I am laughing my head off!!

Did anyone read the story about the woman who's daughter didn't want to do her school work and was acting up in school. She decided to make her stand on a corner with a sign that read " I won't do my homework and don't want to go to school, so my parents are preparing me for my future.....Will Work For Food!!!

I have had an issue with my 9 year old who hates school. He hates every drop of homework and will sometimes purposely forget papers in school so as not to do them. I love this story and today when he comes home, I am going to have him read it!!! Maybe I will make him a sign and keep it in the kitchen so he might work a little harder if threatened with the possibility of wearing it!!!!

To me it seemed like the parents were using their child to get attention -- but I don't know the whole story so maybe there is more to it than that.

quote:

Originally posted by cobismom:
I see now on the news that the Department of Social Services is getting involved. Interesting that even this is considered abusive.

It is mentally and emotionally abusive. Those scars can last just as long as physical scars.

Dawn

I see now on the news that the Department of Social Services is getting involved. Interesting that even this is considered abusive.

quote:

Originally posted by MaryJo:
My son is a really good boy, just hates school.
He was even recommended for gifted because he is so smart. He does not struggle, just does not want to do it.

In that case maybe he is just bored. Maybe he does not want to do it because it is too simple for him.

I used to be late for everything and forget everything too. It was really just a problem with focus. I have a Palm now, an electronic device that has an alarm I can set to remind me of things. A lot of cell phones have this feature too, I think.

For me, the story was funny because it shows the extreme that we sometimes feel like going to with kids who can be difficult to discipline.
I would personally never do that to him, like I said, I might make a sign and keep it in a corner as a threat.
We take away games, playtime, tv, etc. My son is a really good boy, just hates school.
He was even recommended for gifted because he is so smart. He does not struggle, just does not want to do it.
I just thought it was a funny story. I don't want anyone to get the impression that I would do that to my kids. Although my 17 year old daughter is teetering on the edge of my sanity lately.

My son is 7, and losing privilidges such as TV, Game Boy, playing with friends is a huge motivator.

When he has something to do such as chores or homework, he is not allowed to do anything else until it is done. He complains, and soemtimes throws temper tantrums, but his things get done.

Dawn

quote:

...Putting my kid’s Xbox controllers in the trunk of the car… motivates him really well.

For older teens, I bet taking away their cell phones and AIM is pretty motivating.

I saw this story on the evening news tonight.

I had a son who was in the same boat. Had I done something like this to him the problem would have escalated beyond belief. I agree with those who say this is cruel and unnecessary punishment. Maybe some investigation AT school with the teachers at this point is more appropriate, no one said that this avenue was tried.

My son is now 18, is doing very well in school. It was a maturity thing with him....but by working with the school, his teachers, and a lot of patience, even when I didn't have it, he has become the student and young man he is.

Even now when he drives me nuts, it was worth the trouble

Good for them..Kids get away with to much now a days..

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:

I think that it is a really BAD idea to do that to a 9 year old... and put them on a street corner.

Can't imagine doing this either.

PS these were punishments for adults... who were recovering drug addicts. And the rest of the population knew how to treat the punished person.

I think that it is a really BAD idea to do that to a 9 year old... and put them on a street corner.

My family moved into drug program when I was a teenager.

Being a drug program and all... a significant percentage of the population had problems with getting to work on time or other habits that many of us take for granted...

Signs were a favored punishment.

My personal favorite was to make a habitually late person wear an old fashioned alarm clock strung around their neck and have them run from place to place, singing, "I'm late! I'm late! for a very important date!” like the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

It was up to the rest of the community to stop the person and ask them, "Why are you wearing that sign?" and have them "run their story". Often, after hearing the story, people would say something like, "Change is hard. You hang in there OK? You are a good kid... you'll get thru this. I want to see you here tomorrow at breakfast."

One time, there was a group of 6 or 7 people that got into trouble together... and I don't remember what they did, but their punishment was to be “The Reindeer Squad”. They wore antlers and sleigh bells and pranced from place to place in formation like they were pulling Santa's sleigh... Somehow the punishment fit the crime… but I can’t, for the life of me, remember the original “crime”.

Many times after a day or two, the punished person(s) kind of made it into a joke, or was able to get some kind of comic relief out of it.

Generally, everybody in the whole community got bored with the punishment after 3-4 days... although I think that the reindeer squad stayed together as a group, voluntarily, for a couple weeks and started doing skits at breakfast and stuff... That was one of the most creative punishments I remember.

And it wasn’t ALL about humiliation, it was also an opportunity to have 100 people talk to you and say, “Hey I‘ve been there, too… and right now you are kind of nuts and thinking of using, but we know that you can change and we like you and hang in there!”

To wear a sign or other public punishment was a pretty humiliating, but I think it was ok in the context of a drug program. I'd never send my kid to school with an alarm clock, dressed in bunny slippers.... Although it is tempting some mornings.

I told his band teacher that I was thinking of a setting up a bedroom cam... and we could broadcast Jamie sleeping as Jazz Band is starting... or we could broadcast Jazz Band rehearsal into Jamie's room one morning. I think "Rock around the clock" would be an appropriate song...

I do know of one student that had the HS marching band come marching into her room playing the school fight song one morning. She had the misfortune to live across the street from the school AND always be sleeping in late...

Putting my kid’s Xbox controllers in the trunk of the car… motivates him really well.

Cute!!!!

That is too funny!!
Some people will say that is mean, but I say good for that mom for taking action and not letting the child get away with it!
Jill