I can not believe some of the comments on this board. MSNBC has been reporting on Elkhart for a few moths now. The board comments seem to be getting worse each day. It was drawing and this is the prize she won.

Meezo and Mom of Two Boys:

The reason I thought the comment was directed at me is because it was posted within minutes of my post, and I was being facetious about my comment about why can't my daughter win a car too. That was supposed to be a commentary on how silly the perfect attendance competition is. Apparently people took me literally.

I agree with Geodixon. The competition should be about good grades, not who has the best immune system.

And the comment about how forcing yourself to go to school when you are sick is preparing for the "real world" is also nonsense. Most employers allow sick days, and don't want their employees coming to work when they have a contagious virus.

It sound to me, like most of you people must be jealous because nobody has given you anything. It is a great achievement to attend school every day. This has nothing to do with a family who may have needed the car... this raffle was not a charity case, it was incentive for kids to have good attendance. How do you know her family doesnt need it. It was a stinking raffle and she got the luck of the draw. I agree with csam18, there always has to be those people who are so negative.

Back to focusing on the positive.....my daughter just finished her freshman year of high school. A new incentive introduced this year was a field trip to laser tag, bowling etc (hey, it was a day not in school, paid for by theschool, so the kids weren't picky) for having zero discipinary action for the semester. I would love for all the kids to be "good citizens" just because that is what is expected, but we have raised a generation of kids who have been rewarded for everything they do, so incentives are the only motivators they know. In a freshman class of 400, over 200 earned the trips. Even a small infraction made you ineligible (such as being caught with your cell phone on between classes). It taught the kids that rules are made to be followed, whether you agree with them or not. I agree that "real life" is not as cushy, but at least it gets them into the habit of being obedient of the rules, and mindful of their behavior.

We live in a society where most good deeds go unnoticed and you're only provided with attention when you do something wrong. Let the girl enjoy her moment of happiness, regardless if it's "just" for perfect attendance. Would anyone make this big of a deal if she just recieved a $25 gift certificate to the movies or does she not deserve that either? Really, is it an issue of rewarding for a task that doesn't warrant one or is it the size of the reward that makes this "wrong"?

I am pleased to see that there is still some goodness left in this sad world we live in. And by the voices of some people commenting on this young girl's accomplishment I clearly see how sad of a world we live in. Knowing how many kids intentionally skip school, it is nice that there is a reward for those who honestly take their education serious. No, if they are really ill, its a bummer that they diqualify themself. Maybe a dr note can wave the "qualifing issue. People----praise for our children is very important. Rewards are nice. And anyway, this was a drawing, and it was this young lady's day. God bless and keep her, and all the other students at her school and all schools safe and educated.

you all are not nice. peace is the basis of our society. Breathe in the flowers, look at the world around you. it is a beautiful world. every moment should be cherished. good job, brit! i love everybody!!!!! PEACE IS THE WAY! I love roses and tulips. and butterflies. and unicorns!

I am sickened at the bitterness I am reading in some of these posts! Did anyone look at that photo of that sweet girl smiling from ear to ear? Is it that hard to be happy for someone else? Good for Brittany! It's not like they took a car away from some other student. If someone wants to give her a car, then that's their business--they don't have to rationalize or justify it. It's an act of generosity, pure and simple. If someone else wants to donate a car to the student with the highest grades, then that's great too. Or will someone complain that good grades are a reward in themselves? For heaven's sake, you can always find SOMETHING negative to say, but that doesn't mean you have to say it!

Damn people are bitter – just because it didn’t happen for them means that they would rather be negative than think of happy thoughts.

I look at it as a kind of why not give this reward, there were 135 kids in the raffle, some got gift certificates, 1 won the car and generally everybody involved had a good day – do people really think that kids attended school because they might get a car, the kids who attended everyday I imagine most were going to attend everyday anyway and the fact they had a chance at a bonus was something special, it might have changed the behaviour of a few of them to go to school on a day when they would of stayed at home because they felt lethargic just to keep the perfect attendance, but for most I can’t imagine it made any difference at all.

