Principal 'paddling' first grader for damaging computer

[kymom99]

Not defending it by any means. But if paddling is legal there and actually used then I’m not shocked the principal has a paddle. They are going to do it with their hand. When I was a kid paddling was still allowed in our schools and the principal definitely had one.

My first year teaching I had to witness one of my students being paddled. Not long after they did away with it although I think it was a school board decision.

 

[mom2rtk]

But I thought that it wasn’t legal at this school.

Maybe I missed that. Just saw that it’s legal in FL.

 

[tzolkin]

Maybe I missed that. Just saw that it’s legal in FL.

Corporal punishment is legal in FL, but it is not permitted in this school district/county. The state has a written law stating that principals and teachers must abide by the policy of their district (so it was illegal and not just a school policy). That’s why the controversy. Why does the principal have a paddle at the ready if she knows it’s not allowed/illegal in her district?

 

[MrsPete]

For generations upon generations people were more violent in general. I don't think the children of the past turned out any better than today's kids.

Then we disagree on this; people in general are less caring, less connected than in past generations. I've seen it in the years I've been teaching. I don't think spanking /not spanking is one of the key players in this change.

But the data is clear that other disciplinary techniques are better at correcting behavior and corporal punishment is strongly correlated with increased violent behavior later in life.

Eh, no; if you read the scientific studies themselves instead of just the pop-psychology articles, such studies tend to prove what they set out to prove. You know the phrase confirmation bias? I'm not motivated enough to look up any studies. But most people -- regardless of how they are disciplined as children -- are not violent later in life.

 

[MrsPete]

Duplicate. Sorry.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

if you read the scientific studies themselves instead of just the pop-psychology articles, such studies tend to prove what they set out to prove. You know the phrase confirmation bias? I'm not motivated enough to look up any studies. But most people -- regardless of how they are disciplined as children -- are not violent later in life.

Perhaps that's why you aren't quite so open minded about this. If it doesn't suit your viewpoint it must be because it's just confirmation bias at play. Confirmation bias def. happens in the world of psychology, sociology and clinical studies. But it does not happen every single time and shouldn't be used to brush aside something.

We get it you don't see an issue with it. But I do hope you at least look at the link I posted even with its limitations. You don't have to agree with it but it's not confirmation bias occurring in their report unless you count MRI views, tracking over the course of multiple years and a meta-analysis of prior studies to be merely confirmation bias. Either way here in this case if you saw the video I'm not sure how anyone could agree that child's best interests were kept in mind.

 

[monsterkitty]

Then we disagree on this; people in general are less caring, less connected than in past generations. I've seen it in the years I've been teaching. I don't think spanking /not spanking is one of the key players in this change.
Eh, no; if you read the scientific studies themselves instead of just the pop-psychology articles, such studies tend to prove what they set out to prove. You know the phrase confirmation bias? I'm not motivated enough to look up any studies. But most people -- regardless of how they are disciplined as children -- are not violent later in life.

I disagree that people are less caring now. I see parents who are overwhelmed but still care. They just don't know what to do.

The parents of my students are worried about food, shelter, and other daily expenses. They are struggling with necessities, not whether their child is talking when the teacher is. They care. They just are lost at times.

 

[Pink Partridge]

I'd say this mom has bigger problems than the school. Her six year old is purposely damaging things at home and threatening to call the police and DCF on her mother if she is punished? Yeah, she's got some big problems to handle.

A 6 year old that is damaging things at school and at home does have problems. Problems that should be investigated.

A true professional would call in counselors and specialists to get to the bottom of why a 6 year old feels the need to threaten with police. A caring professional would see an immediate red flag when a mother would request her 6 year old to be hit while she watched.

This principal (who has her masters degree) chose to hit a child that is in need of help. She chose to hit her very hard with a plank of wood. And then she called her a brat, amongst other things. She is far from a professional.

She is dangerous and should not be around children.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Anyone who still thinks the mom is innocent in all of this are only fooling themselves. Her story is so full of inconsistencies that it’s absolutely ridiculous that a lawyer would even take her case - unless he saw big money in his future, which is no doubt the plan.

So could you imagine that mother telling you to hit her child while she watched? And the principal agreeing to do so?

 

[BK2014]

None of this is good, but a couple of thoughts about the paddle. Perhaps it was left at the school from a time when corporal punishment was legal there.

Having been threatened with a paddling at school in Texas in the mid 80's, the paddle used in this case is not a top of the line paddle. The paddles they used in Texas back then had holes in them to reduce wind resistance on the swing . . .

(Not advocating any of this . . . )

 

[MrsPete]

I disagree that people are less caring now. I see parents who are overwhelmed but still care. They just don't know what to do.

Agree that many parents are overwhelmed. I didn't really mean parents/families are less caring -- but I think people care a whole lot less about classmates, casual friends, society in general. People are more detached from one another in general.

A 6 year old that is damaging things at school and at home does have problems. Problems that should be investigated.

We read this in a news article; we don't actually know whether the child caused any damage or if the damage was deliberate. Let's not jump to the conclusion that the child has an ongoing issue. The story seems to be "growing" on this thread.

 

[EveDallas]

A 6 year old that is damaging things at school and at home does have problems. Problems that should be investigated.

A true professional would call in counselors and specialists to get to the bottom of why a 6 year old feels the need to threaten with police. A caring professional would see an immediate red flag when a mother would request her 6 year old to be hit while she watched.

This principal (who has her masters degree) chose to hit a child that is in need of help. She chose to hit her very hard with a plank of wood. And then she called her a brat, amongst other things. She is far from a professional.

She is dangerous and should not be around children.

I'm speaking toward the home situation. That child needs some serious therapy if she threatening her mom with the police. Either she is being mistreated at home or has learned how to manipulate her mother into letting her do what she wants to do.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Agree that many parents are overwhelmed. I didn't really mean parents/families are less caring -- but I think people care a whole lot less about classmates, casual friends, society in general. People are more detached from one another in general.
We read this in a news article; we don't actually know whether the child caused any damage or if the damage was deliberate. Let's not jump to the conclusion that the child has an ongoing issue.

That child was experiencing issues to the point where a mother had requested a principal hit that child.

If a child has a problem, we should help them. Not hit them. Not call them names. Not threaten them with future violence.

It's such a simple concept.

 

[Pink Partridge]

I'm speaking toward the home situation. That child needs some serious therapy if she threatening her mom with the police. Either she is being mistreated at home or has learned how to manipulate her mother into letting her do what she wants to do.

Exactly. And she needs help. She doesn't need the principal of the school to hit her and call her names.

She needs the principal of the school to help her.