Last week, at Riverside Elementary in Queens, New York, a troubling situation unfolded when over 100 kids found themselves confined to a dimly lit auditorium while their classmates reveled in an exciting end-of-year carnival outside. The event, held during school hours, required a $10 admission fee, which many families simply couldn’t afford.
Approximately 900 students participated in the schoolyard festivities, with various grades taking turns to enjoy inflatable slides, bouncy houses, and a twirling teacup ride. They munched on popcorn and slurped flavored ices, while the sounds of laughter echoed through the air. However, those unable to pay were left watching old Disney movies in the auditorium. “It’s heartbreaking to see kids stuck inside,” commented one teacher, highlighting the distress of a seven-year-old who sobbed inconsolably, feeling isolated from her peers. Young children were left bewildered, questioning if they had done something wrong to miss out on the fun.
The principal had a list in every classroom marking who had paid and who hadn’t, refusing to make exceptions because it wouldn’t be “fair” to those who contributed. To add insult to injury, teachers received a bag of stuffed animals to distribute to kids whose families could afford the tickets, leaving others without. One compassionate teacher even held off on giving out gifts until she could buy extras for those left out.
The school profited $3,000 from the event, indicating that allowing all students to attend wouldn’t have been a financial burden. After all, popcorn is quite inexpensive! While end-of-year celebrations are a wonderful way to reward students, it’s crucial that they don’t come at the cost of some children’s feelings. If the event had been on a weekend, the situation might have been different, but holding it during school hours and excluding kids is simply unacceptable. Any principal who finds it acceptable to leave children behind in this manner should reconsider their career path.
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In summary, Riverside Elementary’s carnival highlighted the unfortunate reality of socioeconomic divides, leaving some students feeling neglected and heartbroken. A fun event meant to celebrate and reward should never come at the expense of a child’s happiness.