NY. poor kids whose parents couldn't afford $10 sat in dark auditorium during carnival day

[Liberal_in_LA]

?w=720&h=480&crop=1


No party for the poor.

PS 120 in Flushing held a carnival for its students on Thursday, but kids whose parents did not pay $10 were forced to sit in the auditorium while their classmates had a blast.

Close to 900 kids went to the Queens schoolyard affair, with pre-K-to-fifth-grade classes taking turns, each spending 45 minutes outside. The kids enjoyed inflatable slides, a bouncing room and a twirly teacup ride. They devoured popcorn and flavored ices. DJs blasted party tunes.

But more than 100 disappointed kids were herded into the darkened auditorium to just sit or watch an old Disney movie while aides supervised — the music, shouts and laughter outside still audible.
Modal Trigger

Kids whose parents weren’t able to pay the $10 admissions fee sit out the carnival in the school’s auditorium.

The must-pay rule excluded some of the poorest kids at the elementary, where most parents are Chinese immigrant families crammed into apartments and “struggling to keep their heads above water,” staffers said.

“It’s breaking my heart that there are kids inside,” one teacher said.
The teacher hugged a 7-year-old girl who was “crying hysterically.”

http://nypost.com/2015/05/24/no-pay-no-play-kids-who-cant-pay-10-fee-banned-from-school-carnival/

[aikoaiko]

1. Stupid school administrators.

[bluesbassman]

2. Breaks my heart.

Guess they're starting them young at PS 120, getting them used to life in these United States of the Haves and the Have Nots.

[cyberswede]

3. I usually ask my kids' teachers if I can pay extra to cover more kids.

Too bad nobody thought of that at this school.

[NaturalHigh]

8. Our kids used to pay for other kids out of their own money.

Of course they also came to us to see how much we had. One way or another, the kids and parents always managed to make it so everyone got to participate.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. I'm in horse country nj

I would have paid the $100. This school sucks.

[Jackpine Radical]

57. Yes, I've set up "scholarships" for kids to go to summer programs, etc.

Just contacted the people in charge & asked them to use the $$ for kids who couldn't go. It made me feel good to do it.

People who say you can't buy happiness are wrong; in fact, it's easy. Just put some money to a really good cause and see how you feel as a result.

[MADem]

94. A hundred kids, so it would be a thousand to cover them all.

I think the school--a frigging PUBLIC school--should have held car washes and bake sales, passed the hat at a talent show, done what they had to do, even soliciting donations from local businesses to put their name as fair "sponsors" on signs around the fair grounds, and raised the money for ALL the children to go--not excluded a hundred kids.

Even a poor kid can grab a bucket and a sponge and wash a car--there's no reason that they had to make this a "parent write a check" exercise. The school should have raised the money as a group, for the group--not singled out the poor kids.

[pnwmom]

78. The worst part is that they had a $2K-3K PROFIT on this event. They didn't need to prevent

a single child from attending due to cost.

[KingCharlemagne]

83. Capitalism, left to its own devices, has a tendency to commodify anything and everything, in this

case, children as 'profit centers.'

[dflprincess]

119. There's nothing to tell us whether or not some parents did pay for other kids

It does sound like the school is in an area where are a lot of families are struggling. It may have been a stretch for some of the parents just to cover their own kids. I'm not ready to make any judgments about people who couldn't afford to pay more.

[Politicalboi]

4. Local schools should have a gofundme plan

This is sad. It should have been all or nothing.

[mercuryblues]

70. why

why should our schools have a gofundme? seriously? just why.

The rides were already paid for. They rides are rented per hour, not per rider. Why not allow the kids that could not afford it to participate?

The school did this just to be mean. point blank mean.

[williesgirl]

5. whoever made that decision should be fired immediately.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. the principal

[yardwork]

53. Agree 100%. I hope that parents are complaining to the school board now.

[frogmarch]

6. It makes my blood boil.

What is wrong with some people?

[No Vested Interest]

9. $10 for 45 minutes at the carnival, with popcorn and trinket toys?

That charge is way too high - not a good value.

A reasonable charge should have been negotiated that would include all the children.
The Parents' Association sponsored the event? What does that sponsorship mean? Did they pay anything, or did someone get a cut or was a crony profiting?

[elehhhhna]

75. someone made a lotta dough on this racket,

9k to rent 2 bounce things, a teacup ride, and give out popcorn & ices?

