We have yet another mindless enforcement of a zero tolerance rule. A 5-year-old Pennsylvania girl was suspended from kindergarten after she who told another girl that she was going to shoot her with a pink Hello Kitty toy gun that blows soapy bubbles. Originally, the charge was “terroristic threats” against the student. The Mount Carmel Area Elementary School in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania reduced the charge but still suspends the kindergartener to end her reign of soapy terror.
We have previously discussed these zero tolerance policies on drugs and guns which have routinely resulted mindless charges and suspensions against students.
A psychologist actually examined the girl to determine that she was not a threat — though she does threaten others with spontaneous cleaning and rinsing.
The teacher actually confronted the girl in class and told her that police would be called. She was then “interrogated” by these adults while crying in fear.
Once again, there is no talk of disciplining the teacher or officials for this traumatic and moronic treatment of a young child.
Source: WTVY
OS,
I agree with you – mandatory mental health screenings for elementary school teachers and principals.
Sadly, this is school bureaucracy and political correctness gone astray – far astray. To traumatize a five year old this way, especially when the alleged incident didn’t occur at school, is outrageous. The humiliation and embarassment to this child may remain with her for a long time and will affect her school experience.
These moronic ‘educators’ need to be keel hauled (check English history for what that entails).
leejcaeoll :o) watch more sponge bob !!!!
http://spongebob.nick.com/videos/clip/idiot-box-full-episode.html
IMAGINATION :o) ( if you can handle it, the first 4 minutes says it all) LOL
How in the world are kids supposed to learn to dofferentiate between play, imagination, and reality when the adults can’t figure it out?
Mike, what is it when you disparage what you are – reaction formation? Maybe that was what Eric is engaging in.
LeeJ,
Reaction-formation is correct.
What Frankly said. This teacher and this administrator(s) need to get counseling or better yet, need some continuing education to straighten them out.
You follks can see why some uf us dogs, when given the choice after the interview at the Pearly Gates, chose a dog’s life over reincarnation as a human. The Ellis Island like place has a seminar called “Come Back As A Dog”. It lasts about four horus and is well worth it.
When they outlaw bubble guns, only outlaws will have bubbles. And, only teachers will have bubble heads.
“Originally, the charge was “terroristic threats” against the student.”
What in the hell is wrong with us. (Please don’t answer. 😉 )
You simply can not ask anyone employed by the government to think. They are completely worthless – which is why they work for the government in the first place. They are unemployable anywhere else.
“You simply can not ask anyone employed by the government to think. They are completely worthless – which is why they work for the government in the first place. They are unemployable anywhere else.”
Eric,
Quite frankly you are an idiot. I worked for government for 32 years. I personally am smarter than you, easily recognizable by your statement above, no doubt have a better education and could have found work in any number of occupations that would have been financially remunerating. I chose public service because I found it a rewarding career. As for your intelligence and acumen, with your statement I can see that many of the people I worked with are also smarter than you.
Looking at the picture, I believe it is a hello kitty hair blow dryer. The bubbles are probably used to dampen and straighten unruly curls that seem to be rampant on five year olds. Perhaps the girl said “I will style you !”
I am not being very open minded here. I allow myself to expose my ignorance at times, it is a learning process for me.
This is a FIVE yr old !!! Hello Kitty is not on the terrorist watch list. Making bubbles is a constitutionally protected right for all children.
When “adults” project adults fears and paranoia into the minds of 5 yr olds it is time for the “adult” to take a step back and “shake themselves”
Heck, even the catholic church knows enough to not threaten children till they attain the ripe old age of seven.
Did this girl read and sign the school no tolerance policy? Did the teacher show a hour long video of the school rules mandating behavior policies all students must adhere to?
Perhaps this district can start a pre kindergarten school training class. The four year olds can be shackled to their desks and made to study school policies and swear an oath to abide by them.
Upon completion they can put their mark (in crayon no doubt) upon a contarct stating if I break my covenant with this policy I willingly accept police interrogation, public shame, and the wildly nonrational fears of being five, and having “adults” intimidate the crap out of me. What possibly could be wrong with this “positive” learning experience.
I suppose the next day the girl probably got up extra early due to her excitement and desire to go back to school.
Mark is correct in noting that the “bubble” gun was not even at school. Another of the many things that trouble me in this case is the girl’s age. From a child development perspective five in considered an age where “magical” thinking characterizes the child. An interrogation, done by I assume accusatory adults is guaranteed to have a traumatic effect that can last for years as OS points out. Would it be too much to expect that these “professionals” have taken courses in child development? This should be a basic requirement for teaching at this level. Were it my child put through this I would have engaged in a loud campaign to have these people severely reprimanded or fired for this nonsense. For the lawyers here, would there be any tort relief possible for this child/family considering the damages if any wouldn’t be apparent for many years?
And it is being suggested that people who over react like this be given guns! Thank goodness they didn’t have a weapon when the apprehended this child.
The nutters are infiltrating the educational system.
We need to keep in mind that the bubble-blowing toy was not at school; it was at the child’s home. It’s discipline by automaton.
When my kids were in school I did a lot of volunteer work and was in their schools regularly. Because of that I tend to have a lot of sympathy for the difficult job teachers have. I also know that often the stories reported in the media are not the whole story and often are designed to enrage and excite rather than inform and report.
That said, this one is a really head scratcher.. Unless there is something they are not telling us I can’t imagine this level of overreaction. Seriously, the teacher and administration need some counseling so they can deal with their jobs in a more appropriate manner.
OS,
You got that right…. This is stupid…
OS,
You are right about phobias and the police. I was questioned by a police officer when I was in 4th or 5th grade and he claimed that I broke into the school near my home and vandalized it. I have never forgotten that moment or the fact that the good Benedictine sitters allowed him to question me alone in a supply room.
“The teacher actually confronted the girl in class and told her that police would be called. She was then “interrogated” by these adults while crying in fear.”
I am normally anti death penalty, …However in this case, I think the teacher should be subjected to it.
This country has completely lost its balance. Whether it is by a polarized congress, or nutty extremists form the left and right in society, the sane balanced people in the middle seem to have become disenfranchised.
The amount of stupidity in this country…. never fails to amaze me…..
When there are calls for mental health screenings for people who want to purchase guns, maybe there ought to be mandatory screenings for elementary school teachers and principals. This kind of story is becoming all too common. This child will be traumatized for years to come, and may develop phobias about police and/or going to school.
Perhaps the teacher and adults involved ought to be sent for a mandatory mental health screening by a competent psychologist or psychiatrist. There really is no cure for stupid.