(reposting from chat, sorry)
DD's Y2 class has a chart system where there is a prize when they get up to 10, starting at 3. They can move up or down. So far only 1 child has had the prize. DD is doing OK on it, but every day she talks about it and it is clearly a source of frustration and stress. She has started saying she hates school and doesn't want to go (but I don't know if that's because of this chart, or some other reasons, or just an expression of wanting independence).
My feeling is:
-- the teacher cannot observe each of the 30 DCs' behaviour well enough for this chart to be accurate. Some things will be missed.
-- consequently, they don't really control how well they do on it. DD seems to strive and strive, isn't noticed (or that is her experience), and then comes home and explodes over some minor injustice.
-- it hangs there over them all day; everyone sees how everyone else is doing and it is a constant reminder (of something they are not happy with and can't control). Imagine weighing yourself every 20 minutes all day ... said my mother.
-- This seems particularly damaging for any DC with any problems such that meeting the (apparently exacting and somewhat randomly-timed) standards is extra hard; they will see others getting prizes but never / rarely themselves. Not DD's situation but there will of course be DC like this in the class. School has high FSM, high SEN, high levels of social deprivation; some DC come as refugees, some have little English so won't understand instructions etc. Some DC just have different development than others with none of these factors.
-- the rational coping strategies are (a) try extra hard to get attention (annoying and probably not successful) or (b) stop caring. DD has already said "X said he doesn't even want the prize!" so X has clearly figured out that (b) is logical. DD has also said that she's the kind of person who will never get that prize.
OK so this is probably PFB thinking but I don't think at Y2 they should be set up with a system where the logical response is to stop striving for achievement/recognition at school. These things may be trivial to us, but to them it's a big deal.
What would you do? What do you think of these charts? Any teachers who could advise me here? Not sure if it's relevant but the teacher is NQT. Last year's teacher had a daily star thing that seemed much better and by Friday most of the DC would get one, and I think no one was publicly left out.