarcasm to deal with 3rd graders. They take the time to find out why this child doesn’t get her homework done; what is going on at home; why she doesn‘t think it’s important to do it. That’s how a REAL teacher would do this.
      I have no faith in our educational system (public schools) any more. Not only have they been using school books filled with liberal/communistic/Islamic terrorist filled propaganda, but the teachers have been taught since the 50′s by these same sick minds. This is going to take a total house cleaning. Unions have gained control over the teachers (many of whom do not like this power that the Unions have) …they have ruined the educational system. Therefore I am totally in support of Mitt Romney’s Voucher that goes with the child. I would LOVE to see teachers have to compete to keep their jobs and schools to gain students. I’d love for the Teachers to be IN CONTROL of their unions, not thw way it is now. For the parents of this child…why isn’t your child doing her homework? Why not focus on that rather than filing a law suit against the school for ‘insulting your child’…be PARENTS.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • TexasKnight
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 2:24am

      Please note, the article never said the girl was upset, just the mom.
      I wonder just how many of these excuses came from home, and when the mom is called on it in a humorous way, she freaks.
      AngelCat, thanks for being a great teacher. Wish we had more like you.

      Report Post » TexasKnight  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:01am

      I wonder if there would be any mention of this if the child had been white?
      Noooooooooo…..I really don’t wonder at all.

      Report Post »  
    • ToddH
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:39am

      Florida123, the child is 8 years old, not 6, and the teacher gave her a friendly little cupcake note with a smiley face on it, not a good hard spanking with the board of education in front of the class (reminiscint of my days in elementary school).
      The child can handle this little nudge, and is way more than old enough to hear it, the only hurdle in her way now is her mother, who clearly can’t handle it.

      Report Post »  
    • Kevin The Elder
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 5:58am

      First, I‘d like to know who called this an ’award’. The school didn’t talk to the reporter. Of course that’s nitpicking, but the story itself is a bit non newsworthy for a site that purportedly reports news, so why not?

      Another thought is to wonder why would the mother allow the world to know that her 8-year-old was apparently the worst student in her class for doing her homework? It seems she wants to place the blame on the teacher for humiliating her daughter, but the teacher only did this in front of the class (who very well may have been aware as it was) while the mother is informing us all through the news media. The mother would have been better off addressing the problem itself.

      Report Post »  
    • wdittgasn
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:34am

      This story and the reaction of the parent are ridiculous….. I am close to 50 years old…… and everybody just needs to chill out, get the kid to do the work and STFU!!!

      Report Post » wdittgasn  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:54am

      What the whininess! I went to Catholic school. ‘nough said.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:08am

      Parent and teacher are BOTH coddling this child. If we could bust their little backsides for not having their homework we would be much better ioff as a nation…But take out God and take out discipline and what do you get? Our s@itty good for NOTHING education system. Now the teachers have to turn to sarcasm (tearing of flesh) because they cant tear real flesh with a paddle…

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • Todd P
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:33am

      Yup – she’s scarred for life. She’ll never recover from this.

      Report Post »  
    • Yeah_Buddy
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 10:52am

      I think each school should issue a yearly aware for ‘most assimlated illegal alien’. Now that would be something positive to recognize.

      Report Post »  
    • It_Is_What_It_Is
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 2:42pm

      It’s sad how the parent is concerned about this award but was not concerned about her daughter not turning in homework. This is probably the only time she has looked at her school work all year!

      Report Post »  
    • pickupyurcross
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 8:17pm

      When I was at camp when I was younger I got an award for “Physically ill at the sight of certain girls.” It messed me up for pretty much 10-30 seconds.

      Report Post »  
  • Melika
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:03am

    Even pretending an 8 year old can’t get a joke, so what? Don’t consider it a joke, consider it a nice reprimand that was needed. Maybe the parent does make sure her child did her homework and the kid keeps loosing it or forgetting it and making up stories. The child has some responsibility to turn in her assignments just like the other students. Maybe the teacher should have told her to stop being a lying liar and get her work done.
    To all of you who have been scarred for life from something “similar”: please quickly find a psychologist to help you. Seriously, if you stilled bothered by something that happened to you 20+ years ago not involving extreme physical and psychological abuse, you really need some help. Get over yourself and your childhood. Life is all about a pack of jerks who pick on the weak. People regularly find any difference to latch onto and exploit. The difference is how you handle it. You either embrace yourself and thrive, or you‘re finding in your 50’s that the term “four eyes” still makes you cry.
    To the still hurt person who won the pest award over the boy who was “horrible, ugly, fat and hated by everyone”: Wow. Just wow. Could you be any more self-centered? Jeez, that must have just been so rough for you. Did it ever occur to you that it was actually complimentary? That poor kid didn’t even merit an insult from them. Or maybe you won for a reason.

