Crying, Foul: Kindergartener Gets Suspended For Tearing Up In Classroom

[Hellsbells]

Crying, foul: Kindergartener gets suspended for tearing up

A six-year-old boy in Virginia has been suspended from school for … crying.

Earlier this month, Gary and Heather Clark were notified by officials at Tallwood Elementary School in Virginia Beach that their son Bronson had been suspended from school for allegedly crying in class and disrupting the educational process, according to the Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based civil liberties organization.

The parents then contacted the Rutherford Institute, which is calling on the school to rescind the suspension.

“There is a suspension for disruptive behaviour on his school record now. And that follows you. And it’s cumulative, meaning that if something else happens, he’s now considered a kid who creates problems,” said John Whitehead, president of the institute.

In a letter sent on Wednesday to the co-ordinator of student services at the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Mr. Whitehead, a constitutional attorney, calls the young boy’s suspension perhaps “the most shocking example yet of the extent to which school officials are failing in their duties to create healthy and supportive educational environments for their young charges.

“While crying in class may indeed be inconvenient for the teacher, surely there are other, less draconian means of addressing this type of disruption than an out-of-school suspension.”

The zero-tolerance policies adopted by many schools have seen kids “tossed out for the craziest things,” Mr. Whitehead said in a telephone interview.

As for the boy suspended for crying, Mr. Whitehead points out that crying is something six-year-olds just happen to do sometimes. Dealing with the problem like this should start with consulting mom and dad instead of going straight to a suspension.

“The easiest thing to do is consult parents more,” he says.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...rticle1963875/

What kind of bullshit is this , sometimes it happens

I wonder what was bothering the little guy

[princessgrandma]

Yeah, why aren't they finding out WHY he was crying?

This is taking the "no tolerance" thing way too far.

[Jerri Blank]

My daughter is almost three and my only child. up untill this year I thought kids started school at 6yrs/7yrs old. my sis in law is signing up her not even 5 year old right now for september. I was really surprised kids start school so young.

That being said, my point I guess, (I'm very sleepy, sorry) is that if kids start school soo young isn't this kind of thing expected?? gee wiz it's the chil's first year of school how the hell is he expected not to cry once in awhile?

I think I'd be looking for a new school if I was this boy mother, this is ridiculous.

[Ladyeridan]

this is some seeeerious bullshit here. that teacher needs a good swift kick. you don't fucking suspend a kid for crying, that's ridiculous. ESPECIALLY not at six freakin years old.

In my state, a child is nor REQUIRED to be enrolled in a school program until age 7. Kindergarten and pre-k at most public schools are basically state-sponsored daycare. I won't be putting the Raidkiller in until absolutely necessary, and if I can get the paperwork in order (hello most disorganized mom ever!) I'll be homeschooling. she's already reading and doing math beyond what most four year olds are supposed to be able to do, even though she has trouble writing. there is a fair bit of dysgraphia in my family so i'm unsurprised it's hitting her as well. and I have no interest in putting her into a school program that treats kids with trouble writing as if they're mildly retarded. why set her up for bullying?

Makes me wonder if in this case the teacher isn't the one doing the bullying here.