And how would 2nd graders know about this?

[WeLoveLilo05]

This is not normal..... The article says the second incidence involved oral sex; now way should a 2nd grader do that out of curiosity! I agree with the posters that said either one or both of the children have been sexually abused in some way; either physically or by watching/seeing pornography- and letting a 2nd grader view pornography IS a form of sexual abuse.... Very sad!

this is what I was thinking, a kid just doesn't go off to school thinking "hmmm...I wonder what it would be like If I did...."no way. Either he/she witnessed it in the home or on TV or is being abused.

 

[J3nn78]

Give the teacher the benefit of doubt. Nobody knows the details of the incident, how long it lasted, or what the teacher was doing. For all we know, it lasted just a minute or two and the teacher may have been working with a group of other students, while the rest were supposed to be working at their seats or at centers. I am a second grade teacher, and I am pretty aware of what goes on in my classroom, but there are areas of my room that I may not be able to see clearly, especially if I am busy working with others.

And honestly, regardless of responsibility of the teacher, the REAL issue is what have these kids been exposed to (physically or on TV or seen) that made them do these things.

 

[themilesfamily]

I wouldn't automatically jump to the conclusion that these kids are being abused. There are so many places today that kids can hear about and even see stuff that is EXTREMELY graphic -- cable TV, magazines, Internet, older siblings, friends.

Just think about it...Sex and the City, Cosmo magazine, Internet access on your computer, etc., etc. I can think of a lot of things that are around a very typical household that kids could get quite an education from. (Or their older sibs get an education and the younger ones pick it up from them.)

Kids who are WAY to young to handle this stuff appropriately then go to friends' houses or to school -- and this is what happens. It used to be boys and girls kissing on the playground. Now we've moved onto something more graphic.

I think a serious investigation needs to be done into how the class is being supervised. And it sure wouldn't hurt to touch base with the families. But I would not jump to any kind of conclusions about abuse.

 

[Cindy B]

Considering what I see in my own school environment, this does not suprise me.

I will say that I also wooud not be suprised that if these students have had that happen to them or have seen it done.

I have seen young kids (kindergarteners) saying extremely profane words and stating about about what they will or will not do.

 

[luvsJack]

I am not so willing to let this teacher off the hook. These children are her responsiblity. If it had happened in a remote area of the playground or under a piece of playground equipment, I could say "maybe" she just didn't see it. But if went on in her classroom. Where was she? Even if she was working with just one child, she should have been doing so while at least looking up to check on the other kids. Maybe they were in a closet or bathroom--again, where was she? She certainly should have been aware that kids were missing from her classroom. She may have stepped out--uh, no she is not allowed to leave students in her classroom unsupervised.

And didn't the article say that there were two episodes? One with some kids removing their clothing and then the act between the two?

Teachers are overworked and underpaid. But this is unexcusable.


These kids could have had this done to them, seen it done on TV, saw their parents or an older sibling. The definitly need counceling however they came to know this.

 

[blana]

I still remember my mother comign home from school one day upset because one of the girls in the class was daring boys to climb under the table & look under her skirt because she wasn't wearing underwear. Momma found out after about the 3rd one because she was busy in another area of the room. They were in kindergarten. The little girl had a rough home life & Momma always felt she had been sexually abused.

 

[Rumpus]

There is something wrong with one or both of those children.

I agree. There are two separate issues here. One or both of these children have either been sexually abused or have been exposed to material that no second grader should ever have been exposed to. The second issue. The teacher was irresponsible, not present or both.

 

[rie'smom]

I've subbed for 37 years and I guarantee you that unless the class was in an auditorium, that teacher should have been aware of what the kids were doing. For pity's sake, the kids had taken off clothing! I'm with the teacher should lose his job group.

 

[Tiger926]

As a teacher and parent myself, this is very disturbing to me on many levels:

1. Lack of supervision - When I taught elementary, it was a very busy day, but you have to make sure that you are always supervising the kids by walking around their desks, visiting them in centres, observation, etc. I can't imagine not seeing children engaged in this type of behaviour. Even my at-risk teens in my highschool classes, don't get away with much, as I am always everywhere in my classroom. They joke I have eyes on the back of my heads, and I can hear everything! That being said, things happen where students do and say inappropriate things, but this is so extreme as the children not only undressed, but performed acts on each other. I don't understand the set-up of the classroom, as I have no area in my classroom that is hidden from my eyes. I have a locked closet that is locked at all times, so the classroom is open and well lit.

2. Mental state of children - I totally agree that those children may have been abused. I have taught, and teach several abused children, and this type of behaviour is common with that. Whether abused or behaviour challenged in some way, these kids need to be assessed immediately - lack of boundaries, impulsive behaviour, etc. What is being done to help these children?