    Report Post »  
    • GBMBulletsSKNRD
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:27am

      Melika
      You are so as$ backward, she is 8.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:25am

      @GB…
      Right… the ole Dunce Cap and HeadMaster’s Rod… were better Behavior Adjusters!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • wordweaver
    Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:02am

    The typical 3rd grader idolizes his/her teacher. Most primary teachers know this and are very careful about being affirming in speaking to their young charges, knowing that one unkind word can cut deep. This teacher should know all of this, and yet…

    Report Post » wordweaver  
    • ToddH
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:45am

      OMG. Uncle Sucker, You have never taught grade school have you?
      What CareBear world to you live in?

      Report Post »  
    • ToddH
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 3:59am

      I have taught school and I was very lucky one year to have my class cherry-picked for me so I had all of the good kids.
      You are right: it is important to be sweet with good little Idealist children (NF temperament) who make up approx. 8 percent of the total population). For one year only, I had little kids who “idolized” me and I was very gentle with those kids, never got critical nor sarcastic with them. They all loved me.
      THEN THERE IS THE REST OF THE WORLD OF KIDS.
      I have taught impossible brats as well and their mothers are the most protective of them.
      When you are teaching the majority of the kid population, made up of SJs and SPs, expect trouble because most of these kids are looking to challenge authority and get away with anything they can. No, they do not “idolize” you, their teacher. Instead they idolize teenagers with bad attititudes, sometimes from their own families, they idolize rock stars and sports stars just like every other all-Amrican kid, they waggle their little behinds at you and skip class right in front of you.
      They actually LIKE getting into trouble. Because they like making adults angry.
      The difference is primarily defined by how much discipline they get at home, and it‘s clear by this mother’s reaction her little baby gets none.

      Report Post »  
    • Freedom Hound
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:57am

      The bigger issue is the fact that the child is not doing what is requiered of her. The parent never addresses this, just diverts from the real issue.

      Report Post » Freedom Hound  
    • wordweaver
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 9:52pm

      Sorry to hear, that, Toddh. You must be doing it wrong.

      Report Post » wordweaver  
  • girlnurse
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:55pm

    My science teacher wrote in my 7th grade yearbook: “You need to learn to live up to your potential”. He is the only teacher I really remember and he gave me the best advice..he was absolutely right! I wasn’t living up to my potential and I never forgot what he said. I took it to heart and changed partly because of the truth he told me.

    Report Post » girlnurse  
    • florida123
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:24am

      Thats very different than giving an award for bad behavior…………This is just a little girl 8yrs old!

      Report Post » florida123  
  • ArcticDodge
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:55pm

    Throw out the racism card countdown in..

    Ten

    Nine

    Eight

    Report Post »  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:44pm

    The teacher’s name is “Ms. Blowman”?!

    Wait until she teaches high school… I foresee much bigger controversies in her future!

    Report Post » N37BU6  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:10am

      It looks like Plowman to me. Get your mind out of the cesspool and up into the gutter with the rest of us, willya. :)

      Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • kcbrez
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:34pm

    I still have the “Call Me Clueless Award” given to me by my 12th grade English teacher. It’s framed, and it hangs in my home. It reads, “Perhaps if I studied harder, used my head, and just paid attention, I wouldn’t be so lame.” It’s a prized possession, and I wouldn‘t be the same without ol’ GK busting my chops when they needed to be busted. God bless that fantastic teacher. He changed my life.

    Report Post »  
    • ToddH
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:09am

      Good for you.
      I hope despite the mother‘s angry fuss this little girl also takes this teacher’s little nudge to heart and works a little harder and appies herself.

      Report Post »  
  • bdandsl
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:33pm

    Self-esteem can not be taught. It has to be earned. If a third grader isn’t doing homework, that‘s the paren’s fault not the childs,

    Report Post » bdandsl  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:17am

      BINGO! and that is precisely why the mother us up in arms. It is a reflection of her poor parenting. One is never too young to face the facts.

      Our biggest problem today is trying to build self-esteem in kids, who have none, by telling them how smart they are or how good they are when they aren’t. It confuses them. In my day, we got the paddle in school and again at home when we screwed up so we were never in doubt. Therefore, rewards meant somthing.

