Dr. Guy, It seems to me that you are a Racist Asshole! I have work inthe school systrem for 15yrs and there's no reason at all you should ever handcuff a 5yr old period. If that was your child that was treated in a manner such as this, I'm sure all hell would brewak loose. Selah!

As a new teacher I was told, "never break up a fight, you might accidentally hurt one of the students and risk being sued." I was told so many things that went against common sense, just so I wouldn't be sued. It's is so absurd how the liability issue (fueled by irresponsible people, looking to negate their responsibilty) has overshadowed to responsiblity issue. It's rare today to experience a parent who:
1)takes responsibilty for their actions (or lack of actions in many cases) and
2) who insists their child take responsiblity for their own actions.
This is an epidemic. When will babies stop having babies? When will parents be required to pass classes in parenting to receive a liscence to have kids? Why do we require a drivers license to drive, but no requirments/lisencure to have kids? Which is potentially more dangerous? Without proper training, they both can have dangerous and deadly outcomes. I see it all the time; uneducated, irresponsible people having/raising kids (I use "raising" very loosley). Accountability for each individual is not being taught by our nations actions on so many levels; from irresponsible parents and children, to our legal systems tolerance and participation in the support of these types of actions, all the way up to our nations leader (I use "leader" very loosley) who insisted we begin a war based on the presence of WMD's, with no apology to the US people (of which almost half didn't support his actions to begin with) after the big "oops, i guess there aren't WMD."
Taking responsibility, to me, means acknowlegment of ones errors, doing the very best one can to correct the error, and using the error as insight for future actions (learning from our mistakes).
A commitment to education and responsibility is needed. "With freedom comes responsibility", has most of America forgotten this?

how can people treat a 5 year old this way if i was har mother i would sue. but thinking about this if the child was white they wouldnt think of calling the police

if u had children you would understand

"Tonight on COPS...when kindergartners go bad. Just when you though nap time was safe, a kid freaks out from too many graham crackers and gets busted."

*sigh* The things children do. I don't see whay people are against handcuffing a 5yr old. Children don't deserve a break if they break the law...just because they're small and weak. If that was a highschooler that could do some serious damage no one would object. You've got to teach kids a lesson when they're young. It shows them what will happen when you fuck up. If they didn't correct the behavior what makes you think that it won't happen again and again.

~Zoo

You must not have children but if you do I feel sorry for them.

A child under the age of 11 is generally prone to temper tantrums. Following your logic, a child in a grocery store that falls on the ground in the middle of the aisle kicking and screaming over a parent not buying their particular want or knocking things off the shelf in the store as their tantrum or hitting their parents should be apprehended by an arrested official. Or better yet, let's really start getting them in line fresh out of the womb. When a baby 10 month old hits you during their crying spell when you are changing them or a daycare representative, CALL THE COPS! Get baby handcuffs. You have to teach them a lesson. They can't be reckless with their emotion.

Do you have a television in your home? If so, you need to watch, "The Nanny". Under your lunacy, every child on this show should be arrested, charged and placed UNDER the jail. This was a five year old child. The first schooling years are the time where parents find out whether their child has a learning disability, a hearing problem or a sight problem. This is the year where school systems implement testing on children to find out if there will be any barriers to their education or interaction with others.

We as North Americans need to protect our children. They are our future. Our children are kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered. Now we arrest the babies? You are some of the people that are damaging our society with this lack of processed of thought. Did you read what you typed BEFORE you hit submit? A five year old child, can you even remember YOUR tantrums at 5 years of age? This arrest will traumatize this child for the rest of her life. Her view of police offers will be negative. Is this what our community needs? Another person wrongly treated by the police? This behavior could have EASILY been corrected without handcuffs. Let's handcuff your child for throwing a temper tantrum and monitor the effects as a science project in the up and coming years. I'm sure you would agree, after all, you are for arresting babies.

