[Freeport]

If the shoe fits....

I suspect the children in question deserved these awards and nothing works better than a swift kick to the ego...

[trimom]

In first grade, my daughter had a teacher who nicknamed her Messy Jesse because, you know, it rhymed. The bigger issue is that when the teacher called her names, the kids felt perfectly free to call the same names. And we all know how kids can be. Jesse told her to stop. That didn’t work. She asked again. That didn’t work. And the CHILD went to the principal. When that didn’t work, I called the principal and told him to make is stop. The teacher was stunned that I didn’t go to her first.

The name calling stopped. The kid felt pretty good because she tried to fight it first and felt backed up when good old mom and dad got involved. She went on without any scars, no therapy and is a successful adult.

[rlmorel]

When I was eight years old, I got a trophy at the awards banquet for the basketball league I was in.

It was the award for “Tries Hardest”.

I was completely uncoordinated with no skill. I was constantly on the floor grabbing for the ball between people’s feet. Generally, a wrecking ball for the game.

Hey...it was a trophy! Of course, with a few years behind me, I can see it was CLEARLY a pity trophy! But hey...what did I know?

[The KG9 Kid]

This is exactly what Jim Carrey's teachers said about him in school.

Let's see who's laughing when that kid has enough money to come back and BUY that school.

Er, wait...

[Mygirlsmom]

The story doesn't say whether all the kids received awards such as this or if this kid was singled out. I don't think the parents helped him handle this properly, but I can also relate to how it feels at this age to be ridiculed by adults.

I matured very early and had reached my full height (5'7") at age 10 - I was also on the heavy side (thankfully, the weight kind of fell off once I hit middle school), but at that age, I towered over all my classmates, had full-blown acne, and a woman's body. Needless to say, I stood out of the crowd. To complicate matters, I was also a klutz, and had broken both my ankle and wrist that year.

My PE teacher in 5th & 6th grade was a little bitty ex-gymnast with a nasty disposition. She riduculed me constantly over my lack of athletic ability in our endless sessions on tumbling, balance beam and parallel bars. At the end of the year, she informed me that she'd be presenting me with the "Cripple of the Year" award at the ceremony where they were going to pass out the Presidential fittness awards. I was sick to my stomach for a week at the thought. Of course, she actually never went though with it, but it was a truly miserable experience. Adults should know better, but sadly, not all do.

[Stevenc131]

‘The Happiest Days of Our Lives’ by Pink Floyd (from The Wall).

Well, when we grew up and went to school,
There were certain teachers,
Who would hurt the children in any way they could,
By pouring their derision,
Upon anything we did,
Exposing every weakness,
However carefully hidden by the kids.

[DarkSavant]

Most Likely Not To Have Children

Got that my Senior year of High School. So far it's been pretty accurate :). That being said, this is still a mean thing to do to such young kids.

[rockabyebaby]

Ah, yes, let’s teach our children that it’ ok to humiliate, insult and riducule. Not sure what this kid did to deserve these “awards” but this is not the route to take, kidding or not kidding, imo, it’s not the least bit humorous. “most likely not to have kids” what the hell does that mean, the kid is only in the six grade for God sakes........teachers should THINK before they decide to do something they think is “cute” or “funny”...........

[SaveTheChief]

"Words cut deeper than any knife could. They hurt," said his stepfather, Joseph Sims. "When you hurt a child like that, you not only hurt him mentally, but it does hurt physically because you withdraw within yourself. That is what Matthew has done."

Apparently this idiot has never heard the expression "sticks and stones". He is doing more psychological harm to his child than the teachers.

We have become a society of pansies, raising a generation of super pansies.

[Al Gator]

I got a similar award in 6th grade.

I was proud of it! I got a big round of backslaps from he guys in the class.

But back then, we were boys. Not p*ssies.

[RckyRaCoCo]

you hurt his feeeeeeeelings

[CMAC51]

"They (were) putting us down and everything," he said. "That is not what their job is for, to put kids down. They are supposed to teach us."

And you still haven't learned anything, have you Matt?

[NRA1995]

Hey, kid; here's your answer from "The Godfather":

YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!!! (SLAP) This is how you're turning out? A Hollywood finocchio who cries like a woman??? "Boo-hoo-hoo! Oh, what can I do? What can I do?"

[Zack Nguyen]

"That is not what their job is for, to put kids down. They are supposed to teach us."

What a novel idea!

[vaudine]

This was piling on—2 teachers poking fun at one student standing between them.. The award for most likely not to have kids was extremely tasteless and over the top. The Sir-Clowns-a-Lot award could be laughed at and could be suitable if given along with a lot of other kids receiving humorous awards.

Yes—these teachers deserve a reprimand and need to apologize in writing with copies to the school board.

vaudine

[Tzimisce]

It doesn’t tell us *why* the teachers did this. Of course, I’m used to major things being left out of the story by our MSM...

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Amy Sims said her son needs counseling because of the awards. The school has offered it, but an agreement on who will provide it has not been reached, Thomas reported.

I vote for Paris Hilton.

[Husker24]

I don’t see anything wrong with the “Sr Clowns alot,” but the “most likely to never have children” is a bit strange.

[Niteranger68]

I have an award idea. How about the “Teacher Most Likely To Get The $hit Beat Out Of Them By A Pissed-Off Parent Award”?

[Aquinasfan]

"They (were) putting us down and everything," he said. "That is not what their job is for, to put kids down. They are supposed to teach us."

At least he still has a sense of humor.