      Report Post »  
  • ilovetheusa1
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:33pm

    can‘t wait to read the followup story after she Lawyer’s up to sue the teacher.

    Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:26pm

    my child turns in his homework, he is 8. if he didn’t it would be my fault at this age since I am the one that checks it makes the child bathe brush teeth drives to school etc.
    this is a parental failure not child failure and should be addressed on the report card and parent teacher conference. the parents need to self assess prior to calling out the teacher if they cannot figure out how to get an 8yr old to turn in homework

    Report Post »  
    • mils
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:36pm

      this is true…at this age..parents are in control of the homework business…at least at our house it is, we care that they learn to follow through..

      Report Post »  
    • BIgWheeler
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 12:07am

      Shame on you! Of course it‘s the schools’ responsibility to raise the child, parents just need to calm down and let the government take care of things. Furthermore, the teacher should be forced to go to sensitivity training so she can better understand that children need positive re-enforcement, or they’ll grow up with self esteem issues… YUCK, I’m making myself sick just typing this! God forbid the parents actually raise their children. What’s the matter? Was Dancing With the Stars more important than teaching your kid about responsibility?

      Report Post » BIgWheeler  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:05am

      I never had homework in grade school…not once. None of us did where I went to school…not until Junior High.

      Report Post » riseandshine  
  • possom
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:24pm

    I smell another stupid lawsuit coming.

    Report Post » possom  
  • rednckpreacher
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:12pm

    It was a gag award! the smiley face tells it all. Wow are we ever sensitive. So if she was always making excuses for not having her homework done( sounds like me!) maybe she’ll quit making excuses and do the work. And if you dont like our liberla government schools , do you and your kid a favor that they will be grateful for when they are 21. HOMESCHOOL!

    Report Post » rednckpreacher  
    • Charlie
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:30pm

      An 8th grader doesn’t understand sarcasm. They would not understand this as a “joke”. This is a backhanded criticism. Children CAN be emotionally hurt easily at this age and public embarassment does not improve behavior long term. The teacher needed to talk with the parent about her concern instead of embarasing the child in front of others. That is unnecessary and punitive. Sorry.

      Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:59am

      Charli, I have two daughters who teach, and you are so wrong. This isn’t our world as kids, this is the world of prime time tv that teaches kids to be smart assed, mouthy, know-it-alls from the time they are in kindergarten. The smart ones pick it up quickly and my daughter see’s it in her second graders. (not all, depends on what kids watch at home). Too bad, can‘t put that genie back in the bottle because with Hollywood’s help the kids are meaner, snotier, less respectfull and whinier. Color makes no difference either. The really good kids are homeschooled. The rest of the good kids have to get tough or suffer. Do I approve? No, I do not. The quiet, good kids in public schools have to struggle to not be like the rest. Take some time, get some names of teachers kids respect, talk to them and you will find out what is “real” in schools. I do not see what was done as anything other than a caring teacher nudging a kid to be more responsible, how horrible is that? In spite of the unions there are some very fine, decent, caring teachers. Let’s not put them all in the same box.

      Report Post »  
  • confederacyofdunces
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:11pm

    How about a note that says your kid failed this semester for failing to do the required work. Better luck next year.

    Report Post »  
    • Smokey_Bojangles
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:32pm

      And risk hurting her chances of being raped at a OWS Riot in her future? Surely you jest!

      Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:32am

      At the elementary schools where I worked, if the student didn’t academically pass, they did a “social promotion” because of “esteem issues”. AARRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!! So, as a result, I spent time teaching remedial writing to 5th and 6th grade students who had the writing (and reading and comprehension) abilities of 1st and 2nd grade students (I was given 15 minutes a week to perform this miracle…mission impossible). By then, these kids were so far behind in all other aspects they were basically attending day care. And….what they lacked in academic prowess, they made up for in behaviors in attempt to gain recognition, respect, and esteem from their peers and were most likely to become the bullies, the class clowns, or the rebels.

      Report Post »  
  • homekeeper
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:06pm

    What? Teach a child to turn in homework on time, how dare they!

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:23pm

      I thought everyone gets an “award” (isn’t that what we keep hearing is FAIR?) .. sounds like she got the one she deserved … perhaps next year she will try for a different one.. like getting her homework in and on time. Then again with the mother’s attitude .. who knows … this one I am on the teachers side.