Be happy for the person who won and wish them well and try and be positive!

People in the country are rewarded out of proportion every day. Why are all of you "haters" freaking out about this particular story?

Choose your battles better. This girl is happy, her community helped her, and if you want to see something similar or different in your community, go make it happen instead of raining on her parade, for God's sake.

Get active in your own community or shut the hell up.

This is ridiculous i cant beleive what im seeing on this message bored you guys are all adults and are acting completely ridculous I am appauld by most of the ridiculous comments being posted on this bored jesus what a uproar over a 8 year old car being given to a student jesus chill the hell out god forbid a student that probably cant even afford a car to get to school wins one who cares it was DONATED Key word here DONATED by a car dealership that felt like they needed to give back to the community some of the things im reading are completely out of line im in the Military I serve on the waters of this nation keeping it free of dangers so people like you and me can live life free of fear and live peacefully i dont complain because i dont win a car... And I probably have a harder job then most of you that complain about getting a cough and still have to make it to work to sit behind your computer free of danger but your common illness... Get a life i applaud her for her win whatever its the thought that counts that a company can give away a few thousand dollars to help a child in need. And who knows it sounds like not only the child is waiting to use the car but the family is having the benefit of using it also which is a plus! Have fun brittany and enjoy the new car : )

First of all, did ANYONE read the comment by the teacher from Elkhart who said that they included people with near-perfect attendance in the raffle as well?  This is an important part because instead of rewarding those with good immune systems, the comment makes clear that the raffle rewarded those who did not skip school.

Second comment goes to csam18:

"We get a total of 5 personal / sick days here at work for the ENTIRE year, after that -- well, you just don't get paid. When you have bills to pay and mouths to feed, what do you do? You get your butt out of bed and go to work, and if you're too sick to do even that? Well then you don't have a choice because your body just won't allow it, I assume the same applies to a child going to school."

Well, I know many people who get as many sick days as they need.  Just because you got a bad education and are working at McDonalds or something where they don't care if you get sick (it shows that you have a job with wages), you don't have to make your children go to school with the swine flu, that's called at worst child abuse, at best bad for everyone else there.  

Good job we in casper wyo have the same thing this year and for the last 5 or 6 whites chev dealer has gave away a new car i think its a great thing hope they keep it up

Wow...kudos to the people who are happy for the girl...and to the rest of you...maybe you should spend sometime in a soup kitchen and focus a little less on yourself. I would have said, spend sometime in Church...but then all the Church haters would have been outraged. Goddness..we just can't win.

I Hear the world's smallest violin playing for all the Disgruntled ones. Strive for better things for yourselves and if you don't like your exsistance, change it. Help a neighbor, start a drive for those less fortunate than yourself, be glad to see others do good. There is ALWAYS somene with days to live. How about a child with cancer. It was not a rewards program, it was a raffle with a car donated to raise funds for the school, maybe to better the conditions for a child attending class, maybe yours. Thanks to the car dealer and all others willing to give instead of hold out their hand for GOD forbid, another bailout.

I think that if they wanted to reward someone for this, I think that instead of giving away a car that she cant drive, they should have given away groceries or payed for their gas bill or electric bill or something that would benefit right now. I personally think that they should not be rewarded that big of something for something that is required for a person to do.My son went from preschool thru 4th grade with perfect attendance and he got all kinds of certificates which he loves and can look back on and enjoy.Times are tough for everyone right now. with the giving of the car, they have insurance payments and upkeep and not to mention gas for the vehicle. If you cant afford that, then winning the car is useless.

I'm on the side the that students with perfect attendance should not be 'rewarded' as it appears to be more of a bribe. All too often students attend school when they clearly should not and there are many reasons for this. Part of it is the strive for the perfect attendance so that they can be recognized. But this means as some have pointed out that these children often go to school when they are sick, often they will stay at school just long enough to not be counted absent and then go home. During their time in the classroom they have spread that germ/illness to everyone who has come in contact with them. So unfair to the teachers and other students. Another reason students go to school when ill is due to employers taking a dim view of a parent calling in saying they need to stay home with an ill child. But if the child goes to school, throws up and the school calls the parent at work the employer can't say no.

