Some schools offer end-of-the-year superlatives as a way for students to look back on the events of the year and reflect on their accomplishments. Some of these awards can include such honors as “Most Likely To Win A Spelling Bee,” or maybe “Most Likely To Outrun Everyone Else.”
Generally speaking, these awards are supposed to be positive, particularly when they’re being given to children. But some schools are unnecessarily negative when handing out these certificates.
Earlier this month, one pair of parents became outraged after their autistic son was given a negative award.
According to The Times of Northwest Indiana , Rick Castejon witnessed his son being handed the award for “most annoying student,” even earning a trophy for this offensive distinction.
“We were blindsided. We just weren’t expecting it,” Rick said. “”As a principal or teacher, you should never let this happen to any student.”
Now another parent is speaking out after her own autistic son was also given a rude superlative.
Desiree Perez told WJAR that her son, who had just finished sixth grade, came home from school with a blue certificate in his book bag. Upon inspecting the paper, Perez was stunned to find that the teachers at her son Kelvin’s school had awarded him “Most Likely To Get Lost in a Crowd.”
“That’s his award for the whole year. Everything he did all year, and that’s what he got.”
Perez is understandably furious about the award, but she’s also thankful Kelvin doesn’t understand just what message it’s conveying.
“When he read it, the first thing he said was, ‘But mom, I never get lost,'” she said. “That’s how innocent these kids are. He doesn’t get what they were saying about him.”
Perhaps most troubling is the fact that not one but four teachers at Kelvin’s school signed the certificate.
Although they called themselves his “Favorite Pod 4 Teachers” at Normandin Middle School in New Bedford, Perez thinks they’re bullies, particularly Kelvin’s own teacher.
“I found it disrespectful because she knows more than anybody that I struggle a lot with my son,” she said. “He didn’t even talk until he was 7 years old.”
“He’s been through a lot, and people don’t get that.”
According to WBSM , Perez has reportedly been fighting with Individual Education Plan workers in an effort to get accommodations for her son’s autism, but has seen no success yet. She also said her son has experienced bullying by his fellow students, though none were ever disciplined.
After discovering the certificate, Perez met with the school’s principal, who apologized.
However, he said there was nothing else he could do, since teachers have already left for their summer vacation.
She also received an apology from New Bedford superintendent Thomas Anderson, who also issued a statement saying that the situation highlights the need for everyone to “remain in a cycle of continuous learning and improvement.”
“They should only give positive awards. These kids struggle every day with what they have to go through.”
Perez said she wants more than just an apology. She wants the teachers to learn their lesson and grow from this incident so no other children receive the same negative award.
District administrators will be attending a two-day equity workshop.
The workshops are in an effort to “strengthen our understand of all students, their families and the overall community.”
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The district has also reportedly launched an inquiry into the incident.
h/t: Yahoo News