Someone made 7 grand in one day and managed to treat the most insecure.kids like.shit.

[KingCharlemagne]

92. The school made a cool profit of $2-3,000. Now that's some 'out of the box'

creative funding right there!

in case it's necessary.

[freshwest]

11. At a PUBLIC, taxpayer funded school? Rubbing their noses in it, so they could hear the fun? n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

17. We share a brain sometimes

And yet we march toward a "privatized" for profit school system like lemmings. I don't even have kids and I would flip a shut if I found out something lie this happened in our town.

Shame on these people!

[freshwest]

33. Yeah, I think we do. And good luck on the council run. But take care of your health, too. n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

122. I think I'm going to do it

I was at a Memorial Day gathering last night down the street and the deli owner who did the right thing (reference to the white history month sign deli owner post in AA group - look that up) - he would support me. A few other folks from across the aisle did too.

Because we Bagel Bombed him - and I worked it up! If someone does the right thing - we have to give them business. I don't like litter - especially in the sand box in one our parks - especially when it's liquor bottles and cigarettes . . .

I don't get permits - I get 31 people to go out with me on a Friday morning and clean it up.

Social Media is awesome for small town activism!

[oberliner]

12. This is from the right wing tabloid NY Post

The paper has a very anti-public school agenda.

There may be more to the story than what they are presenting here.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. I look at it differently

I attended grade and jr high school in Western NY. Rural - but only 20 minutes from the Rochester city line. We had a "Field Day" at the end of the year. Funded by the tax payers/citizens of the community.

My dad served on the school board at a time when some folks didn't want it anymore. He fought that and won - because it's more about "community" and celebrating a good year.

This was the "field day" of the early 80's - and it shows me what a privatized school system looks like.

Everything a la carte.
Affluent kids get more.
Less affluent get less.

How will that translate to LEARNING?

This is precisely what that awful Rhee(sp?) woman is aiming for.

This is what a privatized "non public good" school system looks like.

I'm a UU - our intentions were not always the best in our work to establish a public education system - but the concept is still good. Good for the public good.

What happened here was evil. It's those little things that cut little peoples' hearts.

[oberliner]

28. I get where you are coming from

I am just saying that the NY Post has an agenda and good reporting is not their hallmark.

There may be some inaccuracies in this story (which has mostly quotes from unnamed people) - and there might be some facts that were left out.

I would not have raised these issues if it was not the NY Post as the source (and I believe every other article on the subject points back to the same NY Post story).

[JustAnotherGen]

117. That's a fair point

[No Vested Interest]

13. Over 100 children out of less than 900 -that's

over 11% that were not permitted to attend.
Way too high for an in-school function.

[Dawson Leery]

15. Then let the kids stay home.

I am not surprised at all to see the Principal made the choice to keep them in dark room.

From experience, public school administrators are worth less than pile of horse manure.

[WinkyDink]

40. Stay home?! How about "ALL KIDS ATTEND FOR FREE"?

[oberliner]

76. If they were showing a movie, it would need to be dark

Typical NY Post headline trying to make "dark auditorium" into something sinister when clearly the lights were off so that a film could be shown.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

18. My daughters went to Catholic school K-12

and some months, it was a struggle to pay the tuition...we qualified for tuition assistance, but felt that so long as we could still pay ourselves, we didn't want to take from someone that needed it more.

The policy there was that everyone participates; if there was a fee involved, all the parents had to do was the sign & return the permission slip, and not send the money. That was the signal that they couldn't afford it. The school always made up the difference, and many parents contributed extra to help minimize the school's expense.

There is no reason why this school couldn't have a similar policy. I haven't read the article yet, but if it was sponsored by the PTA, I sure as hell hope it wasn't being used as a fundraiser.

[KingCharlemagne]

19. USA! USA! USA! \sarcasm\ - nt

[tabasco]

20. HOW THE FUCK DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Heads should roll over this shit. Until people are held accountable, nothing will change.

[Iggo]

21. Who got paid?

Tar. Feathers. Rail.

[Thespian2]

22. Hate to say it this way, but

what was this excruciatingly stupid bitch thinking?

We never treated kids this way in my entire career...especially not for a shitty fund-raiser...I can't imagine how those kids who were left out felt...

