Hi Mamas!
OK I need opinions! My 10 year old daughter was in Battle of the Books at her school. Her team came in second place (14 teams and they lost by 1 point). The first place team is going to compete in district. She was asked to be the only alternate for the team because she was her teams captain and read all 10 books. I had to sign a permission form for her to participate with the team. She has to go to the team meetings and participate as if she is fully on the team (IE: be at school 1/2 hour early until the day of the district competition. As well as be at competition with the rest of team.) I found out that they took the team photo for the yearbook on Thursday and she was not asked to be in it, nor was she listed on the team. Shouldn't she be listed at least as the alternate and have her photo in the year book with the team too? Should I talk with the school about this? What would you do if this was your child?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi All!
OK. I spoke with my daughter again and asked her what they said exactly when they called the kids for the year book photo. She said they asked for the winning team for the photo. I told her that she would not be included for this because her team came in second. She understood. However, I spoke with the AP and asked if she would be mentioned in anything going forward. The AP said she had no idea there was even an alternate. She said she will speak with the librarian (who is heading this) and make sure my daughter is mentioned from this point forward. She said she is doing all the work and is now absolutely part of the team.
Thanks for all the help!!!
No. Think of it this way, she is getting the experience that many others are not. Will she be able to do it again next year? Her experience may help win next year.
Unless she is bothered by this I would drop it.
When I was an alternate twirler in high school or in college on the college bowl team was not listed or photographed. The alternate is not on the team, they are like an understudy. The understudy is never listed in the playbill.
Does this bother your daughter as well? I know she is ten, but is there a way she would like to have it dealt with? I think if it is really important to her and she does not mind you addressing it, then sure, I would speak to someone. I would let them know how important this is to your daughter and how meaningful it would be to her and you to have her included since she too has done all of the leg work.
Good luck!
Definitely talk to the school about it, if you don't you will regret it. I'm sure it was just an innocent oversight and they should be able to retake the picture or at least mention her in the caption or something.
technically, no.
but it still sucks a big one.
because there is room for the remainder of the year that she could wind up competing and being a participant.
so, technically... no
but morally... yes.
I can understand your annoyance with the school. It sounds like your daughter is doing all the work required but not getting the recognition. Still, I say let it go. Tell her you think it's too bad she wasn't included & you wish the school handled it differently but, unless it's really upsetting to her, let it go.
I would say no - drop it. The important thing is that she is getting the experience and benefitting from the activity - not the recognition.
At this point, it would be too late for her to be in the picture - they wouldnt retake it just so she could be in it, and if they did, that would be embarrassing too - "We have to redo the picture because so and so's mom called and complained."
The rationale of the school was probably to take a picture of the kids on the first place team and your daughter was the captain of the second place team. She is now an alternate on the first place team, which makes it not so cut and dried...
Instead of making a big deal of it, I would emphasize the positives of the experience - she was the captain of her team, she is getting this good experience, her team did really well, she was asked to be the alternate, etc.
I'm so sorry! Don't you hate it when they experience the "life's not fair" as a child? I wouldn't raise a stink about it, BUT, you can get a trophy made for her very inexpensively to show how proud you are!!!
Hi,
As moms we have a materal instinct and want to protect our children and their feelings 24/7. First make sure that your daughter hasn't forgot all about this issue and has left you in the "battle". Next, Maybe the person(s) publishing the yearbook was not aware of her daughters involvement.I would definitely bring it to school staff attention
Wow, you think they would have included her, that is a bad oversight on their part for sure. You might talk to the school to see if they would retake the pic OR just explain to your daughter that being the alternate is important but obviously doesnt get the glory. I was an alternate juror once, they dont get any perks either. Life aint fair, and this is one of those conversations you might just have to have. It might be kind of anal to ask they put her in the pic since she really isnt on the team per say... However, if approached in a nice fashion they may reconsider and redo the picture. If she actually IS in the competition I'm sure pictures will be taken of the event and there your daughter WILL be.
I would talk with the team adviser, i.e. teacher, in charge of the team. Yes, I think she should've been included unless this picture is to document the first round in which this team won first place. Perhaps they will take another picture and include you daughter when they document the next round.
I would talk to the school about it. It might be too late to include her in the photo, but they could at least list her name as an alternate. I was an alternate on a school competition team and on the day of the competition, one of the team members got sick and I had to step in and compete - only because I had prepared just like they did, was I able to answer the questions. In all honesty, the whole team was shocked that I was able to answer the questions because they never acknowledged me as being part of the team. But, that's what an alternate is all about - being there and being prepared. So, I think you should try to get her name listed as an alternate.
Good luck!
L.
