The Teacher Told the Kids about the sniper!

[kinlaw6450]

Now this is no high school I am talking KINDERGARTEN. My nephew (who has the same teacher DS had last year) came home and asked about the bad mad with the gun...when we asked him where he heard that he said Mrs. K told us there was bad man outside with a gun and that we can't play outside.

Do you think a 5 year old thinks outside as anywhere but right outside the door?? No!

I think I am going to email the school board now.

 

[Wagamama]

I'm all for being honest with little kids but telling them theres a bad man outside with a gun is being a little too honest! Forget e-mail, go to the superintents office yourself and demand to talk to him/her!!!!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

JMHO - But I would first call the teacher herself to see exactly what she did say.

I would also contact the Administration to find out what she was supposed to tell her class. I know that in situations like this, our school comes up with an "official statement" to give the kids and that is what the teacher is supposed to say and it is all the teacher is supposed to say.

Regardless, it is often helpful to get the full story before you start complaining. Kids gossip alot amongst themselves and you never know exactly what happened until you ask.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

I think I would speak with the teacher. Who knows what was really said by Mrs. K and what the children heard and discussed amongst themselves. Kids do hear things differently and speak with each other about such events too. Start with her, and if that does not help, speak with the Principal.

 

[wvjules]

I agree with Toby's friend. Ask the teacher first.

I know you're upset with what might have been said to the kids, but I think a 5 year old does know the difference between outside and right outside the door.

Do you think a 5 year old thinks outside as anywhere but right outside the door?? No!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Ok Toby's Friend, You beat me to it! Same thoughts though !

 

[kinlaw6450]

This happened yesterday, my SIL did speak to her this afternoon when she picked up the kids. She said she did say "something to that effect" (her words) and that she wanted the little kids to be aware of what was going on and to understand why they weren't going outside.

SIL asked her why was she so direct with them and the teacher said she disagreed with her and did not feel the new was inappropriate.

 

[beattyfamily]

If it happened just that way, which it seems it has, then that is terrible and you should do something about it!

I would think this would also be an interesting topic on the Debate Board...whether everyone agrees that there's no need to be that honest with 5 year olds!

 

[damo]

What info did he have about why he couldn't play outside?

 

[disykat]

If you've been to the teacher and aren't satisfied with her answer, then go to the principal. I think you will get a better reaction if you up the appropriate chain of command instead of skipping steps.

I'm surprised if the teacher brought it up herself, but in her defense - I taught 1st grade when the Gulf War broke out. Several kids came to school talking about it and it HAD to be addressed. I taught in a community where one of the aircraft carriers was based that was over in the Gulf. These kids needed gentle, toned down truths in order to keep from being swept away in the rumors. Rumor control was key - some of these kids were scared for their dads and moms! They were living in homes with panicky parents and a contant barage of tv news.

If I was in that classroom I might have said "the principal wants us to stay inside to practice being safe" or something to that effect and then tried to make our day as positive and normal as possible. I'm sure the kids were wondering why they can't go outside etc. and I'd also bet that some of the kids were talking about the sniper. I definately think it should be addressed if it comes up.

 

[JulesMom]

I don't like the words the teacher used, but I would have told my kids what was going on.

But, that is the parents choice and not the choice of a teacher.

Am I straddling the fence enough?!?

 

[browneyes]

Does your nephew live near where the snipers attacked?

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

some kids do watch the news, and they do talk about what's going on. my 12 year old is happily oblivious to newspapers and news reports unless she gets a current events assignment, but my 10 year old surprises me with things she knows. she's like me that way.

I was three years old when JFK was assassinated. I still remember watching the funeral on t.v.

5 is pretty young to have to learn about "bad men outside". but sometimes you can't sheild them from the news.

 

[B3LM]

I'd have to agree that your SIL should really speak with the teacher first and I'm glad to hear that she did. If she isn't satisfied with her answer, the next person to speak to would be the principal, not the school board or superintendent. JMHO

I have three children, my oldest is in third grade. If there's one thing that I've learned it's that kids often interpret things in their own way and words can get mixed. If the teacher did indeed say that there was "a bad man with a gun outside", then I agree, the principal needs to know about it.

Thank God they caught them!!!
Beth

 

[MJames41]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457
some kids do watch the news, and they do talk about what's going on. my 12 year old is happily oblivious to newspapers and news reports unless she gets a current events assignment, but my 10 year old surprises me with things she knows. she's like me that way.

I was three years old when JFK was assassinated. I still remember watching the funeral on t.v.

5 is pretty young to have to learn about "bad men outside". but sometimes you can't sheild them from the news.

I agree 100% (I think we are in the minority here). How many channels has this been on? How many "New flashes" have hit the TV screen? Even if you don't allow your children to watch TV, that doesn't mean that other parents don't as well.

It's not a good situation for anyone, and I can understand your being upset. I am so glad he has been caught.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Want to hear about what DD's substitute teacher did last year??? This is really bad. The date: 9/11, 3rd grade students, substitute teacher in the class......she left the TV on in the classroom ALL DAY LONG! Not only that but they didn't discuss it or anything, it was just ON! Well, my daughter came home with her head filled with all kinds of info that didn't need to be there! It took over a week to "debrief" her on this. We made a concious effort NOT to watch the news with her in the room. We of course discussed this with her repeatedly but it was hard to counteract the images floating around in her head. DS (kindergarten at the time) had a fabulous teacher who addressed it by saying that something had happened far away that has made many Mommys and Daddys sad today. This was the explanation as to why alot of parents were picking up their kids all day long.

Anway, I went to complain about this to the principal and found out that 3 teachers in the school had done the same thing (TV on all day) and all had already been severely reprimanded. Nice, glad they acted, but it didn't undo the damage that had been done.

 

[Mskanga]

I may be the only one but I tell my kids what is going on, maybe not to the full extent but I would rather let them hear it from me first and then deal with the situation. If I had been in the area of the shootings , I would have been the one telling my children what is going on ( my 9 yr old knows very well about the sniper ), I found that in my kids cases , the deal better with things if the know the truth from the start. They are more afraid to be kidnaped and killed than anything else, yet we keep reminding them about not going with strangers.

 

[browneyes]

My dd and my ds watched tv on 9/11 while they were in school last year. My dd was in the 3rd grade, my ds was in kindergarten. I had no problem with them watching what was going on. They watched, they asked their teachers questions, they came home and asked me questions. My ds was afraid of planes flying by for awhile, but so was I. He could've picked up more from my reaction to the planes than what he watched on tv (he's very intuned to my moods). I rather my kids be informed about things, instead of not knowing anything. If my kids lived in VA or MD or DC, I would probably be upset if their teacher didn't discuss the sniper with them. We talked a little bit about what was going on, and we're hundreds of miles away. I have 2 nephews that live in MD, my kids were concerned for their safety.

 

[kinlaw6450]

Browneyes, we live in Charlottesville which is about 70 miles or so from Ashland.

As for the teacher...SIL did mention something to the principal when we got to school this morning she, (the principal) let us know that several parents had voice concern about what was said in the classroom yesterday.

As for what I tell my kids...yes I do inform them but not so direct, is that the right word for that??

 

[kinlaw6450]

Browneyes, we live in Charlottesville which is about 70 miles or so from Ashland.

As for the teacher...SIL did mention something to the principal when we got to school this morning she, (the principal) let us know that several parents had voice concern about what was said in the classroom yesterday.

As for what I tell my kids...yes I do inform them but not so direct, is that the right word for that??