[Ed Suspicious]

29. Sad, but I find myself thinking "at least there were 100 kids who missed out." At

least they were able to not be the one or two lone poors who have to face an entire school alone after the embarrassing debacle. The whole thing is shitty. My kids are constantly bringing home slips that require pay to play at school functions. When I was a kid, it just wasn't like that. We're usually able to come up with the money, and there is usually a mention that if money is an issue, they have means to give aid to the poors who can't afford it.

Kids shouldn't have to face this crap and kids parents shouldn't have to feel like their kids are missing out because the parents aren't able to provide.

[oberliner]

79. "excruciatingly stupid bitch..."

You are speaking of this principal this way based on a single article from the right-wing tabloid, NY Post. An article peppered with off-the-record comments from unnamed staffers and teachers and not a single statement from anyone on the administration.

This is the NY Post. Google them if you aren't familiar with where they are coming from.

[Thespian2]

103. Pardon me.

You assume I do not know the NY Post...I don't need to Google them...Google the story and find the other news outlets carrying the story...

[oberliner]

105. There is not a single other news outlet who has done any reporting on this

They all just link back to the same NY Post article.

[mountain grammy]

23. Whoever made this decision should be dealt with..

my choice would be to fire that person who, obviously, has no sensitivity or empathy.

[madfloridian]

25. We would never have let that happen.

When I taught, everyone got to take part in everything. Resources at the school were pooled..from PTA to teachers to aides to principals. Everyone got to take part.

That was a rule.

[valerief]

26. Cruelty knows no limits. nt

[LittleBlue]

27. "My mom doesn't care about me"

The teacher hugged a 7-year-old girl who was “crying hysterically.”

“She was the only one from her class who couldn’t go, so she was very upset,” the teacher said.

The girl told others, “My mom doesn’t care about me.” But the teacher said parents possibly did not see or understand the flier that went home or didn’t have a $10 to spare.

Poor kid

[oberliner]

30. Please note that the teacher is not named

In fact, none of the teachers who are supposedly quoted in this story are named. The piece is populated with unnamed staffers and unnamed teachers (and unnamed students).

I bring this up because the source is the NY Post, a notorious right-wing rag that regularly bashes public schools.

There might be more to this story than what is presented here.

[pnwmom]

38. The school is named, the principal is named, and so is the head of the parents' association

who decided to put this stupid event on

Maybe you didn't read far enough.

[oberliner]

45. None of the teachers are named

The quotes in the article are:

staffers said, one teacher said, the teacher said, the girl told others, one child asked, a staffer said, another teacher, etc.

The only person quoted who is actually named is Frank Chow, who is identified as "president of the parents association that sponsored the carnival" (not a teacher).

The principal is named, but not quoted. "Monroe did not return calls and an e-mail from The Post."

So we have nothing from the principal. Incidentally, I wouldn't return a call or an email from the NY Post either as it is a right-wing tabloid.

[pnwmom]

47. The principal, Joan Monroe, was clearly named. She chose not to give an interview,

so she chose to let the facts as described here stand. Did you see the roster where they listed whether a payment had been made or not?

[oberliner]

52. You wrote that the teachers were named

You wrote that I if I re-read the article, I would see that. Do you now concede that you were mistaken?

The principal is named, but not quoted. We don't know that the principal chose not to give an interview. The principal may not have gotten the call or the email. We don't actually know what kind of attempt was made to contact her. We don't know anything from the principal's point of view.

To clarify my point, this article is peppered with anonymous quotes from unnamed staffers and teachers. This, coupled with the fact that the author is from the NY Post which is a right-wing rag with a clear agenda, should give readers some pause.

Maybe it was an optional event that some parents didn't want their kids to attend. Maybe some kids would rather stay inside and watch movies. Who knows?

Show me a few on the record statements from teachers who were present. Show me an interview with some parents whose children did not attend the carnival. Show me a statement from someone in the school administration about the event. These are things that a real reporter who was interested in the truth and not promoting an agenda would attempt to provide.

[pnwmom]

54. Yes, that's why I changed it. And I realize that the NYPost is a right wing paper, but that doesn't

mean it NEVER gets anything right.

For example, the right-wing media got the Justina Pelletier case right, while the left wing media almost completely dropped the ball.

And as for teachers not willing to go on record criticizing their principal, that doesn't surprise me at all. No teacher was willing to fall on his or her sword on this issue. I don't blame them.

[oberliner]

58. It's possible

I am just saying that I want more information.

I'd like another reporter or two to do some digging into this and get some on the record statements from teachers, administrators, parents, etc.

