Um, okay...WHAT? Tell me you wouldn't hightail it to the school the moment you heard about this and make some matches of your own, such as foot to asses and the like! This is beyond infuriating!
Some are saying it's not a big deal, because it's not like they're marrying them off. Rrrriiiighht...I'm not havin' it! This is what I'd be doing!
What do you think? Harmless and cutsie, or sending the wrong message?
20 comments:
Okay, now that I have sufficiently recovered from the shock, awe and incredulity of this situation I believe I can comment.
I am 40-ish Mom with one middle schooler and an almost 7 yr old with Special Needs. An while there are times I consider giving my 6th grader away (only to have her returned by 18)I love her fiercely and do everything in my power to keep her looking her age, acting her age, speaking respectfully etc.
In this day and age, there is too much of an emphasis of our children being "strongly coerced"(read forced) to look, sound and behave older than they are. What in the ham-sandwich are they thinking? Suffice it to say I am glad that I do not live in that town because I'd be joining you in an NYPD-beat down. I'm just saying......
Are you Serious???? Hell to the Naw??? Definately sending the wrong message on so many levels. Girl, don't even get me started. I'd be typing a novel.
SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE! hands down... one of my goals for my kids has been to not view the opposite sex as merely romantic partners... i have always encouraged them to have both genders of friends... and, yes, there were those who raised eyebrows thinking i was encouraging the opposite... my response has always been that they have to see each other as human beings and friends first... to know and learn about each other on that level... i don't know what people are thinking - except that i am quite sure that they are not...
Totally NOT harmless and cutsie. It's age inappropriate in my opinion.
so wrong! This was inappropriate, especially w/o parental consent. did they not consider that most parents have rules about what age their kids can date? Schools are trying to do too much, why can't they just focus on teaching and learning?
...reminds me of the teachers at a middle school who threw a baby shower for a pregnant 8th grader
Oh. My. God.
Are you serious?
Why on earth would the damn school promote kids being "matched" up for dates? Like seriously? I don't need the school hooking up my 6th grader. Or even putting into her mind that she should be thinking about boys and dating. School is for SCHOOL, dammit. Don't the kids get enough signals from every doggone where encouraging them to act grown? Now the school is piling on—hooking up 11-year-olds with 10th graders? Um, really, isn't that the equivalent of pimping out the kids in the name of "fundraising"? Whatever happened to bake sales? I'd buy $40 of wrapping paper rather than have someone collect my kids' allowance to hook them up with teenage boys.
Oh, you done got me hot up in here!
It is totally inappropriate for the school setting on so many levels. My free-lovin' nouveau hippie radar went off at the emphasis placed on "opposite sex" more than once. Whilst I vehemently oppose the whole concept of pre/peri-pubescent matchmaking, it stung to see that even in their blatant impropriety they still took the opportunity to exclude those children who are not/unsure if they are heterosexual. Which is yet another reason why this should not have taken place in the very vulnerable middle school setting.
Superintendent needs to go. This is very very off.
Oh Hell No! I'm sorry, I am the mother of four children from Teen to Toddler and I have two in Middle/ High School. The school my children attend is an Arts Magnet School and it's grades 6th - 12th.
I would have a fit if something like this took place at their school. Children are already at that age where they want to try and explore the opposite sex and want to be in relationships. Why would the scchool want to force that on them?
My daughter is at a point where all her friends have boyfriends but, she doesn't have one. So, she's the odball... That's how she feels but, I do not think that at that age she needs to be focused on having a boyfriend. She can have friends hang out and that's it, why does the relationship have to be labeled?
Can't the school have a Bake Sale, Sell Cookie Dough, Butter Braids or other forms of fundraising, besides this mini eharmony situation thaye have going on. This is beyond rediculous!
Ummmm...No m'amm. This is not what's going down in my house. There is no way I would let my child participate in this. There is nothing harmless about it. It gets them thinking about particular boys/girls in a different way and I think that is inappropriate.
1st of all that man who said that 11 or 12 year olds are scared to talk to the opposite sex and think this is a good way should be SLAPPED THE HELL OUT OF!!! Why in the HELL would I want my Son/daughter going to school thinking about who they gona marry in the next few years..EDUCATION is what they need to be thinking about.
As i Tweeted, this is ridiculous!!!
Kids need to be focused on education. How is hooking up going to benefit them later on? Will this help them compete with Chinese, Japanese and Indian children for technical jobs later?
I Blame Toddlers & Tiaras!!
Just "NO"!! Everything about that is wrong. Trust me. You would not be the only mom kickin' ass and takin' names later.
Why would you promote something like that to a kid???!!! On top of which this is during the time of the their lives when their hormones are off the charts.
This is foolishness!!
Fundraisers? What the heck ever happened to candy grams and bake sales?
Ok I get buying the "teen" magazines and taking surveys to see what types of guys you might like. But a school sponsoring matchmaking with real people is an entirely different animal and totally inappropriate.
I commented before reading the previous comments, and now I'm extra pissed. Did Teresha just say some teachers threw a baby shower for an 8th grader. I'm DONE!
I grew up in Elwood. Elwood is a small town of less than 10,000 people. Everyone knows everyone, but none of my friends and family that remain in Elwood know this woman. She is an outsider, and does not have her facts straight. I did this "matchmaking" survey back in 1987. The town has been doing this activity for WELL over 15 years. The reason why nobody has complained before is because there is NOTHING wrong with it. It is a questionnaire that asks questions like "what is your favorite ice cream flavor," and "what is your favorite rock band." It is innocent fun, and you ONLY get matched with people in your own grade. I remember that I, a band geek, was matched with one of the most popular kids in my class. I remember the shock of realizing that "he" could have anything in common with me! I don't see any harm in some innocent activity that brings kids together as equals. And what-do-you-know, I didn't get pregnant because I participated. I didn't end up on drugs, drop out of school, etc etc etc, because I took this survey either. I hope the parent causing all of this drama gets all of the attention that she was desiring to get out of this! And this "News" station should be ashamed. As I had been a participant in this survey as a child, I can tell you that the media did not do ANY fact checking. The facts of this story are FLAT OUT WRONG! I believe that the members of the American media should go back to the basics..... TRUTH, HONESTY, AND INTEGRITY. Because all three are lacking here! Also, this woman has admitted that she got her facts wrong, but I bet the media won't cover that now, will they?
And yet ANOTHER reason I am homeschooling my Lilies...stupid.
I find it hard to believe that a network as large as CNN didn't check the facts before they published a story on their network nationwide!
If that is the case CNN needs to retract the story and apologize and update the new information on their network and publish the truth. I work for a newspaper and if there are any errors we always retract what's been published apologize and publish the correct factual information.
Anyhow: This topic made great round table conversation and Blog Talk Radio topic this week on "When The Diva Talks" Check it out on my blog! We linked back to your blog and gave you recognition for the story. Thank you!
Also, I was finally able to follow you. I'm you 150th follower!
Thanks Again,
Jen
http://www.jaelcustomdesigns.com
Re: the comment from the person who lived in town. I must admit that I was quite surprised that this school has been doing this activity for so many years without it raising any red flags.
I however, think that what was "all in good fun" in 1987 has entirely different ramifications in 2010, small town or not.
I also find it funny that someone who cites a "matchmaking survey" as a great equalizer begins by calling the parent featured in the news story an "outsider" and a trouble maker. Simply because she was more concerned with the welfare of their child than the status quo.
If at the heart of it the survey is meant to break down barriers why not introduce you to members of your own sex who you share common interests with and could be potential friends had you not overlooked them due to cliqueishness.
Post a Comment