Worst Disney surprise ever!!

[superdisneydork]

Originally Posted by ttintagel

Does anybody seriously think that the fact that it was a joke somehow magically makes any behavior OK?

No, of course not, there is a laundry list of horrible, horrible things that aren't OK if they're done as jokes. This just isn't one of them. Seriously, what was cruel about this? It's not as if they're 1st graders that don't know any better, by 8th grade your child should be able to take a joke.

Matt

[Rhongepooh]

Originally Posted by Reddog1134

This reminds me of "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy" from Saturday Night Live.

"One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. 'Oh no,' I said, 'Disneyland burned down.' "He cried and cried, but I think that deep down he thought it was a pretty good joke. 'I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late."

Oh my I almost peed on myself that was so funny!

[ttintagel]

Originally Posted by superdisneydork

No, of course not, there is a laundry list of horrible, horrible things that aren't OK if they're done as jokes. This just isn't one of them. Seriously, what was cruel about this? It's not as if they're 1st graders that don't know any better, by 8th grade your child should be able to take a joke.

Matt

I'm a grown-*** woman, and if you told me I was getting a trip to Disney World and then said, "Ha ha, just kidding," it would be just as cruel as if you did it to an eighth grader or a first grader. The age of the victim doesn't change the meanness of the prank. It's not about "taking it." It's about the a-holes dishing it out.

[superdisneydork]

Originally Posted by ttintagel

I'm a grown-*** woman, and if you told me I was getting a trip to Disney World and then said, "Ha ha, just kidding," it would be just as cruel as if you did it to an eighth grader or a first grader. The age of the victim doesn't change the meanness of the prank. It's not about "taking it." It's about the a-holes dishing it out.

The age of the "victim" (really? we're using the word victim?) absolutely changes things. A first grader will not have the understanding or life experience an 8th grader has, and certainly not what a fully grown adult would have. People learn and grow as they get older, otherwise there would be no need for movies to be restricted based on age/maturity, nor driving licenses or anything else that is age restricted.

I am not traumatized by the jokes played on me by family, friends or teachers. My family let me get some scrapes on my knees, physical and otherwise and I'm stronger, wiser and overall happier for it. I'm sorry you feel as if such a joke would be cruel towards you, but I'm an adult and I'd laugh at it, I'd probably also plot some good natured revenge and rankle my "tormentor"s feathers with a prank or two of my own. After that I'll move on with my life, because it's just silly to get so offended about a joke.

Matt

[JoWiJo]

I could see the teachers leaving info about Disney in their desks, letting the snoop find the stuff and jump to their own conclusions, then deny everything when pressed by the student body -- leaving the snoop looking like a fool.

But this punitive prank was over the top -- particularly when they made the students a spectacle. I don't think they deserved to be fired over this act alone, but they do need more than a reprimand.

Originally Posted by lizabu

Wouldn't it be funny if the teachers had to pay to send all these kids to WDW? Maybe the school board pays and then docks the teachers pay checks for the next couple of years? It would never happen of course but it would be just.

The trip wasn't to be for free, so I don't think they should pay for a full vacation for 60 students. Especially for the kid that was looking into the desks in the first place. What lesson would all the kids learn from that? Do something a little naughty because you might get a big reward if the authority figures mess up?

-Hey Johnny, you were just caught going through your teacher's desk! What are you going to do now?
-I'm going to Disney World!

No, the trouble-making student doesn't deserve a free trip to WDW, despite the prank (as wrong as it was). I would counter your suggestion with the idea that the other 59 get the promised discounts, with the difference in actual cost from the teachers' salaries. Let the other kid stay behind. But we know how the world works. Send 59/60 students to Disney World on the cheap, and one or more parents will pity the one to be left behind and pay the full price so they can go too. So in the end, that kid still gets rewarded.

I understand all the empathy about sending the kids to the Happiest Place on Earth, but that may not be the best solution to the problem. That may be an overreaction to another overreaction.

Just the same, I'm guessing one or more families decide on their own to reschedule their summer plans for a trip to Disney because of this.


------------

Bonnie Stewart, mother of twins who attend Grade 8 at Roseland, came home at 5 p.m. Friday to find both her kids already in their beds. She woke her son, who told her everything.

A little off topic, but it's in the article. I have to ask, is 8th grade in Canada the same thing as 8th in the U.S.? I know that some countries count down, meaning you'd graduate after completing grade 1 instead of 12. I have to ask because it sounds odd for two 8th graders to be in bed at that time of day. Just curious.

[AndiSlamberg]

8th Graders are 13ish just before starting high school. The kid was probably in bed because he was super depressed about the prank.

[FigmentChick]

This was a horrible "prank" to play. I don't know what a proper solution would be, but I do think the teachers have to do more than "own" their mistake.