3. Other children in class - My DD7 who is in a grade 2/3 classroom, would have immediately told me what happened when I picked her up, if she had been afraid to tell the teacher during the incident. What about the mental state of the other kids in class who witnessed this?

4. Teacher - What is this teacher feeling at this moment? What should happen to him?

5. Homelife - Many children see and do some very disturbing and not age appropriate things today. Just yesterday, my DD asked why the kids on the playground knew these words that she has never heard before. She also said a child held up her finger, and when the other kids laughed, she figured out that it was inappropriate. She then asked us at dinnner, and we talked about inappropriate and hurtful words. I have to imagine that these children if not abused, are living in very inappropriate households. Kids will experiment a bit, but in my experience with private areas, they usually are afraid of hurting themselves or others, so I find it highly unlikely that they would experiment in the middle of class.

My hope is that all involved get through this with the least amount of emotional scarring possible.

Tiger

 

[bumbershoot]

Children learn from some where or someone on how to behave
They have either witnessed it by way of TV, movies or have had it done to them before at some point

This is not normal..... The article says the second incidence involved oral sex; now way should a 2nd grader do that out of curiosity!

Ok I'm really putting myself out there with this, but....


My son has never seen any acts like this, nor has he heard about them. He is homeschooled and does take classes at the Y, but I'm there for all of them, and nothing weird is happening. Nothing bad has EVER happened at home.

But one time I walked into the room and found him in an awkward position, and he was trying to reach "himself" in a way it seems was going on in the article, because he just figured it might feel good.

He came up with it all on his own, because humans have parts that feel nice, and humans are curious little creatures.



Now, this doesn't mean I think it's appropriate in class, think it should be done there, think the teacher shouldn't have noticed it (though since I had some of the worst teachers in normal schools on the planet, I have NO faith that ANY teacher anywhere knows anything that's going on in a classroom), etc etc etc...

It's just bugging me that people didn't notice the odd things their kids might have done, just b/c body parts feel neat. Doing stuff that feels nice doesn't mean you've EVER seen anyone ELSE doing it.

 

[C.Ann]

I can't really voice an opinion - without a lot more information than what appeared in that article - but it's definitely a disturbing story..

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Years and years ago, my mother, the kindergarten teacher, interupted a discussion between a little boy and little girl. The boy was trying to talk the girl into. . .ahem. . .my mother broke it up and started talking to the little boy, enough to assertain that he definitely knew what he was talking about!

Well, Social Services was called in, investigation was launched. Come to find out, Dad's porn collection was not nearly as well hidden and locked away as he thought it was.

Embarrassment all around. My mom was told because the parents wanted her to know what had happened.

So no, I wouldn't jump to ANY conclusions.

 

[MM27]

I have three students in my class this year (two boys one girl) that have been a huge issue this year because of some of the age inappropriate things they are trying. Please note that I said trying.

It started with notes being passed, which I intercepted, that stated they wanted to do "it" now because they just couldn't wait. They're 9 and 10. The note was very graphic and it was being passed between the 3 of them. I talked to my principal, called all the parents. The mother of the girl claimed that the boys were bothering her daughter, she's innocent. The parent of one of the boys was upset and assured me that she would talk to him. The mother of the second boy told me, no yelled at me, that I had no idea what they meant by any of it and I better now accuse her son of something so severe. She went on and one that I finally decided to just end the conversation.

Since then I have found or taken several more notes, had other kids tell me things that these kids are saying that are inappropriate towards each other. I bring them right to the principal and let him handle it now.

We were out on the playground about a month ago and one of the boys asked me if he could go in to use the bathroom. I let him go. Not 30 seconds later the girl came up, shaking, legs crossed and said she needed to go to the bathroom. I told her NO. She begged, she pleaded and I told her she would need to wait until the boy came back. All the color drained from her face as she realized I knew what was going on. He never came back, because he was waiting for her. I finally sent one of the other boys in my class to the bathroom to get him with the instruction to say, "She's not coming to meet you and your time is up, so get outside." He came out and the girl that had to go to the bathroom so bad was off playing. I guess she "forgot" she had to go.

I can only imagine what would have happened if I didn't think about it and let them both go. My principal called the parents and of course, the boys mother said I shouldn't be accusing her son of things and the girls mother cried innocent. Sad to say, but I predict this girl will be pregnant by 14.

I don't know what went on in this teacher's classroom, and neither does anyone else right now. I don't think it's fair to just blame the teacher without looking at the families, what the school has done, if there is a history, etc.