Grandma had a brilliant response when school made her 6-year-old grandson eat lunch alone behind a screen for being late
Educational institutions need to be mindful of the way they treat children, especially when they make mistakes. Reprimanding the kids with cruel punishments rarely ends well. Moreover, the reaction to their error should not instill fear but be the one that helps them understand their wrongdoing and get better. When little Hunter was late for his classes in Lincoln Elementary School one day, the teachers gave him a rather cruel punishment, reported ABC 13. As soon as his grandma learned about the situation, she didn’t hesitate to render a fitting response and fix the problem.
Hunter was reportedly late to school a couple of times due to his mother’s health issues and a problem with their family car. Though he was late, the situation was out of his control, per The Independent. Describing his situation as “chronic tardiness,” the school decided to give him a harsh punishment. It came from a policy and required the 6-year-old to sit in the cafeteria in an isolated corner and have his meal by himself. Additionally, the boy was given a cardboard or screen that blocked his view and interactions with other kids.
The parents, Nicole Gerloff and Mark Cmelo, were shocked to learn about what was happening. “He was on the last table in the lunchroom by the back door and there's like a cup turned over that says a big ‘D’ on it. D for detention,” the mom recalled, per KOIN 6. She added that this punishment was causing her son to get worked up in the mornings. “The other morning, he was just flipping out and crying, ‘I'm going to be tardy, I’m going to get lunch detention, and there were tears,” she said. A picture was taken of the boy after the situation was brought to the notice of his family.
Hunter’s grandmother, Laura Hoover, was dumbfounded after realizing the heavy punishment being given to the kid for being "a couple of minutes late." In response to the cruel policy, the woman decided to call out Lincoln Elementary publicly. She shared a picture of her grandson suffering through his punishment online. The grandparent also explained the scenario and how the school’s reaction simply couldn't be justified. “They have done this to him 6 times for something that is out of this baby's control! They make a mockery of him in front of the other students! His mom found him there, crying and took him home for the day,” she noted in a now-deleted post.
Grandma's post received quite the attention and people supported her in ensuring things changed for kids at the school. After creating a clear boundary that bullying cannot be disguised as punishment, the family was finally able to see some change. The school issued an apology, promising never to do it again. John Higgins, the superintendent of the school, clarified, “The school's policy is intended to provide students additional learning time in a non-distracting setting. It was never intended to isolate or stigmatize students. Modifications are already being made to ensure catchup learning opportunities are being provided in a supportive and caring environment.”