[LSpell619]

Originally Posted by JoWiJo

A little off topic, but it's in the article. I have to ask, is 8th grade in Canada the same thing as 8th in the U.S.? I know that some countries count down, meaning you'd graduate after completing grade 1 instead of 12. I have to ask because it sounds odd for two 8th graders to be in bed at that time of day. Just curious.

I think they were in bed because they were upset. I remember when we were younger my brother used to go to bed when he got home after having really bad days at school.

[jaykorf001]

Originally Posted by mesaboy2

I'm not sure which is worse--lying to 8th graders that they're going to Disney World or telling them they're "graduating".

I graduated from the 8th grade. Ceremony with a valedictorian and everything. I think that part may be fairly common and true. The prank, however, was ill-advised.

[kymom99]

Originally Posted by jaykorf001

I graduated from the 8th grade. Ceremony with a valedictorian and everything. I think that part may be fairly common and true. The prank, however, was ill-advised.

I also graduated from 8th grade, and that was 34 years ago. So not exactly surprising, nor a new trend for that matter.

[Magpie]

Originally Posted by superdisneydork

No, of course not, there is a laundry list of horrible, horrible things that aren't OK if they're done as jokes. This just isn't one of them. Seriously, what was cruel about this? It's not as if they're 1st graders that don't know any better, by 8th grade your child should be able to take a joke.

Matt

When I was a youngster, I used to go to the local travel agency and tell them my mum was planning a trip to Disney for us, just so I could load up on travel brochures. I was lying. We could never afford Disney. I just wanted to look the brochures.

This sort of "joke" would have been devastating to me. It was mean, and MOST of the kids in the class did nothing to deserve it.

Maybe you'd find it hysterical to be told that you've won a million dollars, and be allowed to celebrate and really think for a moment that all your dreams had come true. Only to then have the "jokester" start laughing and mocking your excitement and pointing out to everyone your stupidity for believing one moment that anything good might ever happen to you. Maybe that's your idea of fun. Not so for everyone.

Most people would want to punch the jokester in the face.

Originally Posted by superdisneydork

The age of the "victim" (really? we're using the word victim?) absolutely changes things. A first grader will not have the understanding or life experience an 8th grader has, and certainly not what a fully grown adult would have. People learn and grow as they get older, otherwise there would be no need for movies to be restricted based on age/maturity, nor driving licenses or anything else that is age restricted.

I am not traumatized by the jokes played on me by family, friends or teachers. My family let me get some scrapes on my knees, physical and otherwise and I'm stronger, wiser and overall happier for it. I'm sorry you feel as if such a joke would be cruel towards you, but I'm an adult and I'd laugh at it, I'd probably also plot some good natured revenge and rankle my "tormentor"s feathers with a prank or two of my own. After that I'll move on with my life, because it's just silly to get so offended about a joke.

Matt

I got scrapes on my knees as a kid. I also grew up knowing I could always trust my mother to tell me the plain truth. I knew that she'd never make fun of me, or mock me, or cause me pain. I got enough of that at the hands of bullies at school. When I grew up, I married a man I could trust to always respect me and tell me the truth as well. We tease each other, but with love and without lies or humiliation.

So I wouldn't laugh, and the "revenge" I would have plotted as an eighth grader would likely have involved several slashed tires, at a minimum. I'm a lot more civilized now, so these days I'd likely just choose to never have anything to do with the jerks ever again. And I'd tell everyone, so they can choose for themselves whether these are the kind of people they'd enjoy hanging out with.

Liars can't be trusted.

[lizzi6692]

Originally Posted by superdisneydork

The age of the "victim" (really? we're using the word victim?) absolutely changes things. A first grader will not have the understanding or life experience an 8th grader has, and certainly not what a fully grown adult would have. People learn and grow as they get older, otherwise there would be no need for movies to be restricted based on age/maturity, nor driving licenses or anything else that is age restricted.

I am not traumatized by the jokes played on me by family, friends or teachers. My family let me get some scrapes on my knees, physical and otherwise and I'm stronger, wiser and overall happier for it. I'm sorry you feel as if such a joke would be cruel towards you, but I'm an adult and I'd laugh at it, I'd probably also plot some good natured revenge and rankle my "tormentor"s feathers with a prank or two of my own. After that I'll move on with my life, because it's just silly to get so offended about a joke.

Matt

The issue with this prank is that the teachers taped it and then played it for other classes. In my mind, that pushes this from a simple prank to bullying. That is not okay and I highly doubt your family would ever do that to you.

[bluejasmine]

Wow! Really uncool! I would have hoped someone who teaches children would have had better judgment than that! Hope these pranksters were punished in some way..

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