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
I'm going to have to start paying attention to the writers name of these STIR articles or better yet just stop reading them altogether. I'm so tired of the snotty, condescending attitude, only taking what they want out of the article and refusing to discuss it objectively or in depth. It's like CM has it's own version of Fox News.
I work in preschool and I have been spit at, hit, kicked, bit, had a shoe thrown at my head, cursed at, etc. There isn't enough respect for educators and there isn't enough understanding of what they go through on a daily basis trying to educate children who have no respect, no attention span, and no reasonable boundaries of behavior. That's the real news story.
My boss called me in her office as a witness one time, when a 4 year old was attacking her. I mean attacking her, repeatedly coming at her, throwing himself against her, scratching and hitting her arms and midsection. She was seated in her desk chair. He would only take brief breaks to run around the office, scream, and knock things off of her desk. She didn't touch him at all, she only put her arms up to try to block herself. She wanted me in there as a witness in case he hurt himself in his rage. I can tell you there was noting at all funny about it. The fact that the writer of this article finds this type of thing funny is sad sad representation of our society.
I am sorry but I have to disagree with this writer on a few things. If you allow a child to become violent even at a young age to solve their problems you will have a teenager later on who is bringing guns to school and killing people. I think the way this situation should have been handled was to bring the parents in and figure out what is going on in this kids home that is causing him to react violently to a situation he doesn't like. Either he has wonderful parents who are just at a loss for what to do for this child anymore, OR he comes from a home where violence is the answer and something needs to be done to help this child. Police, probably too far, suspension I agree with completely. This child needs to understand that there are consequences, often severe, for putting your hands on another person in a violent manner. You don't EVER put your hands on someone else, EVER! I don't care if you are 6 or 65 you never ever resort to violence to solve your problems. A hug and a bit pitty party for this child will only make him feel like if he uses violence to solve his issues someone will baby him and pitty him for his actions and he will continue these actions.
To add to this I watched my brother carried out by his arms and legs by several school officials when I was young because he ripped the principles panty hose in a fit of rage. He was later hospitilized and put on medication. He was not lashing out because of the principle or school but for the things that were going on in our home life. I can tell you this right now though after he experienced that he NEVER put his hands on another school official ever again.
This kind of thing is why I want to home school my daughter. Before people jump to conclusions and say bringing in the police to intimidate an out of line 5 year old is okay: we do not know the entire story. There were really no other details. My brother is autism spectrum and it is very hard to deal with him sometimes, the school has threatened my parents with the police and social services because he no longer wants to go to school anymore due to the principle, teachers, and other students being mean to him and bullying him; what you have to understand with special needs children is that they perceive threats differently than the rest of us do. This child could be a special needs child and we just do not know that because we're not getting the full details of the situation. From my experience with my brother, who also has ADHD, and myself who has ADHD, public schools are just not all that equipped to handle children who are classified as "High needs" it's a shame, but it's the truth, and these children often end up falling through the cracks of the system.
Calling the police in a situation like this was highly unnecessary and inappropriate and the school system should be embarrassed and ashamed. Yes, the child needed discipline, but not like that. Call the parents, have a meeting, discuss disciplinary action, and follow through.
By the way, if ANYONE ever spanked my child there would be hell to pay. Just saying.