Started By
Message
Parenting advice needed, got invitation but no award.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:10 pm
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:10 pm
If anyone could give me advice on this incident, I'd greatly appreciate it.
My child is in 7th grade. She received a letter in the mail last Friday congratulating her for an award that she would receive at the school's awards night program. We went to this program, which lasted 2 hours, and she did not have her name called.
After the program was over, I approached the principal and he was unsure of what letter I was talking about-it was a copy signed by him. He called the counselor over and she immediately got defensive saying that it was the front office's fault and then started blaming teachers saying they were responsible for contacting parents by phone or email. Then both the principal and counselor said for me to bring in this letter to show them proof.
What angered me was how it made my daughter feel. I'm not sure if bringing the letter in will do any good because all they can do is apologize to my daughter; which doesn't mean anything. But I want to show them that they did in fact send this signed letter.
What would you do in this situation? This ceremony lasted around 2 hours with over a hundred kids receiving awards. One excuse offered by the counselor was that some teachers sent in too many students names for awards. I didn't see any other student in attendance without an award.
While this seems like a silly thing to get upset over, I only want to do right for my daughter.
My child is in 7th grade. She received a letter in the mail last Friday congratulating her for an award that she would receive at the school's awards night program. We went to this program, which lasted 2 hours, and she did not have her name called.
After the program was over, I approached the principal and he was unsure of what letter I was talking about-it was a copy signed by him. He called the counselor over and she immediately got defensive saying that it was the front office's fault and then started blaming teachers saying they were responsible for contacting parents by phone or email. Then both the principal and counselor said for me to bring in this letter to show them proof.
What angered me was how it made my daughter feel. I'm not sure if bringing the letter in will do any good because all they can do is apologize to my daughter; which doesn't mean anything. But I want to show them that they did in fact send this signed letter.
What would you do in this situation? This ceremony lasted around 2 hours with over a hundred kids receiving awards. One excuse offered by the counselor was that some teachers sent in too many students names for awards. I didn't see any other student in attendance without an award.
While this seems like a silly thing to get upset over, I only want to do right for my daughter.
11
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:13 pm to mae
Console your child and move on?
Either that or make this a learning experience so then your daughter knows in the future that she shouldn't leave any doubt who is the GOAT of that classroom.
Either that or make this a learning experience so then your daughter knows in the future that she shouldn't leave any doubt who is the GOAT of that classroom.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:14 pm to mae
What were the awards for?
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:16 pm to DirtyDawg
Thanks. I'm leaning more towards the console and move on.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:17 pm to mae
quote:
My child is in 7th grade. She received a letter in the mail last Friday congratulating her for an award that she would receive at the school's awards night program. We went to this program, which lasted 2 hours, and she did not have her name called.
I wouldn't make a huge deal out of it, but I would follow up with the administration. Send them a copy of the letter or drop a copy off and ask to discuss it with the principal at their convenience over the phone. It's an odd situation.
At the very least, they should apologize for the awkwardness of the situation and find out how to fix it so the likelihood of it happening again is minimized.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:20 pm to mae
Take the letter in for sure. Wasting time is one thing, hurting a little girl's feelings is a different story.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:20 pm to Mizzeaux
It was actually the presidential physical fitness awards, most improved, and most outstanding for each subject. It was 6th & 7th grade combined. She is on honor roll, but they didn't award or acknowledge that tonight and announced that they wouldn't because school year didn't end until Friday.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:21 pm to mae
While I understand you're frustrated, people that work in schools are human as well and do make mistakes at times.
As others have asked, what's the award she was receiving? Are we to assume she wasn't supposed to get an award but you accidentally got a letter in the mail? I'm trying to figure out why you need to bring the letter in for proof. I'm guessing they're saying you didn't receive the letter?
If your daughter was supposed to receive an award, I don't see any reason to not bring them the letter and ask what happened. If they get shitty with you again then contact your board or liaison (whomever deals with complaints outside of the school).
