We've heard of children attempting to change the grades on their school report, but one school has decided to save them the bother by sending a letter to their parents offering to bump up their marks.
In a bid not to disappoint those who have not performed well, a school in New York gave parents the option of getting a second report with higher grades.
Staff at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island sent the letter below home to parents alongside their kids' reports, and the last paragraph is causing a stir.
The letter explained that the report is an opportunity for parents to praise their children for doing well and find out areas they need to improve on.
The last paragraph states: "Since our goal is to share accurate information with the parents, and not to discourage or hurt a student, great discretion must be used before allowing your child to view his report card.
"Certainly, report cards should not be seen by students without parental permission and guidance.
"If after reviewing the enclosed report card, you would like us to develop a second version of this report card for your son with higher grades, please call."
The idea of changing children's grades to ensure they aren't disheartened has outraged some parents.
"This is a disgrace," one mother wrote on Twitter. "The coddling of kids has got to stop. There is no accountability anymore. Sad."
Another person tweeted: "What? Surely, they can't be serious..."
HuffPost UK Parents has contacted the school for comment.
Grossest Things Your Kids Can Pick Up At School
Lice(01 of04)
Open Image ModalHand, Foot And Mouth Disease(02 of04)
Open Image ModalKnown for causing painful blisters on the inside of the mouth, the bumpy, red rash can also affect hands, the bottom of feet, and genitals. How it gets around: The gross factor here is that the virus lives in the intestines and is spread through unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated with feces. Symptoms: Small, fluid-filled blisters are usually the first sign of HFMD but can be hard to detect if only in the child's mouth. Other signs include fever and flulike symptoms. The RX: There is no treatment for HMFD outside of managing the symptoms with children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The child is considered contagious and should stay home from school as long as a fever and open blisters persist. Prevention: Encourage your child -- and the whole family -- to wash their hands often. Note to parents: The virus can live in your child's stool for up to two weeks after the blisters have subsided, so be vigilant about washing your own hands after changing diapers or helping older children in the bathroom. HFMD in adults, although more rare, is decidedly more painful!
Pinworms(03 of04)
Open Image ModalThis one's not for the faint of heart! Pinworms are parasites that hatch in the human intestines after eggs have been ingested by the host. Once hatched, the females then travel out through the child's anus where they deposit new eggs (cringe). How it gets around: Upping the ick factor here is that pinworms are spread when your child scratches their itchy bum, trapping the eggs under their fingernails for easy transfer onto surrounding surfaces. Doubly gross is the fact that the eggs can survive for up to two weeks outside of a host! Children can catch pinworms simply by putting their fingers in their mouths after touching an affected surface. Tellingly, the pests are most prevalent in school-age children between five and 10 years old. Symptoms: Your child may have a stomach ache and/or an itchy bottom. The worms can also be visible on your child's anus at night when the females are most active. The RX: Doctors can prescribe an anti-worm medication and there are over-the-counter treatments as well. Prevention: Children should wash their hands often throughout the day and avoid putting their hands in their mouths.
Impetigo(04 of04)
Open Image ModalThis bacterial skin infection causes blistering and sores and occurs most commonly on the face, neck and hands of children two to six years of age. It's gross because the blisters can be hard to look at, depending on the severity of the infection. How it gets around: Impetigo is highly contagious and spreads through skin to skincontact or by simply touching something that someone with impetigo has also touched. Symptoms: There are two types of impetigo: 1. Non-bullous, which starts out as tiny blisters that burst, leaving "weeping" patches of skin that eventually crust over;2. And bullous impetigo, characterized by larger, fluid-filled blisters that turn cloudy and stick around longer than those associated with the non-bullous form. The RX: Treatment depends on the type and severity of the rash. An over-the-counter antibiotic cream can work well on some non-bullous cases whereas oral antibiotics may be required for more serious cases or bullous impetigo. Prevention: As with most communicable diseases, hand washing goes a long way in prevention. Because the bacteria that cause impetigo can also enter the body through existing scrapes, cuts, or burns, it is important to keep these injuries covered and clean, particularly in the classroom setting.