What would you do?

@Thoroughrob (11742)
United States
November 2, 2007 8:26am CST
My husband works with a lady, that is having school issues. Her son came home from school Wed. and never wanted to go to school again. After prodding him for a long time, he blurted out "Because I don't like being locked in a closet!!" Of course, it threw her for a loop. She calmly asked him what he meant by that and he told her. Mind you, he is in elementary school. Apparently, he was in class and let a stinker. Afterwards, he said excuse me. The teacher told him that it was not appropriate and locked him in the closet. The mother went to the school and confronted the principal, which he wasn't going to meet with her because she did not have an appointment. Of course, the mention of police, does wonders. She asked him if her son had been sent to his office the previous day. His answer was no. She then asked if it was appropriate to lock a child in a closet. We all know the answer to that. We would lose our kids for doing that. She then proceeded to tell him her childs story. They confronted the teacher and she confirmed his story. She did it for the reasons he said. The principal stood there shocked, but the only thing that seems to be going to happen is the teacher will be wrote up!! We would be charged with child abuse, and she is only going to get a write up? I would be furious. I would be reporting this to the authorities and the school superintendent, and school board. I might have even gone public with it. They would also be paying for counseling for my son. He is traumatized from this. What would you do? Since when can you find an appropriate time to let a stinker? I do not think this teacher should be working with kids, ever.
10 people like this
23 responses
• United States
2 Nov 07
Written up? This teacher should be suspended and have ot attend counseling sessions. This teacher has traumatized a child and children have enough problems to deal with. Having someone they trust cause them embarrassment and pain is horrible. I hope that the parent of the child further discusses the matter with the principal and school board.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
2 Nov 07
I don't think she should be working with kids anymore. We would lose our kids for something like this and I would not be quiet until more was done. I wonder how many more have been in that closet!!
@kareng (55241)
• United States
2 Nov 07
I agree and I would be calling the school board. The principal is just sweeping this under the rug. I would also be very tempted to call a local TV station and let them know what is happening. Once it goes public, they will be forced to fire her or else ask for a resignation.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
25 Nov 07
Whew - I would go balistic on the school for that. If I can't lock my kid in a closet (not that I would but certainly have wanted to a few times over the years) there is no way some else is going to get away with it. I would take it to the school board, media, and more if there wasn't a more fitting punishment for the teacher. As for appropriate? I do have at least one, 16, who thinks it's fun to entertain others with how loud the stinkers can get but even then there are more appropriate punishments than locking in a closet.
1 person likes this
• South Korea
26 Nov 07
agree with you
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
7 Nov 07
"The principal stood there shocked, but the only thing that seems to be going to happen is the teacher will be wrote up!!" OH HELL NO!! if that were all the principal was goin to I'd be going over his head to the Superintendent and if that didnt work I'd be going to the Dean of schools AND the newspapers! I'd want that teachers JOB on a silver fkin platter thank you very much...Cause chances are its not the first time she/he has done something like that and even if it is it has to be nipped IMMEDIATELY!!!
1 person likes this
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I honestly don't have something to say to this. Except oh my goodness that poor child. He let a stinker and he apoligised for it. This teacher is acting as if he started trouble by throwing something at the teacher or another classmate. Locking a child in a closet should be a crime. In my opinion that's a form of child abuse. I do hope this mom pushes this for all she's got. A simple write up isn't going to cut it in my book. I would want the teacher's a** on a platter if that happened to my children. Plus what is up with not being able to meet with the principal without a meeting, that's bs. The principals door should always be open for anyone and that include parents.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I believe you are right. That teacher shouldn't be allowed to work with kids, ever. What she did should be illegal, and it certainly was bad for the boy to be locked up like that. I'll bet he'll never forget that, and it will haunt him for a long time. It's amazing what some teachers get away with, and that they can continue to humiliate kids in so many ways. I think anyone who works with children should undergo a personality screening to try and rule out prospective teachers with a mean streak like that one.
1 person likes this
• South Korea
26 Nov 07
yes, that guy should feel humiliated and be not appropriate to be in shool any more in whole life.
• United States
5 Nov 07
I would be on pissed off momma!!! i would do as u said take to the super intendant, the police anyone. to make sure she wasnt there to do it to another student and that be mean to my child because he told and she got into trouble! damn these teachers have nerve these days..
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Nov 07
heck yes I would have gone to every one and hit the media with it too! A teacher like that has no business with kids . He was polite about it and ya dont know when a stinker is gonna come out any how . Poor kid I'd be suing her to for child indangerment!!
