Police called to School on 5 year-old's tantrum

[bgirldeb]

Seems to me this could have been handled by calling the child's parents for them to provide a nice serving of discipline at home, but I guess that doesn't always happen...

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/oct/12/police-called-after-fort-pierce-5-year-old-toy/

FORT PIERCE — An unruly 5-year-old student has been suspended from Garden City Early Learning Academy after he threw a toy car at one student and kicked a teacher and the principal after they intervened.

Police classified the incident as a battery, but no charges are being filed, said Police Sgt. Dennis McWilliams. Police were called because the school doesn’t have a school resource officer to handle such matters, a school official said.

When police arrived at the scene, in the 2200 block of Avenue Q, at 12:43 p.m. Monday, they were told that the student started arguing with a classmate. The student threw the toy at his classmate’s head, causing that youth to have to go home.

Teacher Karen Alarie tried talking to the unruly student. Then he kicked her when she was taking him to the principal’s office, a police report shows.

He screamed at Principal Teri Barenborg and kicked her several times in the shin “before she was able to place him in a hold to calm him down,” according to the report.

When officers arrived, the student was sitting in a corner in the school office and appeared to be calm. However, he wouldn’t talk with police, the report shows.

The student was suspended for six days and released to his father.

 

[mhsjax]

Seems to me this could have been handled by calling the child's parents for them to provide a nice serving of discipline at home, but I guess that doesn't always happen...

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/oct/12/police-called-after-fort-pierce-5-year-old-toy/

Seems to me that unless the child has a problem, such as autism or some other issue, then the parents aren't disciplining at home. This isn't normal and I think calling the police was a good thing, maybe it scared him.

And if some kid threw a car at my kid, God help the kid and the parents. There is no excuse for that at that age. Sounds like that kids needs some serious help. And shouldn't be around other kids.

 

[SandrA9810]

I've seen a couple of incidents like this on the news before, but for slightly older kids (usually under 10). I think this went beyond a normal temper tantrum.

 

[shortbun]

Imho, any two educators who can not handle a five year old without the police should lose their jobs. Just sayin'. I drove a school bus for seven years and the only uncontrollable people I ever saw were parents.

 

[tiggger1]

Imho, any two educators who can not handle a five year old without the police should lose their jobs. Just sayin'. I drove a school bus for seven years and the only uncontrollable people I ever saw were parents.

 

[bookgirl]

Imho, any two educators who can not handle a five year old without the police should lose their jobs. Just sayin'. I drove a school bus for seven years and the only uncontrollable people I ever saw were parents.

Actually I think they did the right thing. For all we know this is a kid with a history and parent's who are constantly threatening to sue. Calling the cops covered the shools butt. If the kid had not calmed down and escalated and the teachers had to get more physically there'd be a hue and cry how the school had overstepped their boundries to lay hands on a student, even to protect other students or themselves. Plus you had to have the cops there because of the other child being injured by the student, the parent's would have been within thier rights to press charges.

 

[krcit]

Actually I think they did the right thing. For all we know this is a kid with a history and parent's who are constantly threatening to sue. Calling the cops covered the shools butt. If the kid had not calmed down and escalated and the teachers had to get more physically there'd be a hue and cry how the school had overstepped their boundries to lay hands on a student, even to protect other students or themselves. Plus you had to have the cops there because of the other child being injured by the student, the parent's would have been within thier rights to press charges.

I agree

 

[Gigi22]

Will either the teacher or the principal be in a position to sue? Sounds like a really good threat to hold over this kid's parents!

 

[ccgirl]

Actually I think they did the right thing. For all we know this is a kid with a history and parent's who are constantly threatening to sue. Calling the cops covered the shools butt. If the kid had not calmed down and escalated and the teachers had to get more physically there'd be a hue and cry how the school had overstepped their boundries to lay hands on a student, even to protect other students or themselves. Plus you had to have the cops there because of the other child being injured by the student, the parent's would have been within thier rights to press charges.

Well put. Something tells me this is not the first time that child has acted that way.

 

[MiniGirl]

Imho, any two educators who can not handle a five year old without the police should lose their jobs. Just sayin'. I drove a school bus for seven years and the only uncontrollable people I ever saw were parents.

Actually, the article shows they were able to handle the 5 yo without the police. By the time the police arrived, the child was sitting quietly in a corner in the school office. The police didn't do anything to calm the child. Also, as a PP mentioned, calling the police was the right thing to do regardless of the child's age. In this day and age, individuals and institutions need to do what they can to protect themselves from lawsuits. Even the appearance of not taking every possible step, could result in a loss of a lot of money.

 

[brockash]

What a bunch of idiots! It doesn't say if the school tried calling the parents, but I'd assume they would have added that part if they did. I would be beyond pissed at the school if they called the police as oppose to me if my 5 year old threw a fit like that. That's insane. Where's the common sense. I see the police said they wouldn't be pressing charges...uhhh ya think Even if the school did call the parents and they couldn't get a hold of them, I still think the school went a little far, by calling the police about a 5 year old. They obviously managed to get him calmed down before the police got there, so it wasn't like the kid was in some crazy total rage with superpower capabilities. My mom's a special ed. teacher and she has to deal with behavior issues all the time; with kids that are a lot bigger/older than a 5 year old...and she's never had to call the police.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Actually I think they did the right thing. For all we know this is a kid with a history and parent's who are constantly threatening to sue. Calling the cops covered the shools butt. If the kid had not calmed down and escalated and the teachers had to get more physically there'd be a hue and cry how the school had overstepped their boundries to lay hands on a student, even to protect other students or themselves. Plus you had to have the cops there because of the other child being injured by the student, the parent's would have been within thier rights to press charges.

