What’s the appropriate way to calm an eight-year old who’s throwing a violent temper tantrum? Talk him down? Send him to the principal’s office? Pepper-spray him – twice?
Police in Lakewood, Colo., opted for the latter tactic to subdue Aiden Elliot after the second-grader threatened teachers and students with a piece of wooden wall trim, which he held like a knife.
“I kind of blow up a little,” the boy admitted to ABC News. “I said I’m going to kill you....”
Aidan, who is in a class for children with behavioural problems, said his teachers had put him in a corner for acting rowdy, and had called his mother. His confinement enraged him.
According to the Associated Press, when asked whether he really intended to injure anyone, Aidan responded: “A little.”
“I kind of deserved it,” he acknowledged.
Aidan’s mother Mandy Elliot said she is upset with the school, and is filing a complaint against the police.
“Why didn’t they talk to him?” she said. Or, we wonder, remove the stick from his hand? How hard can it be to disarm an 8-year-old?
“He was red, handcuffed, crying screaming how much it burned,” she said.
Ms. Elliot added that her son only acts out at school, and is never violent at home with babysitters and family members, nor is he violent at his soccer and swimming activities.
Police defended their decision, saying the situation forced them to act quickly and that no one was injured. School officials, meanwhile, told the press they’ve been seeing more elementary and pre-school students behaving violently, and are concerned about the problem.
Comment
Only 27 school districts in Texas out of 1,000 still allow paddling and a bill has been introduced to ban it altogether.
http://www.kwkt.com/news/bill-aims-to-ban-paddling-in-texas-schools
I don't agree with paddling in schools (only a pervert would want to spank someone else's child) but, like Andy says, if they cant' handle an 8 yr old maybe they shouldn't be teachers. Police should never be called to a school unless an actual crime has been committed. Over the last 10 years, at least, we have seen police called to schools for the most ridiculous reasons and this is due to the zero-tolerance policy which IMA should also be banned. And no Jude, California schools teach phonics and real math so please don't blame Colorado's problems on Calif.
this kid understands better than most people commenting here
so what you're saying is, the 8 yr old understands it better than we do? perhaps there is something you and the third graders know that we don't. considering i am good friends with, last time i counted, 4 school teachers, and a guidance counselor, maybe there is something i can pass onto them that they have been missing.
the paddle thing is, eh, a bit extreme imo. the best schools in the US, in terms of SAT scores and disciplinary measures certainly don't paddle children.
jude, if you're logic on this matter was at all sound, then MAYBE we could debate the use of a paddle, or why you made the implication that this child deserved to be pepper sprayed. by prefacing your comments with," I don't think you people get it", and "the kid understands better than the people here" is completely illogical and a reflection of your ignorance, not ours.
I personally know, and am good friends with a few school teachers. They are required to take some courses with a focus on special ed instruction and psychology regardless. Special Ed teachers make that their focus. In most districts, a teachers aid is present in the classroom and the class size is generally small, to maintain order, and to provide more opportunities for one on one instruction. So what's the problem?
It's so many things. The kids are serial killers on their X-box, the parents are painting their faces at the football game while grandma and grandpa are dancing WITH the stars in their living room. People have been robbed of their common sense right along with their attention span. As if any kid could afford to have either stolen away!
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