Get Schooled

By Khalif

December 27, 2005 11:42 AM | Link to this

That is the merciful thing to do. After repeated incidents, chopping off one of his hands would be more appropriate.

By BlindHogHomer

December 27, 2005 11:52 AM | Link to this

It’s most unfortunate schools have to teach appropriate behavior. But I think the only way is to go through the parent. That way you are teaching the student and the parent. I don’t know about elementary school, but for middle and high school 4 offenses of theft of less than $25 results in long-term suspension or expulsion. If the parent won’t or can’t change the child’s behavior after the first three offenses, the child should be expelled.

By Lynn

December 27, 2005 01:13 PM | Link to this

My best friend’s daughter had a stealing problem while in 2nd and 3rd grade. Items included “cool” pencils, papers, erasers, stickers, binders, etc…she even stole a book from her teacher. She would look you right in the eye when confronted with the evidence and lie through her teeth. NOTHING made an impact. There was some very heavy emotional problems going on at home at the time, but my friend did everything she could think of. Counseling with a school guidance counselor, a private counselor, punishment, threatening her with police. My friend even tried the “nice” route (suggested by the private counselor) of buying her daughter bags full of the types of items she was stealing. The idea was that if she had all she wanted she wouldn’t steal.

After many expensive counseling bills, my friend found a self-esteem boosting horse riding school. It worked, not only to boost her daughter’s confidence level, but as a potential punishment (lose riding privileges).

I think repeat offenders need something to make them take notice. If the parent will not be involved, then why not use a policeman to hopefully “scare the child straight”. It shouldn’t be solely the teacher’s responsibility to teach our children morals or self-restraint. Bravo to the teacher, the policeman, and the principal who backed up the teacher!

By danielle

December 27, 2005 02:04 PM | Link to this

I am a high school spec. ed. teacher. I support the teacher 100%. Stop the behavior now!! Teachers are in a no-win situation with some, I said SOME, people. FIrst, if the teacher does not do something to stop certain behavior, it’s the teacher’s fault for doing something that is not the teacher’s job. Then, if the teacher let’s the behavior go and let the parent take care of it, then it’s the teacher’s fault for not stopping it. Most people have not spent one day in a classroom. THe people that complain should see what it’s really like… The student was stealing for attention. And the student got attention. I hope the student got a lesson too. To the person who complained, spend time in the classrooms….library….office, volunteer to help in the school, and find out what goes on there. See how it is, how hard it is to take care of the children. I could never do elementary school because of dealing with the parents. I love teaching high school, but if the appropriate behavior is not taught and reinforced, then, whew!!, I get them in special ed. Only, they don’t get to go with the police unless the students are really going to get arrested!! Good job on the teacher and principals part. Great Principal for supporting the teacher!!

By SET

December 28, 2005 04:17 PM | Link to this

I suppose there are times when the city police need to be called to a 2nd grade. Weapons, narcotics, rape in progress, etc.

There is a story about crying wolf.

Teachers need to protect their credibility. If a child is unable to meet the minimum criteria for being in the classroom the child should be suspended and expelled. A referral of the family to the juvenile courts and the police for follow up to deal with acting out that is evidence of criminal, depraved or neglectful homes happens sometime.

You don’t call uniformed services to “threaten” a 2nd grader.

Good teachers don’t have to treaten anyway, they just deliver the consequences.

By Lilburn Parent

December 28, 2005 04:31 PM | Link to this

The teacher did the right thing! I am not certain if this is the same child… they had a video of the incident.

The little girl was really cutting up! Hitting the teacher, a REAL PERFORMANCE! I would likely have wanted to spank her. A good old fashioned “spanking.” Then we would discuss the incident, and plans for modified behavior. Of course that is why the police needed to be called. So that the teacher would not get physical with the child.

The police needed to be called to protect both the child and the teacher! The child needed to be restrained… which implied (to me) that the child needed some additional help.

The incident I saw on television, said that the child had cut up in prior incidents. That is why they called the police and actually started taping the incident.

By Aubrey

January 3, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

If that’s what it takes to put the fear of God in that child then so be it. Let it be a lesson for the parent too that they will not always be there to bail their child out.