Binky- Ok, chill out. I didn't say arrest babies...I said discipline children. Notice I didn't say, "Let's bust every kid that does one tiny thing!" If there's enough intensity in a "tantrum" then they should be handled by authorities if the parents are not present. You see, people like to sue people for anything and everything. Calling the police would be the safest thing to do. I don't say whip out the handcuffs every damn time something happens...but if it needs to be done, then by all means do it. How are handcuffs worse than those damn dog leashes they keep good kids on?

Seriously Binks...try not to go off on a wild tangent after reading something. Take a deep breath, reread the section and stay within what was written.

~Zoo

This whole ordeal started with the home environment. There has got to be something underlying that we don't know - something going on at home that has not been addressed, etc. Now, Ms. 'They set my baby up' Akins can subject her daughter to more lime light just so she can make a buck.....................Family counseling might be a good start.

Grow Up!! This isn't a racial matter - the damn kid was clearly out of sorts, out of control, nothing was working! Then the infamous MOM wouldn't even leave her job to come address the situation - where was DADDY?

Some of you folks are really loosing it. First of all, we're talking a five year old. Yes, they can be and will be a handful, they throw temper tantrums, that's normal. Having adults around who are able to handle her and who had common sense to know when to leave her alone for her to cool down, would have been the best thing. Secondly, the police being involved was a bit over the top.

I saw the video on Good Morning America for the first time this morning, they were talking about it again. They showed the video tape. A teacher started recording the incident. And that was nonstop recording with all four adults, four, around the child. Don't you think the child reacted because of this. At one point she was calm and sitting down and did what they wanted her to do, which was to clean up a messy classroom, why then not leave her, and let her complete the task, and not crowd in on her the way they did. She probably felt scared and reacted the way any five year old would.

The mother has a right to react the way she did. How can anyone suggest that there was something going on at home? The report said the mother was an hour away and was on her way from work. So obviously, we're not talking about a parent who didn't care about her child.

What the school did and how they handled it was wrong and should have been handled a lot better. Color has no issues here.

stay at home moms call nanny 911 for help, and surely there is no discipline in many homes. families with children that curse and spit on adults even fighting their mothers with daddy at home. children are afraid of police officers, so when she was sitting in the chair someone should have been able to handled the problem. officers will arrest you for discipline your child but they are more abusive.----------can someone please call nanny 911-------

I myself have a kindergardener and I couldn't agree more with this article! Be a parent and do your job!!!

I ultimately blame our American society.
Teachers and school staff now are petrified to touch kids especially ones with behavior problems like the one question due to sue happy parents.

I was all for locking this kid up until I saw the video.
She really wasn;t that bad, normal 5 year old tantrum.

Years ago, teacher or staff would have taken her by force away from the class room to cool off. Now no one wants to take a chance of being sued.

And to all the posters who have already posted "I would have SUED if that was my kid!"
You are part of the problem.

And to all the posters who have already posted "I would have SUED if that was my kid!" You are part of the problem.

Nail on the head award, sushik.

Back when I was in school, this would have never been an issue.  Of course, back then it was OK for the teacher to take you by the ear and drag you to the "office" to sit and wait for a punishment, which could be as bad as the paddle.

My how times have changed- in a shart time (I'm 32).  Now we aren't allowed to control our youth because everything is "child abuse".  I think the biggest abuse we are doing is raising a generation of brats who have no concept of consequences.

The point is: If a teacher is going to TEACH and a SO CALLED Asst. Principal is going to run a school, they should be physically able to handle a small child for Gods sake! There are options for situations as this. Foremost in MY mind is counseling for the parentts and child. NOT manacles for babies! THINK about what your talkin about!

Educators ARE trained to physcially restrain children without harming them; the issue is that they shouldn't HAVE to be. Despite what you may think, it IS possible for children to cause physical damage to adults. My mother, a teacher, was kicked in the stomach by a first grader when she attempted to pull fork out of his hand (which he was using to stab the girl next to him). She lost her balance, landed on her bum, and jarred her spine. She had to be taken to the emergency room.

The parents' reaction? "What did you do to make him mad?"

