T
hank god an assistant elementary school principal is still alive today. His recent "slapping" attack by a kindergartner must have been really scary. It's hard to know what's scarier, actually -- that, or the fact that someone supposedly called 911 on a 5-year-old, or commenters on a news site saying they wish they were that assistant principal so they could take that child over their knee "whipping his hind end quicker than he would of know and I bet he wouldn't of done that ever again."
But this story gets even scarier -- or funnier, depending how you look at it. Here is what appeared on the news site reporting the event:
The kindergartner has been suspended from school but was not arrested. The assistant principal wasn't seriously injured.
I'm laughing but only for five seconds until the tears of sadness overtake. This poor poor kid. Let's break it down:
The kindergartner has been suspended. Kids should not hit adults and that does need to be dealt with, but this really isn't the best way to create a positive, nurturing experience for a child during his first weeks of school ever. It is, however, probably a great way to ensure he or she will drop out by ninth grade.
But was not arrested. Was that even a consideration? Would the assistant principal have to take the stand? Do they make potties that small in prison?
The assistant principal wasn't seriously injured. At least not physically. No word about any short- or long-term mental trauma he or she may have had or might experience.
Sorry, but it's hard to be serious about a situation so absurd. The fact this even made online news wires is troubling, or a sign that it's a really really really slow news day. There are no details yet as to why this child attacked the principal, but it doesn't really matter. Something is going on with that kid, or with his parents, or both, and someone needs to find out what that is and step in gently and with compassion -- fast.
I don't know how I would react if the school called me to report my 5-year-old had slapped and scratched an educator, but I know exactly what I would do if I were that assistant principal. I would apply some Bacitracin and then give that kid the biggest hug in the world and tell him everything is going to be okay. Then call in the parents, psychologists, or even social services as necessary, but definitely leave men in uniforms carrying guns off the list. A gross overreaction or a zero tolerance policy gone totally out of control. Just no. No no no no no.
What's the best way to deal with a kindergartner who attacks a teacher or school staffer?
Image via batgirlBob/Flickr
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Comments 75
There is protocol and procedures that are put in place throughout every school system to address such situations as this. There have been many assumptions made based on some of the comments. If a kindergartner is bold enough to slap an adult why would anyone assume this "child" would not try to inflict more harm? Also, based on the article, the mental history of the child was not addressed. Mentally challenged persons are very strong regardless of age if this is applicable. My point; if you make exceptions for one then it has to be across the board. Protocol should have been followed even if that meant calling 911. So, if this child gets away with little more than a slap on the wrist now, what happens when the child is angered by a principal when he/she is in high school and responds in the same manner????
I've had 4 and 5 year old kids kick, punch, scratch, hit me and spit in my face. All you can do as an educator is provide as much structure as you can in the classroom to prevent these things. Once it happens though, you try quiet time but of course that does not work. You inform the parents and some defend their child and some just don't have a clue what to do. It can be frustating to handle in school without parent support. If a child does not respect their parents, then they will not respect other adults. And if a child sees their parents not respecting other adults such as teachers/principals, then the child will also not respec those people.......You don't know what is really going on. Also You never know what information this school was given about this 5 year olds preschool records. Perhaps he was already on a fine line and previous interventions were not working resulting in a more serious consequence. Perhaps the parents were not taking this issue serious and now they are forced to deal with it because of the more serious consequence. You never know the whole story.
Don't underestimate what a kindergartner is able to do to an adult. I have a friend who was repeatedly attacked by one of her kindergartners and drew blood on a daily basis. I have heard of some 5 year olds threatening to stab people with scissors. The police are usually called because regardless of the person's age, this is battery and needs to be handled as such. Parents need to realize that their little darling is not cute or adorable but out of control and will not be tolerated.
Haven't heard what the principle did to get hit. Why do we assume the kid is bad and the principle completely innocent? Maybe the principle did something that made the child feel threatened. Calling the cops was a major over reaction. Zero tolerance and political correctness have gotten out of hand. Suspending a 5 year old won't do much good, the kid is probably thinking, yippee! I get to go back to my safe zone of home/daycare. I hope the principal gets some kind of lecture from his superiors on proper response.
As an educator, I have been bit, hit, kicked, slapped, spit on, and yes even had feces thrown at me. Every time an incident was documented and reported to the parents, it was always "you had to have done something to make them do that..." In my years of experience, it appears that students behave in this manner, they come from parents and homes in which anything that occurs that is bad is someone elses fault and never their faults.
Someone has already said this, but schools have been sued so many times that we have lost the ability to do much more than this with a serious infraction such as this. In reading the comments here, I see that there are several that are or will be quick to put the blame on someone else, as well as not agreeing with what the school did. Put yourself in the shoes of these educators and imagine what you would do within the law set forth for us as educators, then make comments that reflect that thought process. So many times comments are made off the cuff and without thought. With that said...
We need to get back to a society in which people take responsiblity for the actions of themselves and their families. Until this happens we will continue to read articles similar to this one and will see law enforcement called in to deal with these situations.
(my 2 cents, for what it's worth)
i respect the district's right to give a consequence to an action. i think a lot of the out of control behavioral problems we have with teenagers and young adults today comes from the fact that we allow young children to run wild. instead of discipline, they get "it's okay, baby, you don't know any better, TRY not to do it again" and a hug. then, when they get into the real world, they're set up to fail, because they don't know how to handle it when they do something stupid and get arrest, flunk out of school, etc.
If he were the first 5 year old to demonstrate aggression, this newsworthy or lack thereof, story might be necessary....It shows poor leadership skills on the side of the principal, that he can't deal with something so trivial....maybe HE should be suspended...or replaced!!