My thoughts exactly. And hopefully it scared the poop out of the kid and mayyyyyybe knocked a little sense into the parents. Just maybe.

 

[Magic Mom]

The school isn't allowed to discuss the details surrounding the child's behavior background. There is probably more to this story than we know.

 

[woodkins]

What a bunch of idiots! It doesn't say if the school tried calling the parents, but I'd assume they would have added that part if they did. I would be beyond pissed at the school if they called the police as oppose to me if my 5 year old threw a fit like that. That's insane. Where's the common sense. I see the police said they wouldn't be pressing charges...uhhh ya think Even if the school did call the parents and they couldn't get a hold of them, I still think the school went a little far, by calling the police about a 5 year old. They obviously managed to get him calmed down before the police got there, so it wasn't like the kid was in some crazy total rage with superpower capabilities. My mom's a special ed. teacher and she has to deal with behavior issues all the time; with kids that are a lot bigger/older than a 5 year old...and she's never had to call the police.

As a former teacher in an inner city environment I can tell you that calling the parents often is a complete waste of time....they are one of the reasons the child is acting out the way that they are. I can't even tell you the number of unanswered calls I have made, being told off, told it is my job to fix the kid not theirs etc.

I think the school did the right thing. What is they had not been able to calm him down in the time it took the police to get there. What if they child ended up severly injuring themselves or someone else in the midst of the tantrum? Or if the teacher/principal tried to restrain the child to prevent them for injuring themselves and as a result the child was injured anyway? Then the school has a whole other set of problems.

Most of us are diligent, responsible parents who would give the world for our children. We volunteer at school, work with our kids and discipline them teaching right from wrong. Sadly not all parents are like that. In fact many are not. There are parents who are selfish, unstable, drug/alcohol addicted, absentee parents etc. A school can only do so much and if it takes a phone call to the police to ensure the safety and legal coverage of ALL involved, then so be it.

 

[scottishduffy]

I remember when i worked at the YMCA as a summer camp counselor we had to call the cops on several kids. The youngest was just 6 yrs old.

Calling the parents of these kids was useless. The parents did not care about the behavior and in some cases even encouraged it. Our hands were tied as we were not allowed to physically touch/restrain any child.

One 13 yr old was throwing furniture at counselors and other kids. The counselor had to stay with the child and dodge chairs until the cops arrived.

The 6 yr old came from a problem home and his Uncle had actually encouraged his behavior. He attempted to strangle another child. When we wrangled him and carried him to the office he ripped off my glasses and threw them to the ground (i had the top half of the kid), kicked the other counselor in the chin. Once in the office we had to let him go and he proceeded to stomp the directors cell phone, kick her knee caps, and turn over tables while attempting to hurt anyone who got near. We called the cops on a 6 yr old. We were not allowed to hold him down or restrain him, police were our only option.

 

[Magpie]

The student threw the toy at his classmate’s head, causing that youth to have to go home.

Was the other child injured, and that's why he had to go home? I can't think of any other reason.

It may be school policy to call the authorities any time a child is injured at the hands of another child.

 

[bgirldeb]

The more I think about it, the more it sounds like there is a history there, and the school wasn't getting help from the parents.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

At least when the police arrived they didn't tase the kid like in some cases. I remember one case in Miami where a kindergartener was tased by police in the principal's office. The kid had glass in his hand and was trying to cut his own leg. Those cops tased him.

 

[RitaZ.]

The school isn't allowed to discuss the details surrounding the child's behavior background. There is probably more to this story than we know.

That's what I think. Maybe the child has a history of violence toward classmates and teachers and the school called the cops to get the parents' attention.

 

[mhsjax]

What a bunch of idiots! It doesn't say if the school tried calling the parents, but I'd assume they would have added that part if they did. I would be beyond pissed at the school if they called the police as oppose to me if my 5 year old threw a fit like that. That's insane. Where's the common sense. I see the police said they wouldn't be pressing charges...uhhh ya think Even if the school did call the parents and they couldn't get a hold of them, I still think the school went a little far, by calling the police about a 5 year old. They obviously managed to get him calmed down before the police got there, so it wasn't like the kid was in some crazy total rage with superpower capabilities. My mom's a special ed. teacher and she has to deal with behavior issues all the time; with kids that are a lot bigger/older than a 5 year old...and she's never had to call the police.

I completely disagree. I am sorry but a kid throwing a fit like that, parents aren't doing their job, unless he is mentally handicapped in some way. Im my opinion a child like that, especially if there is a history, shouldn't be anywhere near other kids. I think they were 100% right in calling the police. Maybe this will be a wake up call to the parents. If you don't call throwin g a car at another kid and kicking a teacher a total rage ,then I would hate to see your definition. Maybe if more kids were handled lie this, there would be as many problems.