Um, okay. Way to not take any responsibility for your kid's behavior, asshats. As for trying to punish these kids? Half the time the parents threaten to sue, and even if the kid is detained or suspended or whatever, the parents don't reinforce the punishement at home. The kid ends up thinking his behavior is acceptable, or -- best case -- ends up being very confused.

Arresting a five-year-old? Excessive, yeah. But maybe she'll think next time before she tries a stunt like that. If her stupid-ass mother doesn't brainwash her even more, that is.

Arresting a five-year-old? Excessive, yeah. But maybe she'll think next time before she tries a stunt like that. If her stupid-ass mother doesn't brainwash her even more, that is.

My point exactly...

~Zoo

This story was on A Current Affair tonight. I usually can't stand that show and tonight was no exception but I did stop and watch the first part of it tonight. The school had video tape in the classrooms and in the vice principals office. They showed it and it shows her in a fullblown tantrum. She was throwing things and totally trashed the vice principals office. She balled up her fist at one point in time and tried to hit one woman. They then did show the police handcuffing her and it did take more than one officer to hold her so that she didn't injure herself or others. They didn't arrest her they used machanical restraints. They also interviewed the mother and from they way she talks it was all the teachers fault and that the school should have just let her do what she wanted. Now can someone tell me how that child is better off with that mother than in a foster home or with some other relative? Her mother gave her no disipline or guidance at all. In my opinion that is one sign of neglect. How much time is that mother actually spending with her child? I personally thought that the school and the police did the right thing. I have 3 children and in the middle of a hardcore tantrum they can easily injure themselves and others.

Now can someone tell me how that child is better off with that mother than in a foster home or with some other relative?

I can only assume that you don't realize what most foster homes are like?  Chances are, the woman is ignorant to what she is doing to her child.  Ever watch nanny 911 or Super nanny?  The people on there love their children, and they don't "abuse" their children.  They are simply ignorant of how to raise a disciplined child.  Chances are that the Mother grew up in a home that didn't have a lot of structure, so she doesn't know what to do either.  Taking a child away from their own Mother should *always* be a last resort.  Education should be the first.

 

it was all the teachers fault and that the school should have just let her do what she wanted.

Apparently this mother spends a lot of time not dealing with her kid and just lets "her do what she wanted".

One of my sons had behavior and mood problems. Helping him overcome the mood swings and tantrums became a full time goal for him and us. Working with teachers, councelors, doctors, clergy, psychologists, all we wanted was to help him understand how to control his behavior.

I can't remember one time when anyone's advice to us was, the best thing you can do to help him is "let him do what he wants".

Sorry, but as a former kindergarten teacher, I find this whole situation sad and ridiculous. One year, I had a child who acted the way this girl was shown to act...and on several occasions. Never once did I or the school administration consider calling the police to subdue her or handcuff her and take her away. We dealt with the situation in the way we were taught to deal with it in our college classes...I had an entire quarter dedicated to classroom discipline, emotional outbursts, "temper tantrums," and the like. So, in the face of a child throwing things at me, attempting to throw herself against classroom windows, screaming, yelling, etc., I knew how to handle her, which, as the authority figure in the classroom, was my responsibility.

I'm in agreement with you. When I first read it I thought that cuffing her and putting her in the back of a patrol vehicle was a bit much (oh, and some places do still call them squad cars)....but how else were they supposed to restrain her without hurting her (and having the mother sue for assault or inappropriate contact?)?

You stand behind the child, wrap your arms around her, and then lower the two of you to the floor, sitting there with her until she gets her emotions back under control. IMO, this is a child who has deep emotional issues, and the trauma of being handcuffed and placed into a police car is going to increase her problems. Unless the school and the parents are willing to work together to help this child, the next tantrum--and yes,without intervention there WILL be a next one--will be even worse.

Think about it. Were the grown up teacher and principal unable to stop the little 5 year old girl? Did they need to escalate the bullshit by getting the police involved?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Although the report doesn't state this, I think that the child was probably still raging when the police got there, which is what caused them to put her in cuffs.