      Report Post »  
  • confederacyofdunces
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:06pm

    The problem was that it was written in English not Mexican. It didn’t translate well.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:04pm

    A ‘Catastrophe Award’ or a butt whoopin’? Hmm.Should just beat her butt a few times and tell the parents what a lousy parents they are raising such an underachieving kid.The reason we have a Generation of OWSers is because of the “All Children are Special” and “Self Esteem” attitude.When they get in the real world and learn they are just dumb schmucks they have to jump around and riot.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • confederacyofdunces
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:03pm

    Give me a break! What a bunch of wimps. In my school my favorite teacher Mr Ron Cataneo from Brooklyn NY would have a row of desks pushed back off the rest of the class. It was called “The Island of Lost Souls” If you messed up you could wind up on the island. I was there many times. I was not damaged by it, in fact I believe he really cared for his students and to this day I hold him in the highest regard. His students would return to visit after graduating to visit him. A great teacher who was sorely missed.
    A little tough love is just what is needed at times. The parent needs a kick in the ass, probably illegal.

    Report Post »  
  • junior1971
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:03pm

    I have given out “Most excuses for not doing homework” awards to my kids a few times throughout the years. Although, I got to say that I usually took the icecream cone out of the equation and replaced it with something more like an airplane right before I said “Your grounded”, if ya know what I mean?!

    Report Post » junior1971  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:59pm

    The catastrophe award should go to the Marxist in chief he’s more deserving than the girl.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:58pm

    Hey…the ‘Catastrophe Award’ is pink just like Sheriff Joe Arpaio‘s inmates’ undies!!!

    Teach your kids to have a sense of humor…Life will be better for them!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Shasta
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:14pm

      Agreed.

      Report Post » Shasta  
    • HotFixIt
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:21pm

      I am sure it did not seem funny to the kid… as in my case, it gave the rest of the kids a license to pick on me …. forever! I was mercessly tormented for years by the rest of the kids for years as a result of a teachers thoughtless ‘joke’. It tought me to learn to live alone and lonely instead of having friends… I could take a joke but to this day I can’t understand how others can be so cruel. I understood even at that young age right and wrong… when money was stolen from my locker I said I hoped they needed it more than I did. I grew up to become a nurse… helping others who can’t help themselves.

      Report Post »  
  • KevINtampa
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:57pm

    It‘s Snowflake’s fault. Oops, I mean Bush’s fault…

    Report Post »  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:56pm

    HA! silly parent

    where do they get these stories?

    Report Post » soybomb315  
  • HotFixIt
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:55pm

    Believe me THIS IS NO AWARD! I had a similar event happen to me in grade school and it has bothered me my entire life. I am now 50. Stupid to let it still bother me but I can’t help it. The high school was having its end of year ‘most likely to …‘ and ’best…..’ elections so the teacher came up with a selection of categories in our class. Well, one was “class pest.” It was between me and a boy who was horrible, ugly, fat and hated by everyone… well, I was voted class pest. To this day, I cringe when I hear that word and have since never been comfortable around groups of people. That teacher destroyed my self confidence with that terrible ‘joke’.

    Report Post »  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on May 29, 2012 at 11:12pm

      May 22, 2012 at 11:51pm

      I sure wish some would get those chips off their shoulders and get a life. So he chose something he was familiar with to make a point. Personally, I would take it as a compliment to be called “the pick of the litter”. I am a dog owner and LOVE my dogs as do a majority of Americans!

      is that a chip on your shoulder or are you just wearing shoulder pads ????

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 4:16am

      @HotFixIt: GET HELP!!!! Holy cow, what a… Oh, never mind. It might hurt your widdle feewings…

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 6:08am

      Suicide by Orkin? …sorry

      Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
    • Oneira
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 7:47am

      So, what you’re saying is, you would have preferred the “class pest” award to go to the “boy who was horrible, ugly, fat and hated by everyone?” Then the award would have been okay, because then the person that is already hated by everyone would be extra hated? Yeah, I was bullied most of my childhood and I have no sympathy for you.

      Report Post »  
    • AlansTigg
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 1:20pm

      wow you need therapy, and some grace….cannot believe that while seeking sympathy you would refer to someone as horrible, fat, ugly and hated….maybe you got the award because the teacher (obviously mistaking you for a better person) thought you’d receive it in the joking manner intended, where as it would have been cruel to the boy who so evidentially was struggling to fit….based on your post I would say you got it for being a whiney azz pest always looking for attention and validation.

      Report Post » AlansTigg  
  • Chromo200
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:54pm

    Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

    Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on May 29, 2012 at 10:47pm

    I guess the Dumb B@Tch award was ruled out. Next time the teachers should just make her run around school in a “Obama 2012” shirt, if they really want to ridicule her.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
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