Student holds sign as punishment for bad grades

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida middle school student had his punishment on display at a Kendall intersection after receiving bad grades in school.

Michael Bell Jr. stood outside the busy intersection wearing a sign as punishment on Saturday, after bringing home several failing grades.

The front of the seventh grader's sign read: "Hey, I want to be a class clown. Is it wrong?"

The back of the sign says: "I'm in the 7th grade and got 3 F's. Blow your horn if there's something wrong with that."

A few days before Michael's spring break, his report card showed he was failing three classes. "Civics, language arts and math," said Michael.

As other students enjoy their spring break, Michael will be out holding his sign. "I got an F in most of my classes, so as a punishment, I'm supposed to stay here for the whole spring break," said Michael.

Michael's father hopes Michael will learn a lesson and understand the importance of getting good grades. "I don't know any other way, I'm trying to reach him. He doesn't want to be reached, and this is my last resort," said Michael Bell Sr.

In addition to the bad grades, Michael's teachers told his parents he is a little bit too much of a class clown. "If you don't do right then you get a lot of stuff taken from you," said Michael.

Michael's father said he just wants his son to make something of himself. "If I don't do anything, he's going to be a statistic, and I don't want him to be a statistic," said Michael Bell Sr.

Both parents were present to ensure Michael's safety, as well as provide him with water and food.

Michael said the punishment is already sinking in. He plans on making some changes when school starts again. "I'm sorry that it has to get to this point and that when I get back to school, I'm going to do better," he said.

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