No, she wasn't....the teacher and the asst. principal both say that she had already calmed down by the time the police arrived--AND that they were aware the mother was on her way to the school.

I am a teacher and a parent of a kindergartener. I think that the teachers and the principle should have handled this situation. If you have the skills a training you should have to be an early childhood educator, the teacher could have handled it or even prevented it.

Nice to see I'm not the only one out there!

You stand behind the child, wrap your arms around her, and then lower the two of you to the floor, sitting there with her until she gets her emotions back under control. IMO, this is a child who has deep emotional issues, and the trauma of being handcuffed and placed into a police car is going to increase her problems. Unless the school and the parents are willing to work together to help this child, the next tantrum--and yes,without intervention there WILL be a next one--will be even worse.

So instead of calling the police to restrain the child, you are just doing it yourself. I don't think so.

I watched the entire video and this was more than a "temper tamtrum". This child was physically tearing up the principals office and was way out of control. When a person, no matter what age, gets that out of control, it's time to call the authorities.

However you are right about one thing, this will happen again. Although it's not the fault of the school, it's the parents.

#46 by Poetmom99 Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Sorry, but as a former kindergarten teacher, I find this whole situation sad and ridiculous. One year, I had a child who acted the way this girl was shown to act...and on several occasions. Never once did I or the school administration consider calling the police to subdue her or handcuff her and take her away. We dealt with the situation in the way we were taught to deal with it in our college classes...I had an entire quarter dedicated to classroom discipline, emotional outbursts, "temper tantrums," and the like. So, in the face of a child throwing things at me, attempting to throw herself against classroom windows, screaming, yelling, etc., I knew how to handle her, which, as the authority figure in the classroom, was my responsibility.

Thank you, thank you, you hit the nail on the head!


On another report it was said that the mother although she told them she was on the way to the school, she was told that they were calling the police and the police were there when she arrived. So there are obviously more issues here.

These days most schools and teachers don't take the time anymore to do what they were trained as teaching professionals to do. They're quick to call the police and then everything escalates out of control.

*sigh* The things children do. I don't see whay people are against handcuffing a 5yr old. Children don't deserve a break if they break the law...just because they're small and weak. If that was a highschooler that could do some serious damage no one would object. You've got to teach kids a lesson when they're young. It shows them what will happen when you fuck up. If they didn't correct the behavior what makes you think that it won't happen again and again. ~Zoo

Zoo, I'm in total disagreement with you. You really need to think more carefully about this. This is a 5year old, a highschooler would definately have been a lot different issue; but either way, there are ways to deal with children who are having a tantrum no matter what age they are.

You stand behind the child, wrap your arms around her, and then lower the two of you to the floor, sitting there with her until she gets her emotions back under control.

Have you ever had a child throw their head back into your nose while you are trying to hold them from behind? I've seen people end up with broken noses when they tried this because they thought they could hold an emotionally disturbed child like they could any other child.

This girl has problems and could not be controlled like all the other children. And yes, she had calmed down when the police got there but thats only because the adults quit trying to talk to her or treat her like they would another child. Whenever they tried to treat her as they would any other child she would start storming. Not all children can be treated the same.

I don't know anything about the child you had throwing a fit in your class but this girl was out to injure anyone who came near her. That's why it took more that one police officer to control her and safely get her into the handcuffs.

That was the best commentary I have heard on this story thus far. I have been sitting in front of my computer for the last two hours reading all the articles I could about this case. Most of the commentary is about how wrong the school was for calling the police. I want to know what was the school suppose do if they are the authority figure and they have exhausted all of your methods of discipline and the child is not responding. Not only was the child hand cuffed, the school was hand cuffed because they were not able to detain a 5 year old child from tearing up the school in fear of a law suite. And how dare the mother say "They set my baby up." She needs her ass whipped along with her bad ass child. Now the mother has detained a lawyer to sue. She is also accepting money to do interviews on television speaking out on the injustice that her child has been involved in. I hope she gets a big settlement and saves it because she is going to need plenty of money in the future to detain lawyers for that little criminal, oh I mean 5 year old child.