After 25 years of rewarding students with honors-level grades with free ice cream, a Pszczyna shop has ended its tradition following an intervention by the Child Rights Ombudsman regarding potential discrimination.
The Ombudsman’s Intervention
Monika Horna-Cieślak, the Child Rights Ombudsman, sent a formal letter to the owners of the “Lodziarnia Pod Dębem” ice cream parlor in Pszczyna. She argued that rewarding children based on grades may violate the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination.
The Ombudsman noted that children develop at different rates and school grades do not always reflect a child’s true talent. She urged the business to adopt inclusive forms of recognition that do not differentiate between students based on academic performance.
End of a Local Tradition
In response to the letter, the parlor’s owners announced they would discontinue the initiative, which was started 25 years ago by the late founder, Tadeusz Hałas. The shop noted they felt compelled to end the tradition after receiving the formal request.
Despite ending the grade-based reward, the ice cream parlor confirmed they would still mark the end of the school year by inviting all students and parents to visit the establishment.
Political Response
Minister of Science Barbara Nowacka criticized the Ombudsman’s intervention in a social media post on June 3. She defended the practice of recognizing hard work and ambition, noting that such rewards serve as positive motivation for all students.