ETA: Just saw your response. Sounds like she should've gotten something.
As others have asked, what's the award she was receiving? Are we to assume she wasn't supposed to get an award but you accidentally got a letter in the mail? I'm trying to figure out why you need to bring the letter in for proof. I'm guessing they're saying you didn't receive the letter?
If your daughter was supposed to receive an award, I don't see any reason to not bring them the letter and ask what happened. If they get shitty with you again then contact your board or liaison (whomever deals with complaints outside of the school).
ETA: Just saw your response. Sounds like she should've gotten something.
This post was edited on 6/10/14 at 11:22 pm
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:23 pm to mae
That's too bad but it may be an opportunity to teach your child to deal with disappointment and the random kicks to the gut that life deals out from time to time. The school may never admit that they messed up if they're behaving the way they are now.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:23 pm to the808bass
I will definitely send them a copy just more for the off chance of it never happening again. That's an excellent point.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:24 pm to mae
Was she the only one not recognized, or did they leave those awards out as a whole?
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:24 pm to mae
Ah, so legit awards.
I'd do the consoling thing. If she didn't earn one, she didn't earn one. The real award is the honor roll and doing that as well as she can.
When it comes down to it, push-ups fricking suck, she'll never do another shuttle run, most improved in anything means there was a lot of room for improvement, and the best people in a subject probably aren't really well rounded.
Sure the best kid in Geography can tell you the capital of Washington is Olympia, but he probably can't tie his shoes.
That kind of stuff, but without talking shite about other kids.
I'd do the consoling thing. If she didn't earn one, she didn't earn one. The real award is the honor roll and doing that as well as she can.
When it comes down to it, push-ups fricking suck, she'll never do another shuttle run, most improved in anything means there was a lot of room for improvement, and the best people in a subject probably aren't really well rounded.
Sure the best kid in Geography can tell you the capital of Washington is Olympia, but he probably can't tie his shoes.
That kind of stuff, but without talking shite about other kids.
This post was edited on 6/10/14 at 11:25 pm
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:24 pm to BluegrassBelle
Listen to Belle. She knows what she's talking about.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:26 pm to mae
Take your kid out for ice cream
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:27 pm to BluegrassBelle
That's how I felt at first, that it was honest mistake until the principal acted basically dumbfounded that such a letter existed. Then for the counselor to immediately get defensive and start blaming the front office and teachers, well it just made the situation more odd.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:28 pm to BluegrassBelle
An entire group of applicants in the rejection pile for MIT were sent acceptance letters, only to find out later that it was a mistake.
OP, your daughter is old enough to be treated like an adult and handle disappointment. She deserves to know the truth. Accept and move on.
OP, your daughter is old enough to be treated like an adult and handle disappointment. She deserves to know the truth. Accept and move on.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:35 pm to mae
quote:
That's how I felt at first, that it was honest mistake until the principal acted basically dumbfounded that such a letter existed. Then for the counselor to immediately get defensive and start blaming the front office and teachers, well it just made the situation more odd.
I'd at the very least bring them the letter. They need to know if someone isn't doing their job correctly so they can correct it before it happens again. I wouldn't push it too hard unless they get really shitty with you again, but I don't see anything wrong with bringing it to their attention.
Also it sounds like the Counselor made the mistake. It always baffles me when someone can't just suck it up and say they made a mistake. Most people just want an apology for something like this anyway.
This post was edited on 6/10/14 at 11:36 pm
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:37 pm to Bama Bird
Ahh, but she is 12, not 17-19. She did deserve to know the truth, and she did learn it. I'm just wanting to set the best example for her in how to deal with people who make mistakes.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:40 pm to mae
Generally speaking, the public school system and the majority of its employees (especially at the administrative level) are worthless. Best to console her and just move on, nothing you can really do about it.
Posted on 6/10/14 at 11:41 pm to BluegrassBelle
Thank you very much. I will do. If anything it'll never happen again with the current administration.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News