6 yr old handcuffed/arrested for tantrum

[Jullianna]

What are your thoughts on this?

Check out the story:

Ga. kindergartner handcuffed after tantrum in school

 

[1still_waters]

Teachers in America are in a no win situation. If they even touch a child, they may face a lawsuit. But if they can't really take control of the situation, then they are stuck with an unruly child. So what do they do?

Call the police. At least with them there, there is some legal record of the situation.

So what are police to do if they can't get control of it? Well I guess cuff the kid and detain her.

Maybe it's an early lesson the kid needs to learn now, so they don't become worse in the future.

This whole thing seems like a symptom of an over litigious culture that leaves schools and even police in a no win situation.

 

[Jullianna]

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing, mostly for the 6th year old. She must have been terrified, but I'm sure she learned a very important lesson that may even protect her down the line. I don't know whether she hasn't been taught well or whether she has medical/behavorial issues that haven't been dealt with. Kids I've worked with over the years who've exhibited violent behaviors were exposed to violent behaviors by adults who couldn't handle anger any better than this 6 year old did.

I feel badly for the teachers because they don't have the authority to restrain the child to protect the other students and teachers (though apparently the principal was TRYING), and to protect the child from herself. My mom taught jr high/high school for a couple of years. She was stunned by the behaviors she saw in the students and the lack of discipline at home/parental support of teachers, and quit.

I feel badly for the officers because I'm sure that's the LAST place they would have chosen to be and the last thing they would have chosen to do. Just as the teachers, if they don't follow proper procedure, they can lose their jobs and far MORE.

I feel badly for the parents because, rather than reaching out for help or asking what they can do to teach, help and protect their child and others from her, I see fingerpointing. That sort of thing enables such behaviors. It doesn't help them.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Teachers in America are in a no win situation. If they even touch a child, they may face a lawsuit. But if they can't really take control of the situation, then they are stuck with an unruly child. So what do they do?

Call the police. At least with them there, there is some legal record of the situation.

So what are police to do if they can't get control of it? Well I guess cuff the kid and detain her.

Maybe it's an early lesson the kid needs to learn now, so they don't become worse in the future.

This whole thing seems like a symptom of an over litigious culture that leaves schools and even police in a no win situation.

you HAVE to be joikng! You defend this?
Arent your laws supposed to protect those that are young?
A six year old does NOT have the same ability to refelct over their actions as you do!

I hope this police officer loose his/ her job...

 

[Matthew4Jesus]

Why?
Touch the Child = Lose
Do nothing = Lose
Talk to child = Win. If child does not listen = Lose
What to do? Well, legally that's the only option you really have... get the police.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Legally? Not anywhere in Scandinavia

 

[Relena7]

The poor kid obviously has needs that the school can't meet. It's stupid that the adults overlook the signs, hence creating messes like this, then punish the resulting behavior.
It's sad they had to resort to something so drastic, but in this case it sounded like an emergency and they ran out of other options. I hope that little girl grows up alright and gets the help she needs.

 

[jonathanbchristian]

Handcuffs are better than other means of restraint. I see them holding kids down or holding them by the hands if handcuffs are not used. Handcuffs do not hurt anything. It would be better if the teachers could do something but most parents do not want the school to do it either. I would rather pick my kid up from the school than the police station.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

theeeen get the parents? arent they the ones responsible?

 

[depressed_angel]

Oh my gawsh. That breaks my heart when I hear something like that. :'(

 

[djness]

Bad Parenting.
No where does it say it in the article but what the heck....this is not a temper tantrum, this is a full on rampage.
''Salecia Johnson, 6, was accused of tearing items off the walls and throwing books and toys in an outburst Friday at Creekside Elementary School in Milledgeville, according to a police report. Police said a small shelf thrown by the child struck the principal in the leg during the fracas. The child also jumped on a paper shredder and tried to break a glass frame, the police report states."

