Acres Green Elementary School in Fort Morgan, Colorado Bans ‘Punishment Shirts’ at School

One of the latest fads in America are 'punishment signs' and 'punishment shirts'. Some parents have turned to this form of punishment to teach their kids a lesson. A mother in Fort Morgan, Colorado recently caused her children's school to add to the dress code policy.

Jessica Rocha has sent both of her children to school wearing their punishment shirts. Some people see them as humiliation, others believe forcing to make their kids wear the shirts will teach them a lesson. Acres Green Elementary administration doesn't see it that way.

After Jessica sent her 8-year old step-daughter Aurora to school wearing hers, because she is a little thief, the school decided to put a stop to that. Her step-daughter stole from her own mother, other people's homes and was getting five-finger discounts at Walmart.

The shirt the school complained about read; 'I steal. Steal means taking property belonging to someone else without permission' on the front and 'I steal. Please watch me.' on the back.

Jessica said before this 'incident' she planned on sending Xavier, her 9-year old son, off to school wearing a 'punishment shirt'. His issue isn't stealing like his sister, his mother considers him a bully.

The school made her daughter Aurora cover the message on the shirt, which Jessica sees as overstepping their boundaries.

The Fort Morgan, Colorado district superintendent said,

"I respect her right to do what's best for her family. But, I wish she would leave the school out of it. We cannot support something that is demeaning to the kids."

 

Jessica says,

"I don't think a T-shirt is harming my child at all. We are trying to parent at home, so they don't end up in foster care. So, they don't end up in jail. So, they don't end up in prison later on. I am trying to be proactive in their school life as well as their home life."

Some judges have been using embarrassment as a form of alternative punishment at sentencing. What do you think? Should shame as punishment be restricted to judges and adults? Is the school overstepping parental authority or are 'punishment shirts' more shameful than helpful?