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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
Mon Feb 3, 2014, 06:49 PM Feb 2014

Parents upset over ‘game' at middle school that asked questions like ‘Do your parents drink?’

Parents upset over ‘game' at middle school that asked questions like ‘Do your parents drink?’ and ‘Has anyone in your family been in jail?’

The game was called “Cross the Line,” an ironic title because that’s exactly what parents of students at a middle school in Marinette, Wisconsin think the educators did. WLUK Fox 11 News is reporting that Marinette Middle School played the game in which 5th through 8th graders were grouped together and asked to step forward if they had a “yes” answer to questions like, “Do your parents drink?” and “Has anyone in your family been to jail?”

It’s unclear who exactly was leading the game. Parent Amanda Fifarek was not happy with the activity, telling WLUK, “It was too personal. It’s just things your kids don’t need to be disclosing to other kids.” It’s hard to argue with Ms. Fifarek. 6th grader Sarah Maitlin told the station, “[The school employee] asked if you ever wanted to commit suicide to step forward and then after that she asked if you ever experienced or wanted to cut, to step forward.” I’m going to say maybe that kind of conversation is best left to a one-on-one.


Administrators wouldn’t give on-camera interviews, but did give a statement. WGBA NBC 26 News quotes Principal Shawn Limberg as saying, “The intent of this activity was to build stronger, more respectful relationships among students.” WLUK notes that Limberg also said the game was voluntary and, “students could have said no.” But, is that the case? Not according to parent Janette Sadowski, who told WGBA that her daughter was threatened with in-school suspension if she didn’t participate.

http://yhoo.it/1dnqrTs

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Parents upset over ‘game' at middle school that asked questions like ‘Do your parents drink?’ (Original Post) The Straight Story Feb 2014 OP
yuck n/t RainDog Feb 2014 #1
Not the way to suss out problems, especially not with middle schoolers Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2014 #2
Been reading a book on Mao'sCommunist China; This sounds like a tactic used during that period to. lumpy Feb 2014 #4
Almost like "Interrogation Techniques" FreakinDJ Feb 2014 #3
WTF? Creepy "game." nt SunSeeker Feb 2014 #5
They call this a "game?" Brigid Feb 2014 #6
That was so out of line. How the hell do you build stronger, more respectful relationships Jefferson23 Feb 2014 #7
Yeah, the kids could have said no... joeybee12 Feb 2014 #8

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,217 posts)
2. Not the way to suss out problems, especially not with middle schoolers
Mon Feb 3, 2014, 06:51 PM
Feb 2014

the age at which the Heathers and bully boys tend to be at their worst.

Aside from the privacy issues, can you imagine what a bunch of physical or emotional bullies could do with the informaiton?

lumpy

(13,704 posts)
4. Been reading a book on Mao'sCommunist China; This sounds like a tactic used during that period to.
Mon Feb 3, 2014, 07:09 PM
Feb 2014

get control of kids.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
7. That was so out of line. How the hell do you build stronger, more respectful relationships
Mon Feb 3, 2014, 07:15 PM
Feb 2014

when in fact, you're insisting they break boundaries?? Who the fuck thought up this
game? There's going to be a next time?

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
8. Yeah, the kids could have said no...
Mon Feb 3, 2014, 07:16 PM
Feb 2014

Most kids that age would not want to feel that they were left out or not cooperating with the teacher...yeah they had a choice...have these fuckers at this school ever even dealt with any kids? Cripes.

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