[pnwmom]

60. Any teacher could be risking his job, or at least positive evaluations, if he or she went on record

criticizing the principal.

There was a statement by the head of the parents association. Does that not count?

Frank Chow, president of the parents association that sponsored the carnival, said Monroe insisted that kids whose parents didn’t pay could not partake.

“She was saying it’s not fair to the parents who paid,” Chow said. “You can’t argue much, I guess. The school is under her.”

The carnival cost about $6,200, including fees to a carnival company, Send in the Clowns, and reaped a $2,000 to $3,000 profit, he added.

“I wish we just charged parents the cost, not to make extra,” Chow said.

[oberliner]

62. That's definitely not true

It would be illegal for the principal to take any action against them for making such a statement.

I certainly think Frank Chow's statement ought to at the very least be balanced against a statement from someone in the administration - if not the principal than one of the two assistant principals.

I would mention that the website indicates that Mr. Chow is one of two co-presidents of the parents association, so reaching out to the other would probably be valuable.

Again, just basic things that a reporter who wanted to get the full story would do.

[pnwmom]

72. And illegal retaliation never happens? Yeah, right. Teachers have a good reason to be cautious

An angry principal could have many subtle and unsubtle ways of making their lives miserable.

[oberliner]

74. OK

Look, all I am saying is that I think that some more reporting could be done and that I view the NY Post with suspicion.

Every day or two the NY Post seems to have an article bashing one public school or another. That is a very clear agenda with this right wing tabloid. Public schools are run inefficiently by liberals who do all these awful things. That is their angle consistently.

Right now this NY Post writer is the only source for this story. Let any other reporter from any other news outlet, blog, or what have you do a little digging into this. That's all I am asking for.

[pnwmom]

77. I agree that I would like to see more reports about this situation. It is never enough

to have just one report and to take it at face value.

So we're on the same page regarding that. I'm just not willing to dismiss it out of hand, especially with the parents' association head being willing to go on record, and the photo of the register of payments.

[oberliner]

81. I am not dismissing it out of hand

Please note my initial comment was:

There might be more to this story than what is presented here.

[jeff47]

84. ROFL

Yeah, every boss always obeys every law to the letter. It is utterly impossible to fire someone for a legal reason, when you're actually firing them for an illegal reason. That glass-ceiling thing that is 100% illegal happens just because every single woman doesn't want to be the boss.

I certainly think Frank Chow's statement ought to at the very least be balanced against a statement from someone in the administration - if not the principal than one of the two assistant principals.

Well, the principal now knows she fucked up, and if any of her subordinates talk about it, they get fired for making the principal look bad.

[oberliner]

89. Are you familiar with the NY state teacher's union?

They are very good at taking care of the members and making sure a teacher is not fired illegally.

In fact, it is generally believed that it is very difficult to fire a teacher in NY state even with just cause.

The assistant principals, incidentally, are not hired or fired by the principal, so their jobs would similarly not be jeopardized by whatever statement they would make.

[jeff47]

91. Are you familiar with jobs?

See, the boss doesn't have to put down "Fired for making me look bad to a reporter" in the official paperwork.

Instead, you start giving the teacher bad reviews. And start fucking with the teacher's ability to do their job - move their classroom around, don't give them what they need to do their job, and so on. Then those teacher's students would do poorly on standardized tests, and you can fire them for being an "under-performing" teacher.

It won't be quick, and most likely will actually be the teacher "asked not to come back next year", but it has the same effect.

The assistant principals, incidentally, are not hired or fired by the principal, so their jobs would similarly not be jeopardized by whatever statement they would make.

Yeah, the principal can't do anything at all to them. Why, they'll all just have to sit around singing about puppies and kittens!!

[oberliner]

95. So I guess you are not familiar with the NY state teacher's union

If a school administrator did what you described, the teacher would report that to their union representative immediately. Public school teachers have a lot of rights to substantive and procedural due process, above and beyond what state and federal statutes provide. The teacher could request (and would have to be granted) a hearing and then could file a Notice of Defense. The teacher could also file a suit against the school district as well.

[jeff47]

97. No, I am. They are not all-powerful.

Public school teachers have a lot of rights to substantive and procedural due process, above and beyond what state and federal statutes provide.

Next time, don't skip over the "it won't be quick" part. It's kinda important.

