A recent graduation gift from a Stevens Point teacher to a student has led to an upset family – and an apology. High school students with cognitive disabilities participate in the district’s Life Skills Center program, learning things like cooking, housekeeping and cleaning. Lisa Kingsbury is offended by some of the items her daughter Alyssa Alvarado received from her teacher in a gift bag.
“It contained a picture frame, a toilet bowl brush and a Comet cleanser,” Kingsbury said. “I asked my daughter why she got this gift and she said her teacher told her that she will be scrubbing toilets.”
Kingsbury said she was contacted by a counselor who explained that the gift was not meant to put down her daughter – and explanation that left her unstatified. “I would like to see this teacher terminated. That would be the only acceptable action at this point,” she said.
“That would be innapropriate,” said Stevens Point district administrator Attila Wedinger. “This does not rise to that level, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.” The district has apologized and said in the future, gifts given to students in the Life Skills Program will be appropriate for graduation from high school. The teacher paid for the gifts with her own money.
WSAU