One last school rant

... at least until next fall.

I don't understand the school system of rewards.  Luckily Ladybug seems to understand it.  It escapes me.  They have a system of "compliments."  Not that it has been explained to me in a way that I understand.   My understanding is that the kids can earn compliments.  How?  No idea.  What does it mean to have a compliment?  No idea.

Of course, Ladybug has a hard time earning them.  Let's face it, if she gets through the day without beating the crap out of a classmate I am proud.  Avoid the bad and I am happy.  Doing something good?  Well that is a bonus but not expected and not earned often.  So I was not surprised that she has not earned a lot of compliments.

What do you use the compliments for?  No real idea there either.  Really, I am an involved parent.  When we get home from school/work the first thing we do is homework.  We go through everything she has brought home in her backpack.  We do homework.  We study for spelling tests.  We go over her behavioral contract.  We talk about the "special" class of the day.  I ask what she had for lunch.  I find out what happened at recess.  I am involved.  Apparently I am also clueless -- at least about this compliment thing.

So the rant...

Ladybug came home one day this week and announced that her class had a special treat that day.  They had a magician come in to the 4 kindergarten classes and do a performance.  I was excited.  I bet she would have enjoyed it.  WOULD HAVE.  Because in the next breath she told me she was not allowed to go.  Why?  Because she didn't earn enough compliments.  Of the nearly 100 kindergarteners in the school 4 kids were not allowed to attend the special show.  She was one of them. 

Really?  You have a special performer coming to class and you exclude kids?  Oh and keep in mind that Ladybug was having a great day.  Perfect contract.  Compliments are earned and lost.  So the fact that she was too low in compliments meant to she missed out on a performance -- despite the fact that she was having a good day that day.  So she stayed behind in the classroom.  Colored. Worked on the computer. Read. Played a game with the other 3 kids who missed out.

Luckily she was okay with it.  And I tried to hide my outrage -- with her. 

Mean Mama