There's a process. It can be easily navigated to "fire" a teacher for a reason that should be illegal. It's a matter of lining up the appropriate paperwork to back up a legal reason for firing. And when you think screwing over the kids is just fine (as this principal apparently does, otherwise there'd be no story), it's pretty easy. You set the teacher up to fail, and then punish them for failing.

The teacher could also file a suit against the school district as well.

Because lawsuits are so cheap you can file one when you're unemployed.

Your insistence that unions are all-powerful makes me think wonder why you're working an anti-union rant into this story.

[oberliner]

99. Anti-union?

What the heck are you talking about? The union is what protects teachers from the sort of behavior you are describing. I wish that all workers had the sort of protections that the teacher's union provides.

Anyway, the point is - I think an on the record comment from someone would be helpful in this story. That's all I wanted to say really.

[WinkyDink]

43. There is only one fact to know, and it is indisputable: FEES WERE CHARGED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

[oberliner]

48. Is that unusual?

I went to public school and my parents had to pay fees for field trips and the like. Of course, if any family couldn't pay then there would be accommodations made. It's not clear what exactly happened in this case for those students since there is no statement from the principal or the school district (i.e. no actual reporting).

Anyway, I know there are different rules in different states, but I don't think charging fees to cover the costs of extra trips or activities is that unusual as long as there is a mechanism in place to provide financial aid to those who need it.

[KingCharlemagne]

50. There were 'accomodations made' here . . . in a darkened auditorium. Are you disputing that

this incident took place as described in the article?

[oberliner]

56. The article is from the right-wing tabloid, NY Post

With that in mind, I start off with my BS meter on.

As I mentioned, there are no on-the-record quotes from teachers or staffers. It's all unnamed people. There is nothing from the principal or any administrator. No on the record quotes from any parents.

I definitely feel like I need more information here.

[KingCharlemagne]

59. I got you. Didn't mean to snark at you unduly. I do think this story, if true in most of

its particulars, makes a fitting counterpoint to Memorial Day, at least insofar as its meaning was originally construed. How many of those dead soldiers died to support the cause of humilitating poor children?

[oberliner]

64. I agree with you

If these children were in fact humiliated in the manner described, then that is pretty awful.

However, I would like to see some actual reporting done to see if there is more to this story than what the NY Post is presenting here.

They seem to have an anti-public school article at the ready just about every day or two.

[pnwmom]

87. It is very unusual, I hope, for the "accommodation" not to consist of a PTA or other slush fund

that pays for the fees of kids on free school lunch or who otherwise can't afford it.

And this event earned thousands of dollars in PROFIT. They didn't need any of the dollars from the excluded children to still make this profit.

[oberliner]

90. There is no evidence that the event earned thousands of dollars in profit

Again, the article provides no evidence to support that claim.

[pnwmom]

109. There most certainly IS evidence that the event earned thousands of dollars of profit

The head of the parents' association that sponsored the event gave this information to the reporter.

So this is EVIDENCE. It is not, in and of itself, PROOF, but it is evidence. Personal testimony on the part of people directly involved is part of the collection of "evidence" in any trial.

Now, maybe this man is a liar. Or maybe he was falsely quoted. But at this point it is the only evidence we have.

Frank Chow, president of the parents association that sponsored the carnival, said Monroe insisted that kids whose parents didn’t pay could not partake.

“She was saying it’s not fair to the parents who paid,” Chow said. “You can’t argue much, I guess. The school is under her.”

The carnival cost about $6,200, including fees to a carnival company, Send in the Clowns, and reaped a $2,000 to $3,000 profit, he added.

“I wish we just charged parents the cost, not to make extra,” Chow said.

[oberliner]

110. That's not evidence

That is just a claim. Evidence would be a document or something indicating that the event earned a profit. I wonder if the event was meant to be a fundraiser of some kind.

I would also again point out that Frank Chow is not in fact the president of the parents association according to the school website.

Edit to add: Luz Rodgers is identified as PA President and Mr. Chow is identified as Co-President (though oddly, Luz Rodgers is just listed as President, not Co-President).

[pnwmom]

111. Have you ever been on a jury? Much of what gets entered into evidence is testimony.

Of course this isn't a trial, so the PTA guy wasn't sworn in, but what he said, by any measure, is still evidence. And it's undisputed evidence since the principal chose not to comment.

And whether he is co-President or President is really beside the point. He went on record, as opposed to everyone else there. And he is in the position to know what he was talking about.

