"When my kindergarten-aged son was not chosen for a Citizenship Award I was not only saddened but also confused. This is the same child who was recognized at the beginning of the year for his ability to comfort other children, who took time to help his classmates when they didn't understand something, and who stood up to other children when he felt they were being unfair or mistreating others. He went almost 5 months with very few incidents of behavior issues, and it wasn't until February that there were any problems which, as we all know, stemmed from a specific situation. Since that time he has tried very hard to produce the behaviors necessary for success in the classroom, and there has been steady improvement which is evidenced by the behavior chart he brings home every day. He was also very, very proud of the volunteer work he did during Campus Beautification Day.
He was devastated that he didn't "earn" an invitation to the Citizenship Award event, and unfortunately I didn't have a reason to give him as to why he wasn't included. I tried explaining to him that he doesn't need an award or a medal to prove he's a success, but to his 6-year-old mind he couldn't get past the fact that he was one of only a few children excluded. To add to this, he was very aware that other children who also had chronic behavior issues were given Citizenship Awards.
I can only imagine what he was thinking when he realized he wasn't going to be included in this event. He was so proud of the improvement he made toward the end of this year, and he was especially conscious of how people viewed him at the beginning of this year. To have his past success and his recent improvement and accomplishments unrecognized is incredibly hurtful, and I am disappointed that the administration would fail to encourage him and any other child who has worked hard or shown improvement by excluding them from an event that they are very much aware of.
I am in no way writing this letter in hopes that my son
receives an award this year, nor am I writing it to diminish the
accomplishments of the other children who work so hard year-round. My only wish is to communicate "the
other side of the story" from parents who have children who are attempting
to overcome adverse situations or that may be struggling due to the adjustment
of being in a school setting. I honestly
feel that at 6 years old the meaning behind being a "good citizen"
should be encompassing more than what it appears to be. "
The pen being mightier than the sword, I thought I'd go this route rather than go into his classroom on Monday.