These are NOT the actions of a properly disciplined child....the schools not at fault, the police are not at fault. This girls parents are terrible parents and should have to pay the school for everything the kid destroyed.

Further down in the story...........
"Annette Montano, a mother in Albuquerque, N.M., said her 13-year-old son was arrested last year after burping in gym class. The tension between him and school officials led to several more run-ins, including a strip search after he was accused of selling drugs, she said."

Kid gets arrested for burping in class....not likely. I'm sure there was a heck of alot more leading up to that. This kid is probably a total menace that the school cannot handle.

None of these things happened when I was in school 15 years ago.

Teachers cannot do anything to the kids and if you talk to the kid and they wont calm down what are you supposed to do.The blame for these things lands directly on the parents who I'm sure are quite adept at dodging responsibility.

 

[1still_waters]

you HAVE to be joikng! You defend this?
Arent your laws supposed to protect those that are young?
A six year old does NOT have the same ability to refelct over their actions as you do!

I hope this police officer loose his/ her job...

What would your solution be? Remember teachers can't lay a finger on a kid. Given all the realities, what would you do?

 

[seed_time_harvest]

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing, mostly for the 6th year old. She must have been terrified, but I'm sure she learned a very important lesson that may even protect her down the line. I don't know whether she hasn't been taught well or whether she has medical/behavorial issues that haven't been dealt with. Kids I've worked with over the years who've exhibited violent behaviors were exposed to violent behaviors by adults who couldn't handle anger any better than this 6 year old did.

I feel badly for the teachers because they don't have the authority to restrain the child to protect the other students and teachers (though apparently the principal was TRYING), and to protect the child from herself. My mom taught jr high/high school for a couple of years. She was stunned by the behaviors she saw in the students and the lack of discipline at home/parental support of teachers, and quit.

I feel badly for the officers because I'm sure that's the LAST place they would have chosen to be and the last thing they would have chosen to do. Just as the teachers, if they don't follow proper procedure, they can lose their jobs and far MORE.

I feel badly for the parents because, rather than reaching out for help or asking what they can do to teach, help and protect their child and others from her, I see fingerpointing. That sort of thing enables such behaviors. It doesn't help them.

Very well spoken.Although some people would look at me an wonder (how could you be black)
Thats what wordly thinking does to a society.

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

 

[Jullianna]

theeeen get the parents? arent they the ones responsible?

They tried to contact the parents and were unable to reach them, which seems pretty wierd in itself.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

What would your solution be? Remember teachers can't lay a finger on a kid. Given all the realities, what would you do?

I don't know. Lock him in a room to let him rage out? (assuming he wasnt hurting himself)
My point was just that I dont see how hancuffing a six year old is going to do any good.

I understand their frustration, but what will this kid now think of the police in the future?


Let me add. I have som bad expereice with police doing raids (at our school), out of uniform, and refusing to show IDs, so I distrust them in the first place. I would NOT want them to handcuff a child in my care.

 

[Dude653]

This is a no win situation for everyone involved. It would be very traumatic for the child. Then you have the teacher with an uncontrolable child, the mother could not be reached. If she puts her hands on the child, shewill probably be sued. Now you have the police officer who has to figure pit some way to restrain this out of control child without hurting her.......

 

[TomB_2012]

Why?
Touch the Child = Lose
Do nothing = Lose
Talk to child = Win. If child does not listen = Lose
What to do? Well, legally that's the only option you really have... get the police.

you HAVE to be joikng! You defend this?
Arent your laws supposed to protect those that are young?
A six year old does NOT have the same ability to refelct over their actions as you do!

I hope this police officer loose his/ her job...

Teachers in America are in a no win situation. If they even touch a child, they may face a lawsuit. But if they can't really take control of the situation, then they are stuck with an unruly child. So what do they do?

Call the police. At least with them there, there is some legal record of the situation.

So what are police to do if they can't get control of it? Well I guess cuff the kid and detain her.