[oberliner]

112. OK fair enough

I did look around the school's website a bit more closely and they have had other events during the school year that served as fund raisers to pay for air conditioners in several of the classrooms that don't have them. It's certainly possible that this carnival was identified as a fundraiser with profits going to something along those lines.

Again, I just would like to see some agenda-free reporting with more details on exactly what happened here.

For example a parent who is angry that their child was not allowed to take part in the carnival over the $10 fee. I would imagine that there must be one such person that someone could talk to.

Also, some comment from someone in the administration to at least explain what was going on.

[pnwmom]

113. Yes, it would be better to have more information.

But if Mr Chow is telling the truth, then they had plenty of money to pay for this, and they could have allowed all kids to attend without even cutting into their profit. It seems punitive that they didn't.

[oberliner]

114. I just wish there was a non-NY Post story on this

I hope someone takes the time to do some more reporting on this story.

Apparently, it is tomorrow's NY Post front page.

[pnwmom]

115. I know. So far, the only other story is Daily Mail, and they just repeat the NYPost story. n/t

[onecaliberal]

68. In California we cannot force students to pay for participation.

All students must be allowed to participate at the districts expense. There are parents who can afford to that make donations. This policy came about from several rounds of litigation.

[oberliner]

71. I wonder what the policy is in other states

How many states adhere to that California model, do you know?

[onecaliberal]

82. I really have no idea. Parents need to contact ACLU and file suit.

That's how we got the policy we have. There are parents who make "donations" if they wish, but funds are set aside yearly for any and all students to participate.

[justamama83]

125. My children go to public school and

there are fees for a lot of things......field trips, dances, snacks on 1/2 days to name a few. However, we have a very active PTO and they do help those who cannot pay.

[Scootaloo]

63. I might be inclined to agree, if I hadn't had to deal with something similar myself

Years and years ago, granted. Morningside elementary in Mobile, AL. The two fifth-grade classes were planning a joint trip to some sort of summer camp thing for a schoolweek. swimming, canoeing, sports, all sorts of fun stuff. We got to practice with bows in PE, we had a dude from the environmental center come in to teach about sustainable camping, and we even took a one-day trip to Murphy High school to use their pool for safety swimming!

And then the permission slips were handed out. And they required a $20 fee.

My parents were flat broke, they couldn't spare $20 for an end-of-the-year camp jamboree thing.

So the last week of that school year, i got to sit in class with the five other students who couldn't go, and we did busy work.

[oberliner]

66. That really sucks

I know that when I was in public school there were events that required a fee. It was always made clear that students who did not have the ability to pay the fee would have it covered. Obviously, it's not like that in every school district.

With the story in the OP, I just want more information. It doesn't seem like a whole lot of real reporting was done. I'd like to see some on the record comments and at least something from the administration side.

It's quite possible that the whole thing is true exactly as the NY Post describes, but the NY Post is pretty notorious for crappy agenda-driven articles.

[inanna]

86. I just googled to see if I could find other sources

the only ones covering this (so far) are The Daily Mail, Fox News and the NY Post.

[oberliner]

101. The Daily Mail and Fox News just link back to the NY Post story

There is not a single source other than the NY Post.

[jeff47]

88. Here's the giant, gaping hole in your argument

I bring this up because the source is the NY Post, a notorious right-wing rag that regularly bashes public schools.

There might be more to this story than what is presented here.

Here's the giant, gaping hole in your argument: This story is exactly what conservatives wants to happen.

If you pay, you get to have fun. If you are poor, "well, at least we showed a movie!!". As a result, this story is doing the exact opposite of the political motivation you are claiming.

Yes, it makes public schools look bad, but it also makes the conservative mantra, "No freeloaders!!", look much worse.

[oberliner]

104. The NY Post tries to paint liberals as hypocrites

"See, they say they care about the poor - but look at what the liberals running NYC schools do - they force children who can't pay $10 to sit in a darkened auditorium!"

That's what they are going for here. Liberal hypocrisy on display!

[Springslips]

134. I don't think it is a liberal hypocrisy story...

If so they'd walk into " school needs more money" trap. If this s propaganda it could, and would blw up in their face.

I think this is a human interest story. Plain and simple. We'll see if Rightwing media runs with it.

[oberliner]

135. The NY Post is the Rightwing media - It's Rupert Murdoch.

It's definitely not a "human interest" story

This is the NY Post - they are agenda driven. Their agenda is to bash liberals.

