Grandmother’s Facebook Post Claims 6-Year-Old Was Isolated At Lunch As Punishment For Being Tardy

A grandmother in Oregon took to Facebook after her grandson was isolated during his lunch, a discovery that was made by the elementary school student’s mother. Hunter Cmelo, a six-year-old first grader at Lincoln Elementary school in the Grants Pass School District, was allegedly being punished for showing up to school tardy. His grandmother alleged that the boy was only one minute late to school, that he was crying over being isolated, and that the punishment was the result of an “excessive tardy” policy.

Hunter’s mother, Nicole Garloff, found her son sitting alone at lunch with a cardboard divider isolating him from his schoolmates. Beside him, a bucket with the letter “D” (for detention) was placed upon his lunch table. A She Knows article about the Facebook post compared the letter on the bucket as “eerily similar” to old-school dunce’s hats that used to be used to shame children. Garloff said she went in to check on him because she was concerned over how upset he was at the possibility of being late to school that morning.

Garloff admits that she has had a difficult time getting her son to school on time on several occasions, but the grandmother, Laura Hoover, said on Facebook that Hunter’s mother has been struggling with car problems. According to KDRV News, the boy was late due to car problems and some health issues.

The Grants Pass School District has been flooded with messages about what is being considered a lunch detention after Hoover’s Facebook post saw more than 55,000 shares in one day. The grandmother says that the child should not be punished for something that is out of his control. The grandmother asked Facebook users to call the principal of the school out for what she considered a demeaning punishment for something he had no control over. The grandmother originally posted the story on Facebook on the “Josephine County Neighborhood Chat” page.

Missy Fitzsimmons is the principal at Lincoln Elementary. She reportedly requires children who are repeatedly tardy to sit alone at the lunch table. According to other parents on social media, the cardboard divider is used only if the child attempts to interact with other kids during their lunch detentions. One parent explained the tardy policy and how lunch detention at the school works.

“My kids go to this school. I know for a fact that this school has grown and have lost their detention room due to lack of space and funding. Just this year did they start using the lunch room for detentions. My kids have had their fair share of detentions. They have both told me that the only reason the board comes out is when you have been told multiple times to stop interacting with other children while you are in lunch detention. I know the 4 plus tardy rule.. Yes, I think it’s over kill….. But it is the rule and have known about it for 7 years!”

According to the district superintendent, John Higgins, the elementary schools in the district make their own tardy policies. Higgins would not comment in depth on the policy allegedly established by Fitzsimmons, who has been the principal at the school for seven years, but did say reportedly that the tardy policy is implemented so that children can get caught up on what they missed while tardy. The lunch detention over tardies was not intended to be a form of discipline against children.

Many have wondered why Hunter doesn’t just ride the bus. Hunter’s parents said that, because he lives within a mile of the elementary school, he is not eligible for that form of transportation. Hunter’s father said that they can not walk to school on days when there is car trouble because the roads are much too busy for that to be a safe option. In addition, Hunter’s mom suffers from osteoporosis and, on some days, getting mobile takes a little longer than expected.

What do you think about the pictures Hunter’s grandmother posted to Facebook of her first grade grandson’s lunch detention?

[Photo via Laura Hoover via Facebook]