Maybe it's an early lesson the kid needs to learn now, so they don't become worse in the future.

This whole thing seems like a symptom of an over litigious culture that leaves schools and even police in a no win situation.

If I was in this situation as the teacher, I would do what I believed I needed to do to keep everyone safe. That would include putting my hands on a pupil, no matter what age they are. I work in a youth scheme that is aimed towards people with disabilities. I also attend an EBD (Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties) school.

In the youth scheme, the age range I have been put with is 8-19. I have been in situations where I have had to shout and make physical contact with them (up to now, I have only had to do this to boys). Also in a restraint, I was hurt stopping the boys from fighting (I was the only staff member in the room, 1 staff member with 2 or 3 kids is the rule I think).

In school, I have seen fights happen and, I admit, have been in fights. I have seen the way the school restrain the pupils (sometimes they take it to far), I have experienced it too.

There was one occasion where I had to help stop a fight. There was about 6 pupils in the corridor (me included) and 1 staff member. A racial incident had happened the day before. 1 of the 6 (not me) was arguing with the racial abuser and the victim attacked the lad from behind. The staff member got involved, but they ended up being in the middle of them, but was stuck on the wall. So me and another lad started trying to stop the fight by pulling one of the lads away. We got the lad and I dragged him behind me, away from the other lad, who was now being held by the staff member.

I've been hurt in restraints, but if it means that everyone else is safe, I'll put myself on the line. If restraining someone means that I am risking a lawsuit, as long as everyone else is safe, I'll risk it.

The law is messed up. The way parents think if their child is touched by a teacher (or anyone other than family or friends) is messed up. Even if you are keeping everyone else safe, they don't think about anything else other than the fact that you touched their child. They point the finger, call you a paedo (short for paedophile), call the police and say that their child has been touched by a teacher. It's sickening the way people can do this.

Being accused of paedophilia is not good. Believe me, I know. I have been accused of sexual assault, I'll admit that now. I was 9 years old (for real), and it wrecked my education a little. I was out of school for a year, and during that time the school decided to be funny by sending my SATs home. I had barely any preparation for it.

This has affected me very little apparently, because the school (the current school) believe that I am one of the smartest in the school. I can see why. I've been put in for Higher Tier in Maths and ICT. I've been asked if I want to do a second ISA (Individual Standard Assessment/Individual Science Assessment) and I am currently heading for either a Merit (Grade B) or Distinction (Grade A) in BTEC PE.

I know that I have slightly went off topic (and made this a bit long), but this shows what such accusations can do to you and your future.

Do what you think should be done.

 

[TomB_2012]

Handcuffs are better than other means of restraint. I see them holding kids down or holding them by the hands if handcuffs are not used. Handcuffs do not hurt anything. It would be better if the teachers could do something but most parents do not want the school to do it either. I would rather pick my kid up from the school than the police station.

You have seen the police hold kids down or hold their hands. A while ago, there was a video on the website of the local newspaper involving REAL police officers battering a REAL person in a REAL park. Proper punches to the man's head. He was right to sue the police force in this city.

A lot of people hate the police. I do too. Some officers here are racist I'm sure. Some are aggressive. When I was arrested (for Breach of Peace) I was dragged into the car. An officer once swore in my face, grabbed my arm and slapped the cuffs on me.

 

[1still_waters]

I think there is room in scripture for strong punishment/correction/discipline for children. Our PC culture has made us back away from it. To me handcuffing the kid may have been a form of applying the rod ie a strong form of discipline to prove a point. We really have become VERY PC. On a side note, I'm speaking on the theory level here, I have never raised a child. And obviously child abuse is a no no. But let's not blur the lines so much we cross over in to advocating some mushy PC form of child raising.

Proverbs 22:!5

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.


Proverbs 23:13

Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

 

[djness]

Parents? Anyone? Just me? Nobody else thinks the parents should be raising their kids better?