This hits their two points:

1. Liberals are hypocrites (they claim to care about the poor, but really don't)

2. Public schools are awful (an article of this type is generated by the Post a few times a week at least)

[WinkyDink]

41. I was a teacher. I'd have given that kid a tenner before a hug. J/S.

[DawgHouse]

31. This is shameful!

[bluestateguy]

32. I would think the conservative readers of the NY Post would support this

No free lunch!

No handouts!

If you can't afford it then you just have to go without!

[pnwmom]

34. If they want to do something like this that's not in the budget, then the PTSA should raise

enough money so that all children can attend for free.

Otherwise, skip the whole thing.

[WinkyDink]

35. Shameful. Disgraceful. Public schools shouldn't charge for such things (I don't CARE what other

public schools do, re: charging families; it's ALL unfair.).

[PufPuf23]

36. Some are more equal than others.....

Is Orwell's Animal Farm still a common read in our schools?

I can see how some would want it banned because is too close a hint at true reality.

Poor innocent poor kids.

[Omaha Steve]

37. I can't believe they didn't try to find a helpful philanthropist

K&R!

[pnwmom]

39. The worst part? They had MORE than enough money to pay for it -- they made a large PROFIT!

They could have used some of that "profit" to pay for the costs of the kids who couldn't afford it

"The carnival cost about $6,200, including fees to a carnival company, Send in the Clowns, and reaped a $2,000 to $3,000 profit, he added."

[WinkyDink]

46. Thus, the core problem with depending on noblesse oblige. It's not....dependable.

[rug]

42. The school collected $9,000 for this event and coldn't sqeeze these kids in?

[pnwmom]

44. They made a profit of several thousand dollars. Sickening. n/t

[procon]

49. Economic segregation by any name is still discrimination.

My heart breaks for those children who were barred from attending. I'm utterly disgusted at school officials who allowed this injustice to occur when there were so many other options available to make sure a fun event included ALL the kids.

Shame on the school and all the adults, the managers, teachers and the parents who let this happen.

[oberliner]

108. How do you know they were barred from attending?

Maybe some kids didn't want to be outside and would rather just hang out and watch a movie so they told their parents not to bother to pay the ten bucks. Maybe some of the parents didn't want their kid participating in a carnival with junk food and bouncy castles so they did not give permission nor pay the fee. There needs to be some actual reporting done here. I would like to see one teacher or one parent interviewed. I would also like to hear from the principal or anyone in the administration. I think the NY Post reporter has an agenda and did not make a good faith effort to get the whole story.

[Jackpine Radical]

51. This is insane, inhuman. What a horrible thing to do to kids.

Nothing like getting the point across early that certain people aren't welcome in polite society.

[First Speaker]

55. I swear to Christ, this sounds like something out of Dickens...

...this country is getting more unrecognizable every day...

[KingCharlemagne]

61. No, this is more out of Lenin (as in 'Capitalists will sell us the

rope with which to hang them'). The school made a profit off this tawdry affair. Q.E.D.

[sufrommich]

65. What kind of adults imagined this was OK?

That's just heartbreaking.

[ScreamingMeemie]

67. I read these things, and I can't breathe for a minute.

[sufrommich]

69. Perfect description. nt

[MerryBlooms]

73. We did fund raisers for these type of events, and

the only kids who weren't at the parties were either absent that day or their parents denied permission.

To have these children split apart because of finances is inexcusable. The district should not be allowing this to happen.

[Warpy]

80. Bad headline, the auditorium was dark because they were watching a movie

Yes, it might have been better had the carnival been set up elsewhere or the movie shown in a classroom the farthest away they could get, but I guess nobody fucking thought of it.

They obviously didn't think ten bucks was a little steep for poor kids, either.

I wonder which bonehead decided this should be during class time instead of on a weekend when kids whose families couldn't afford it could have stayed completely away.

[raccoon]

123. Yes, it is a stupid headline. I don't know where they get some

of the dingbat writers they get nowadays. You'd think with the job
market as bad as it is they could get better writers.

[Warpy]

132. It probably wasn't the writer

It was a dingbat editor who wanted to sensationalize it to sell a paper.

That happens a lot.

[questionseverything]

129. bingo

you said,

I wonder which bonehead decided this should be during class time instead of on a weekend when kids whose families couldn't afford it could have stayed completely away.

