A harsh punishment or fair enough?

Spendless

Hope I don't lose people trying to follow this story but am going to try and remain neutral as I don't wish to reveal my connection to this story - I might later on in the thread.

Child A is a fan of a child 'star' who was on a televised talent show. The child star has a small following but isn't a major household name.

Child A and child B were playing and child B made up an invite to child A as though it had come from child star asking child A to attend an event. Gave it to child A and asked them if they intended going.

Child C told their teacher what child B had done and teacher punished child B saying what they had done wasn't very nice and what if child A had turned up at the event and moved them to a lower light - they have a trafic light system for behaviour.

Me and my husband have differring opinions on whether the punishment was OTT or not.

The children are 9 btw as I can see this might make a difference to replies.

BitterAndTwisted

I'd say that the punishment fit the "crime". That's horribly devious and unkind behaviour for one so young.

Auntie-Dolly

I guess it would depend what the intention was. Child B might have thought it was a fun gesture. Would child A have realised it wasn't 'official'? I'm guessing they would.

averagemummy

I would also say it was a suitable punishment.

They need, I think, to understand that this could have further reaching consequences than they realize.

What if the child had really believed this was real and gone home and told parents and tried to actually get to the event?

Even so, the child who was the recipient must be feeling awful and wondering why they were the butt of another childs crual sense of humour

Bennifred

I think fair enough. Child B was being very unkind - trying to humiliate Child A?

Dave_liverpool

was this in school time?

if yes, then it seems a fair punishment

if no, then tbf its non of schools business, time for the parents of B to deal with it.

either way I hope all children and parents are in the A-Z mix

sassyblue

I think it's about right for the teachers response, but it also depends on whether child B understands how horrible their behaviour was. That was a really nasty thing to do, child A must be gutted to be the brunt of that.

I'm not sure this whole episode should be handled solely by the school, l think the parents should also punish the child* and make sure he apologised properly.


*Not for me to say what and how that's done either.

Cat501

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I'd say that the punishment fit the "crime". That's horribly devious and unkind behaviour for one so young.

Isn't it just?! I'm quite shocked really...:eek: I know kids can be cruel, and a lot of people have been the victim of a wind-up - but - wow - to even come up with the plan, and then go to the trouble of mocking-up an invitation at that age - :eek:

lovinituk

averagemummy wrote: »

What if the child had really believed this was real and gone home and told parents and tried to actually get to the event?

You're kidding, right? Even if the child had believed it was real do you honestly think that any parent would mistake a play invitation, made by a 9 year old, for an official invitation?! I don't think so!

londonsurrey

Totally appropriate. It needs to be recognised by Child B that is was thoroughly unpleasant behaviour, and the lower light demotion is underlining to the child that it is recognised by all as such.

Unless there's something else, I can't see why it would be thought of as OTT? How clear was it that it was still playing, and how far did Child B let it go? Except of course if Child B has severe learning difficulties?

mynameistallulah

Auntie-Dolly wrote: »

I guess it would depend what the intention was. Child B might have thought it was a fun gesture. Would child A have realised it wasn't 'official'? I'm guessing they would.

Then Child B needs to learn that their idea of "fun" is another's idea of hurtful.