School Calls Police To Control 5-Year-Old

[Whisper]

FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- A five-year-old Florida boy is back with his family after his school called police to control his bad behavior.

The boy's family says school officials over-reacted. The trouble started at the Fort Pierce school when the boy threw a toy at another student, hitting him in the head.

The teacher took child to the principal's office where he reportedly started screaming and kicked his teacher in the shin.

Family members say it was not necessary to get the police involved.

"I think it was really unnecessary for them to call the police on a five year old boy. You know.
[...]
Police did not charge the boy with a crime, but the school did suspend him for six days.

http://www.wftv.com/news/25400250/de...=cmg_cntnt_rss

[Akelda]

What do they expect them to do when they can't touch the child or reason with him in any other way? I've heard of a school calling police on an unruly child around here before (GA). I think it is sort of extreme, but unfortunately the only choice they're left with.

[KyFyre]

They should have called the parents first. If the parents could not arrange to come get the child then maybe call the police that is IF they couldn't work something out to get the child home. Here, when one of my nephews got into a fight in middle school, the principal was nice enough to help me by bringing my nephew home to me. He knew I didn't have transportation and I was helping to raise the boys. It's all in how the schools and parents/guardians communicate with each other. I suspect in this case a simple phone call to the parents would have gotten the child calmed, and away from school if the child was being that big of a problem. In other words, the school goofed and wasted tax payers money. A 5 year old is hardly a criminal and shouldn't be treated like one.

[Silvahalo]

He kicked the teacher in the chin. Uh, not good and throwing a toy at another student hitting him in the head, way not OK. I just don't see why the police were necessary in this situation. The school counselor yes, that's her job to to help with unruly kids, calling the parents absolutely. The police ludicrous. Talk about over reacting.

It's concerning to see a child of 5 yo acting this way with an authority figure. He's acting out big time and it would be very interesting to know what is going on at home. He's in kinder. Children at this age do not want to draw attention to themselves especially in a way that is negative. I'd say this behavior has been going on at home, but why is the question.

The child needs a serious talk to and so do the parents.

[brokenandtwisted]

Sadly (or maybe happily), I'm surprised a taser was not involved.

[badfish76]

They need to bring back swats to schools.

[TheMeaningOfItAll]

Who knows why the kid reacted the way he/she did. 5 year olds can still have temper tantrums from being hungry, tired, bored, etc. Maybe the child was special needs. Whatever the reason, it is insane to call the police because a child threw a toy and kicked a teacher in the shin. They should have called the parents first or, heck, waited until the child calmed down and was able to be reasoned with. Effing ridiculous.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

They should have called the parents first or, heck, waited until the child calmed down and was able to be reasoned with.

What if it went on for an hour? My daughter pulled tantrums that lasted longer than that (and I even had a neighbor call the cops on me once about it). "waiting" may not have worked because if the child injures himself or someone else during that time, they would be liable for that too. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

These people are well used to dealing with kids. I suspect there is way more to the story than what the aunt told the media. Due to privacy laws, I bet we never hear the schools side of it.

[rothase]

I'm with Dakota on this one. I taught in a tough school and calling the parents for conflict resolution was often a bad idea. Parents would be screaming about their rights and how they are going to sue, taking a swing at the principal... when it's the teacher with the ice bag on her wound. Calling the cops isn't such a bad idea sometimes.

[DogMom]

What if it went on for an hour? My daughter pulled tantrums that lasted longer than that (and I even had a neighbor call the cops on me once about it).

Mine too. She used to have meltdowns. Once a really good one on a city sidewalk. I just sat on the bench and waited until she burned herself out. People had to step over her to cross the street. Some even commented "Oh yeah...been there, done that".

[TheMeaningOfItAll]

What if it went on for an hour? My daughter pulled tantrums that lasted longer than that (and I even had a neighbor call the cops on me once about it). "waiting" may not have worked because if the child injures himself or someone else during that time, they would be liable for that too. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

These people are well used to dealing with kids. I suspect there is way more to the story than what the aunt told the media. Due to privacy laws, I bet we never hear the schools side of it.

I bow to your wisdom. I suppose my judgement was clouded for a minute by my personal experiences with my own kids. My middle daughter recently started a phase where she will scream at the top of her lungs at the mere utterance of the word, "No." Needless to say, there's a lot of screaming in our house. If the school called me and said there was a problem, I'd be there in a heartbeat. They (my children) know my expectations and if they create a problem at school, they will have a problem at home with me. My oldest daughter has a classmate who is similar to the one in this article except he's 7. He has thrown desks, stabbed classmates with scissors, chucked white boards across the room at a teacher, choked a classmate for looking at him, etc. I guess the difference is that the people in my daughter's school aren't scared to drag him away and handle the situation. You are right...probably more to the story.

[AKA jas]

Well if he had a loss of respect for authority before, this kid certainly is going to have disdain for it now! I bet when his parents needed to vent about the cops being called he was present. Sooo..........pft.

[AngelFire]

I agree with Peachy's post. Today, schools have to be careful when touching a child. This kid was throwing toys, could have cracked the other kid's skull, then what? The staff do not know if perhaps this child is troubled, or what.

In my day, cops weren't called. But a lot has happened in our schools since I was an elementary aged child. I have a 5 year old and he doesn't throw tantrums, or toys or assaults teachers...He just barks, yeah a whole other story, but hardly a threat.

[theladyshadowheart]

I agree with Peachy's post. Today, schools have to be careful when touching a child. This kid was throwing toys, could have cracked the other kid's skull, then what? The staff do not know if perhaps this child is troubled, or what.

In my day, cops weren't called. But a lot has happened in our schools since I was an elementary aged child. I have a 5 year old and he doesn't throw tantrums, or toys or assaults teachers...He just barks, yeah a whole other story, but hardly a threat.

that's okay, my 4yr old nephew answers everything like he is alex tribec on jeopardy, what's a little barking?

having done home daycare for years I know it is a fine line you have to walk when trying to figure out how to handle the child that is being the disruption, when he is being a threat to anyone else. You do too little and someone gets hurt, you are going to get your ass sued off. Better for them to think it was over kill and a little embarassing then the kid actually harming another child or a teacher IMO.