So, I read the following story in last Sunday’s paper. Here is an excerpt:
—-In Georgia, Salecia was accused of tearing items off the walls and throwing books and toys in an outburst Friday at Creekside Elementary in Milledgeville, a city of about 18,000, some 90 miles from Atlanta, police said. Authorities said she also threw a small shelf that struck the principal in the leg, and jumped on a paper shredder and tried to break a glass frame.
Police refused to say what set off the tantrum. The school called police, and when an officer tried to calm the child in the principal’s office, she resisted, authorities said. She then was handcuffed and taken away in a patrol car.—–
A big part of the story was focused on the cop’s use of steel handcuffs on this girl. They cited the handcuffs as standard policy. Now, I understand carting off a six-year-old girl in handcuffs in a police car may sound revolting to you. And believe me, it is. But, you know what I find offensive? In what world are the police necessary to restrain a 6-year-old girl? I am sorry if you disagree with me, but I can’t understand what adult can’t deal with a little girl. Does she have super strength? Was she hopped up on PCP? Come on!
Also, I don’t mean to play the race card, OK, I do, but the little girl is black. I just wonder if the police would have been called on a six-year-old white girl. If this has ever happened, please send me the link. Regardless of the girl’s color, I find this story ridiculous. It is time to bring back the paddle. To this day, I remember the 2-inch paddle kept in my elementary school’s office. It was legendary. It was never used on me, but I remember knowing kids that received The Paddle. True or just legend, it did the trick. Of course, there is a limit for everything, and I actually don’t beat my kids, however, I’d take a good spanking over calling the police any day. I’m just sayin …
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You would have to live in a marmot hole not to have heard about the problems going on in LA Unified these days. As a male teacher, there is no way I will even give a student a high five, let alone try to restrain one. 99% of my students are intimidated just cause I am a big adult. There is something else going on with this child, probably abuse. Kudos to the school for not touching her. With the current climate of disdain towards teachers, the school would have been cruxified.
Like so many things in life, there is a spectrum. I am not condoning beating the child. Like always, my blog is filled with hyperbole, but the bottom line is that I disagree with this extreme side of the spectrum where a teacher can’t even touch a child in an appropriate restraining manner. I know teachers are not parents, but would a parent need to call the police for a tantrum by a six-year-old girl. I certainly hope not.
I also sent this reponse to my wife. I thought I’d get your response to it as well:
I would not agree with a paddle in this case. I don’t condone beating the child. Like always, my blog is filled with hyperbole, but the bottom line is that I disagree with a perceived trend of not being able to discipline children. When did adults lose control of children? It is sad, but I chose to highlight the deeper issue of a lack of understanding and control on the part of parents and adults of responsibility. Any child, disturbed or healthy will quickly learn that if they cross a line, the adult will be powerless. I hope this school is at least in conversation of their own methods of discipline and observation of child behavior. Could something have been done before the tantrum? Why did it escalate so? Is holding on the wrists of a child forbidden? (Something I have had to do myself). The heart of this article were the handcuffs, but there is so much more. Which was my whole point. Thanks for reading my blog.
Final comment/question: What training do police have to restrain a 6-year-old that a teacher doesn’t have or could be taught? Why is a cop better?
There is clearly something very wrong going on with this little girl to make her act out in such a way…and something deeper than a Paddle (which I completely disagree with) is going to be needed to help her. Just makes me sad.
I would not agree with a paddle in this case. I don’t condone beating the child. Like always, my blog is filled with hyperbole, but the bottom line is that I disagree with a perceived trend of not being able to discipline children. When did adults lose control of children? It is sad, but I chose to highlight the deeper issue of a lack of understanding and control on the part of parents and adults of responsibility. Any child, disturbed or healthy will quickly learn that if they cross a line, the adult will be powerless. I hope this school is at least in conversation of their own methods of discipline and observation of child behavior. Could something have been done before the tantrum? Why did it escalate so? Is holding on the wrists of a child forbidden? (Something I have had to do myself). The heart of this article were the handcuffs, but there is so much more. Which was my whole point. Thanks for reading my blog.
Brett, it is possible this little girl has an emotional/behavioral disability. It also sounds like the school staff is poorly trained in the event that a physical restraint becomes necessary. As a teacher, I have seen the reactions and actions of poorly trained staff. No, obviously the police should not be called to restrain a student, but school staff needs specific and appropriate training to head off an aggressive student or as a last resort, go hands on.
I completely agree that the girl most likely has an emotional/behavioral disability. However, I find it hard to believe that a police officer is more aptly trained to deal with an emotionally disturbed six-year-old girl than an elementary teacher who should have a working knowledge of the girl. The list of people that I would rather have had deal with this girl before the police is rather long. Appropriate training is definitely needed. I certainly could be wrong, but I just would hope that there could have been a better way. Thanks for reading.