But back to the issue at hand the student who won hasn't finished school yet, she's a freshman and as many have pointed out won't actually be able to use the car for about 2 years. While it's nice to reward the students for their 'acomplishments' the rewards should have been age appropriate. i.e. they should have had several small raffles for each age group. The car should have been included in the raffle for Sr.'s who had perfect attendance and a gpa at a minimum of 3.5. And the girl who actually won the car should have gotten a $100 gift certificate for the local mall. I'm just saying she still has 4 more years of school and the prize was not age appropriate.

Dave Kirk Chevrolet, in Crossville, TN, gives a new car or truck (the winner gets to choose from several) every year. The students are entered into the drawing for every week of full attendance. Dave Kirk even pays the taxes and fees for the winner.

I dont think "punishment" is the right word to use here for those kids that did not even get the chance to be in the drawing. Perhaps discriminated is a better choice. I would have like to see them set their heights on a contest open to everyone; that is equal. Everyone child gets sick and some children have major health issues going on, to have a contest that would exclude because of their health issues is wrong. Have the contest based on something we can all control grades or heres a no brainer behavior! The schools today are so riddled with violence some of the teaches cannot even get through a class anymore. But give away a car for perfect attendance, how terribly sad. But not at all a surprise. I have seen it in my own school district and often wonder how these people came to their positions. Why they think they are preparing these kids for life is beyond me.

Oh gimme' a break. Use as many sick days as you can; enjoy life.

What negativity. Here a child does well at something. Something that many children in this nation have forgotten to do and we have people putting her down, insulting her, telling her that the world is crap and she might as well get used to it. This is a Junior High student. She did something exceptionally well. Let's celebrate her achievement. You are talking about her grades. The last student I read of on here who had perfect attendance was also a Straight A student. Is this negativity caused by jealously? Do the people here have children who've missed school because parents didn't have the comittment to get their children to school every day. Children who attend school regularly tend to achieve better grades. Please, don't let the negativity you take to your job every day spread to the life of this young girl.

I do applaud the student who won the car...although she is too young to drive, of course her parents could drive it until she is old enough to get her license. Sure, it's a 7 year old Dodge, but it's still a reward for a job well done...and a car like that would still sell for about $3000 or so on the used car market. Another possibility could be, the parents could sell the car, and put the proceeds in the bank for their daughter's college education. I had perfect attendance in 7th grade (the only year I did not miss a day of school due to illness, etc.)...all I got was a perfect attendance award, no other prizes. How times has changed. Perhaps, with GM and Chrysler on the brink, and a lot of dealers closing, perhaps another school or community could up the ante, and offer a BRAND NEW CAR from one of the struggling dealerships to a student with perfect attendance and/or a high school senior graduating at the top of his/her class.

Congrats to all those young persons who have achieved this 'fete'. Keep it up the world needs people like you! People who are committed to doing what needs to be done.

In a society where young people are protrayed as being bad, no good and all the other things we hear, I am overjoyed that this positive behavior is being recognised. Thanks older ones for 'bigging up' the youth.

My brother and I both had 13 years perfect attendance in school when we graduated in the '90s. My parents made us go everyday. We got a certificate and t-shirt every year and he received $150 at graduation in 1992 and I got a $50 savings bond for graduation in 1994. Far cry from a car. As for attendance and grades being conneted, my brother was a C student and I graduated with a 3.8 GPA.

I do think kids do need to be awarded for accomplishments, but a car for a 15 year old is very extreme. If the school wanted to give a grand prize, how about a college scholarship? I think many parents would appreciate that greatly. You don't have to pay for gas and insurance for a scholarship.

a sign of the times. BITTERNESS. With the school dropout rate soaring, criminal behavior going on in schools. She is to be commended for her dedication to school. Usually children who attend daily follow the path of higher grades. I cannot believe the negativity coming out on these comments. apparently their children were NOT in this category of behavior.

The American way these days is to reward bad behavior and take benefits away from the elderly and military.