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
2 Nov 07
It looks like she would be praising him for having manners, not telling him it was inappropriate.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Nov 07
thats right she shoul dhave
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
27 Nov 07
I just read this, even though it is 4 weeks old. I am shocked also. I would have reported it to anyone and everyone I could think of. There is no reason good enough to lock a child in a closet. And to think she only got a write-up. Astonishing.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
20 Aug 08
OMG! The poor kid. Did he eventually deal with the situation, go to consoling, which schools? I want to know if you know. The only way this might be acceptable (not the closet, but some punishment) is if the kid is farting daily in school to get attention. However, this doesn't seem like the case here. I think the teacher should be suspended. She reminds me of an algebra teacher I had in high school (of course I was older and could deal with it better and nothing physical happened, but he was abusive and mean to me).
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
20 Aug 08
The only thing I know is that she had it out with the school board. I never heard anymore.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I met to stay did the boy switch schools?
@34momma (13882)
• United States
2 Nov 07
Well after i got someone to totally kick her A$$!! i would go right to the police, the media and anyone else who would listen to this sick story! i don't care if the boy took a dump on himself she had not right to do such a thing to him! this remind me of something that happen to my best friends sister a year ago. she was up at the school dropping off her 5 year old son when the fire drill bell rang. one of the teachers said to another "I hate fire drills cause these little monkeys don't know how to act." My friends sister was so upset that she could not even speak. when she found her voice she went right to the princpal and told him what she heard. that teacher too was only written up at the time. my friends sister said that is just not good enough. so she took it to the papers and that teach lost her job!! if you don't like children then what the hell are you doing being a teacher! when i hear things like that they make me sick!!!
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
2 Nov 07
I totally agree. I probably would have them calling the law on me. It is crazy.
@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
5 Nov 07
I would go to the school board and give them the threat of the police and letting the media know about it. To me that is one of the most awful thing that a teacher could do to a child. In front of his friends and the other children? I would have sent the child to the school nurse or the guidance Couselor, but locked in a closet? Oh, that makes me hot!
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I agree with you! I come from a family of teachers and that story is laced with abuse and poor teaching skills. had that been my child, I'd of been all over that teacher and I would not stop till I had the satisfaction of him/her losing their teaching position!! On a positive note...the boy will learn a great lesson of "how NOT to treat a child" from this. He will be a better person in the long run from this experience. Still, it is wrong...the teacher should lose his/her job!
@Dee351972 (743)
5 Nov 07
Hi, that is so wrong. That school owuld not like to see me t here if they did something like that to one of my boys. As for the child abuse, the kids wouldnt be taken away right away. They would investgate it. So For now i think it ok for the teacher to be wrote up. But watched closer and stuff like that. Also i would have them question the other kids and the teache and see if this was the first time.
1 person likes this
• South Korea
26 Nov 07
so angry! kill her!
@rimsha (806)
• Pakistan
3 Nov 07
I also think that this teacher not work with kids properly.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
5 Nov 07
First of all, kids often deliberately let of stinkers. Many, many of them do this, especially boys. My step son is 14 years, & he does it deliberately in class room & then shouts out" I just f.....". It is beyond belief in this day & age that a teacher would put a child in this closet for such a silly little act. I would go as far as saying that this teacher has real problems, whether it is anger control, or something else. Definitely in our state,. anyone who did this would be reported to child abuse. Also, a teacher who does this should imediately be put on leave, until the matter is solved. This is quite unheard of. I am stunned ( sand I am a retired teacher of 22 years)
• United States
2 Nov 07
Poor baby! He will never want to let one go again. I would have comfronted her and called the police! She should get a suspension for this atleast! Its not fair to the little boy. Makes you wonder if she has done this to any other children. Come on hes only a child and he did say excuse me. I would have been so mad I probably would have punched her or locked her in the closet!!
@infoguy (210)
• India
3 Nov 07
The teachers attitude really sounds stupid and silly..How can she behave in such a way to a kid.Surely you should take this to the highest authority and get the teacher removed. The one who cannot understand the kids and punishes them for such things would surely need to repent for it.Tomorrow she may give some other bitter punishment to the students.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
4 Nov 07
There are two sides to every story, therefore before I would make a decision I would find out: a) was it a room such as a teacher room he was locked in or was it really a closet? By a closet I mean very small, where items are stored. b) how long was the student in the closet? Is it a normal time out place the teacher uses? Does everyone know that the closet is the time out place? c) Had the child done other things that day to allow the time out? If the answer is that the teacher did actually put him in the closet for a long period of time, there should be some punishment. Now, as the parent I think I would be upset as well. Now, as for child services, I think they only do that if you leave the child for long period of time alone. Since the tacher was actually in the room that is not leaving him. I think anyone would be mad about the whole situation. Pablo
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
2 Nov 07
I can't believe all she is getting is a slap on the wrist. I'd definately get in touch with the superintendent and push for removing her as a teacher. A lawsuit would be in order for this incident, I believe. "COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS" **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~