Mom puts son on Tampa street corner to tell of poor grades
By Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, February 18, 2011
TAMPA — Head hanging low, he stood near an East Tampa street corner for nearly four hours Wednesday afternoon.
James Mond III, 15, wore a sign around his neck with a message:
"I did 4 questions on my FCAT and said I wasn't going to do it … GPA 1.22 … honk if I need (an) education."
People honked. Lots of people.
This was his mother's idea. Ronda Holder, 33, a Tampa hair stylist, said she wanted James to realize the importance of an education, afraid he will otherwise wind up on the street.
"I don't want any of my kids to stand by the side of the road asking for change," said Holder, the niece of a former Tampa police chief.
By Thursday, her plan had a life of its own. A local TV crew turned James' punishment into evening news. Franklin Middle School enrolled the teen in after-school tutoring. The Department of Children and Families came to Holder's home to interview James.
DCF spokesman Terry Field said the punishment might legally be considered bizarre, a form of maltreatment.
Experts cautioned that the punishment was extreme and likely ineffective.
FULL ARTICLE LINK -
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article1152321.eceNow, with all the criticisms that this woman has had to face because of what she did, as a teacher I have to say...at least she's showing concern about her kid's performance in school. I've seen way too many cases of kids who aren't doing well academically, and their parents have either: a) given up and don't bother trying to help, b) wash their hands of it and say that it's solely the responsibility of the school/teacher, and/or c) just plain couldn't care less about their kids. At least this woman and her husband are involved and have been doing what they can to help improve his grades so that he doesn't, as she put it, end up on the streets. A lot of times these kids reflect and echo the attitudes that they see their parents giving. If mom and/or dad think and act like school's not important, then guess what, a lot of times the kid's going to think the exact same thing.
I say props to mom. If her boy thinks that it's embarrassing seeing people drive by him and honk at him because they know he's not doing well at school, he'll REALLY be embarrassed 10-15 years from now when people drive by him, and see AND know that he's a broke-ass, homeless bum who has to beg for money and who's living on the street.
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