/////////////////////////////////

schools are constantly doing fund raisers in my district but they are not done during school,excluding the students who can't pay (who are oddly the students the fundraisers are suppose to benefit)

//////////////////

activities during school are "everyone attends", fundraisers after school ( that poor kids may not be able to attend) are to collect money so during school "everyone attends"

[alphafemale]

85. Looks like they were seeing a cartoon of some sort.

Not that bad of an alternative.

I do object to these type things needing a fee attached.

There can be ways to sponsor these things without needing fees.

But there are also parents that object to their kids participating in these these events for whatever lame brain reason and you are going to need an alternate event anyway.

[procon]

93. Beyond the principal's heartlessness, did you see what else she did?

From the linked article:


Principal Joan Monroe tacked up a list of the number of students per class: “How many attending, Paid,” and “How many not attending, Not paid.”

On Thursday morning, Monroe used the school loudspeaker to remind teachers to send in a list of kids who did not pay.

While teachers were handed a bag of little stuffed animals to give kids who paid for the carnival...

Frank Chow, president of the parents association that sponsored the carnival, said Monroe insisted that kids whose parents didn’t pay could not partake.


The carnival cost about $6,200, including fees to a carnival company, Send in the Clowns, and reaped a $2,000 to $3,000 profit, he added. “I wish we just charged parents the cost, not to make extra,” Chow said. The profit is earmarked for the pre-K, kindergarten and fifth-grade moving-up parties, he said.
PS 120 families also have paid annual PA dues of $15 per family. That money will be spent on window air-conditioning units, Chow said.

-----

So this principle targeted the poorest children for public humiliation, money-shaming the kids who couldn't afford to pay, then she profited off the kids who did pay, and also fined all the kid's families personally for extra money supposedly for the maintenance costs of a publicly owned building that is paid for by the taxpayers.

Where's the investigation???

[oberliner]

100. There is no evidence provided for any of this

"On Thursday morning, Monroe used the school loudspeaker to remind teachers to send in a list of kids who did not pay." - according to whom?

Please remember that this story is in the NY Post - a far right-wing tabloid known for dodgy reporting and sensationalistic articles, usually targeting liberals.

[11 Bravo]

96. Awww, FUCK! I've been a public school teacher for almost 40 years, and ...

as God is my witness I would have walked in that principal's office and asked, "Are you out of your fucking mind?"

[Arugula Latte]

98. Such needless cruelty -- to kids.

Why?!

[Adrahil]

102. At my daughter's school....

when they have an activity or field trip that costs money, they have an option on the permission slip for you to sponsor another child that cannot afford the activity. I always sponsor 2 additional kids, just in case. I hate to see kids left out like that.

[oberliner]

106. What if they get too many or too few sponsors?

If there aren't enough parents who agree to sponsor additional kids to cover all the kids who cannot afford the activity, what happens?

On the flip side, if there are more kids sponsored than kids who need to be covered, what happens to the extra money? Do the parents who paid the extra amount all get a percentage back?

[Adrahil]

116. Here's how it works....

AFAIK, they've never come up short. I always write a note to say if they come up short, contact me. Hasn't happened yet. Extra funds are put in an account for the next event.

[oberliner]

118. Cool

That sounds like a pretty good system.

[FSogol]

128. At my sons' former elementary school, the PTA paid the way for the poor kids

and no one would be any wiser. We always dumped money into that fund.

[Novara]

107. Indoctrinate them at an early age that they're worthless if they're poor

Hey, it's the American Way. Poor people don't count.

[roody]

120. How is that even legal?

[whereisjustice]

121. fuck - this is just all kinds of wrong. Goddamn the MBA douchebags who would do this to kids.

[Pooka Fey]

124. What is wrong with people?

[vankuria]

126. Breaks my heart

You'd think the school could've had a fundraiser or something to raise money for the kids who couldn't afford it. I hope someone gave them hell for this and it never happens again.

[barbtries]

127. i do not fucking believe

how mean this country has become. just plain fucking mean and cruel and disgusting. i'm just about over it.

[Eleanors38]

130. the Bureaus are mighty & inflexible in the age of Zero Tolerance. nt

[Orrex]

131. It's good that schools institute policies to ostracize children of low income families

Better to acclimate them to the ridicule and scorn to which they'll be subjected their entire lives.

I hope that they included a stern lecture to explain to these children that they're poor because they've made bad life decisions and because they don't work hard enough.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

133. Well, they're "takers not makers".

If they weren't so lazy and shiftless they'd have made an effort of pulling themselves up by their bootstraps by picking wealthy parents.