http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...acc8d4-54fc-11e2-8b9e-dd8773594efc_story.html
Seriously? This warrants a suspension?
Seriously? This warrants a suspension?
From the article...http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...acc8d4-54fc-11e2-8b9e-dd8773594efc_story.html
Seriously? This warrants a suspension?
Sounds like the boy and his parents were told what would happen if he didn't stop certain behavior and he didn't.Montgomery schools spokesman Dana Tofig said he could not discuss individual students for privacy reasons. But in a written statement, Tofig said the suspension was not a kneejerk reaction to a single incident.
In disciplining young students, Tofig added: We always make sure there is clear conversation with the student and parents about any behaviors that have to change and what the consequences are if that behavior doesnt change.
Since none of us were there (I assume), it's pretty hard to pass judgement on this one. I hate most zero-tolerance rules, but many times there's a lot more history that goes into a decision than one instance shows.The child is 6 years old. He didn't hurt anyone. He was playing. There was a 5 year old boy in DD's class (when she was in Kindergarten) who thought he was Batman. I think this is perfectly age appropriate and everyone involved over-reacted. No one should be suspended for waving a finger. That's just ridiculous.
From the article...
Sounds like the boy and his parents were told what would happen if he didn't stop certain behavior and he didn't.
Yes, pointing a finger at another child and saying "pow" seems very tame and not worth a suspension. But what's the background? It appears this wasn't an isolated incident. Did the school take other steps previously? Did the child (and parents) willingly ignore suspension threats? Should children not be held accountable?
Honestly, I'm surprised the school released as much information as they did.
In seeing the headline, I was about to rail against "no tolerance" policies in schools, but after actually reading the whole article, it sounds like this wasn't at all a one time incident or a "no tolerance" first-offense kind of thing. I don't agree that, in general, little boys pretending to shoot things should be suspended. But the kid does need to follow the school rules, and after parents conferences and meetings with guidance counselor, the kid still didn't follow the rules.
I talked to my (now 10) son years ago that at school he couldn't even pretend to have a gun.
It's common sense in todays world that schools don't even want a hint of guns on campus.
It isn't that much of a hardship to talk to your kids about it.
The child is 6 years old. He didn't hurt anyone. He was playing. There was a 5 year old boy in DD's class (when she was in Kindergarten) who thought he was Batman. I think this is perfectly age appropriate and everyone involved over-reacted. No one should be suspended for waving a finger. That's just ridiculous.
I agree. He's 6, not 10. If you put your little kid (and 6 is still a little kid) in some sort of time out and issued threats of more serious punishment again and again and they didn't change their behavior would you automatically think "bad kid, better really start to teach him a lesson" or would you start to say "gee, why isn't he getting it?".
The age of the kid has to be considered when trying to determine the best way to address the problem. Suspending a 6 yo? Not particularly appropriate, nor effective IMO.
It would seem that the best way to address the problem is show the 6 year old, and his parents that there are consequences to repeatedly breaking the rules. That is an important lesson since its one that we will need through out our life, and 6 is not too young to learn it.
As far as why his behavior didn't change, maybe the suspension will get the parents to wake up and figure it out instead of letting it continue the way it has.
It would seem that the best way to address the problem is show the 6 year old, and his parents that there are consequences to repeatedly breaking the rules. That is an important lesson since its one that we will need through out our life, and 6 is not too young to learn it.
As far as why his behavior didn't change, maybe the suspension will get the parents to wake up and figure it out instead of letting it continue the way it has.
I don't necessarily disagree with you I just think that suspension is not the way to go. My kids, at 6, would've been thrilled to stay home from school (actually, that's true at any age )...which is why I think suspension is probably best for kids who are truly disruptive or making the school environment unsafe for themselves or others. Pointing a finger doesn't fall into either category.
ETA: and the parents have no control over the kids behavior at school. They can tell him not to until their blue in the face but if the kid chooses to do it, he chooses to do it.
I agree that kids need to learn that there are consequences for breaking rules, however there should be NO rule against using a finger as a gun! That is a totally natural thing for a little boy to do and making a rule against it is as silly as making a rule that little boys shouldn't pick their noses! Drawing a picture of a person holding a gun and pretending your finger or some Legos are a gun are totally natural normal things that should not be banned. There was a story a while back about a little boy that had crazy hat day at his school. He was in elementary and he designed his hat as a tribute to soldiers. His hat had American flags and little soldier men on it. Because some of the little green plastic army men had little green plastic guns his hat was taken by the principle. This countries fear of all things gun related has caused people to loose all common sense!
The age of the kid has to be considered when trying to determine the best way to address the problem. Suspending a 6 yo? Not particularly appropriate, nor effective IMO.
I don't necessarily disagree with you either In this particular incident I have to wonder just how many times the parents have been contacted about the boys behavior since suspension is pretty extreme. We all know parents who ignore their little angel's behavior until it gets to a point where something extreme has to be done about it. Something tells me that parents who contact a lawyer over a 1 day suspension are that type (of course I admit, I could be totally wrong though).
Why should anything be done about a child pointing his finger and saying "pow"?
Regardless of what any of us think about the rule, it is in place now and if its broken there will be and should be consequences. If its repeatedly broken the consequences should definitely be harsh.
How harsh, though? Suspension, expulsion, death penalty? (hyperbole, I know it's not the same thing)
On a personal level I think its silly for such an over reaction because lets face it boys like to pretend to shoot stuff. Having said that, I don't have an issue with acceptable "play" in certain situations, so if a school doesn't want it students to run around pretending to shoot eachother I don't have an issue with it. Do I think a 6 year old should be suspended for it, no. Do I think a 6 year old who cant follow the rules and (presumably) has been in trouble for the same thing prior be suspended, yes.