Spanking a Child for Being Truant in Kindergarten? Really???
@Ruby3881 (1963)
Canada
April 15, 2016 1:04pm CST
I don't know how many of you have seen the video of the 5-year-old child who was paddled by his school principal, or if there are those among you who agree with corporal punishment in school. But I do wonder how many know how it came to be that this child was spanked at school?
I had to dig a bit to discover what happened. Apparently the child had a large number of "unexcused" absences and a record of tardiness. The article I read says that the absences were related to a medical issue, and some were actually for doctor's visits.
Despite this fact, the school has already had the mother arrested for truancy. And now they've used his attendance record to threaten the mother into allowing the principal to beat him with a paddle. The mother was told if he missed school because of a suspension of even one day, she'd be re-arrested and put in jail.
The mother claims she had signed a form saying she did not give the school permission to beat her child, but the school said she had not. Classic he said, she said... (A great reason to keep copies of such documents at home!)
Of course now that the video has gone viral and her story is everywhere, the school district is back pedalling. But having dealt with a few really nasty school officials myself, I'm inclined to believe what the mother says.
What are your thoughts on this story?
EDIT: It does seem that the child was being punished for spitting at and trying to hit another child, which of course is wrong. But I have to ask what paddling teaches a child in this type of circumstance? I would think it only encourages children to meet violence with violence. And having the mother of a five-year-old arrested for truancy? Seems way over the top to me!
[Image: jarmoluk/Pixabay/CC0]
Shana Perez described the dispute with school administrators as longstanding and attributed it to her son's medical problems.
17 people like this
20 responses
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
15 Apr 16
I didn't read the story, But I am still mad. My child has asthma and missed quite a few days last year. Fortunately, his treatment is getting better now. We had to get a doctor's note for each day he was out. They were quite stern about it. However, had they spanked him for having been out due to a medical problem, Hell hath no fury like that of a pissed off mother.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
15 Apr 16
Wow! He was paddled because he missed school? And he missed school because of medical issues which is understandable! And he is in Kindergarten for crying out loud!! This is insane to me-absolutely insane. I believe in spanking-by parents for major wrong doings-but not at schools and definitely not for missing school for a medical issue! I would be fuming mad if I was his mother-I feel sorry for both of them and I thank God I Home School my kids!!
2 people like this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
15 Apr 16
It does look like the spanking was imposed because he spit on and tried to hit another child. But I think the principal used the truancy as leverage to force the issue, instead of respecting the mother's wishes.
Personally, I get a gut feeling that the school is targeting this mom just a wee bit. And in her shoes, I'd feel bullied.
@dodo19 (47336)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
15 Apr 16
I don't think this is right at all. Doctors appointments and such are valid reasons for missing school. I don't understand why the principal has such an issue with this. I also feel that the principal went too far with threats. It doesn't seem at all. Like you, I'm going to side with the boy's mom on this one. This principal's behaviour is unprofessional and uncalled for.
1 person likes this
@quantum2020 (12041)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
16 Apr 16
A child who has misbehaved at shool should be given guidance and support. Childrent react to certain circumstances that are not easily discernable, and acted upon with judgment, based on their age.
School personel should not interfere with a child´s development. On the contrary, they should give the chidren varied opportunities to stay comfortable at school while providing good learning guidance.
The principal of that school has no right to spank a child, not even under the mother´s consent!
1 person likes this
@quantum2020 (12041)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
16 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 The same law applies in Mexico. It is just a matter of applying the law. Some parents prefer to leave their children´s education to the school´s staff and will act with flexibility in their favor.
Children abuse in schools is considered a form of abuse that affects an individual´s behavior and detriments his/her health, emotional state, welfare and affects his/her maduration; all of this adds to violate their basic rights.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
17 Apr 16
@quantum2020 I imagine here too, there are some parents who would simply leave things in the hands of the state. We've always favoured a more family-oriented approach. Whether we are homeschooling or sending the children to public school, they know that their rights will be respected and that our decisions for them come first. We do not allow any school official to usurp our parental authority.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
16 Apr 16
Very well said! I completely agree.
What does the law in Mexico say about such a thing, Jose? Here in Canada it's no longer legal for teachers to use corporal punishment of any sort. It's considered assault and could result in criminal charges.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
15 Apr 16
i think that somebody ought to take that principal out 'hind a woodshed myself. this's utterly ridiculous. regardless'f why these wee one was absent so much's irrelevant. ya jest don't commit physical abuse 'pon a babe.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
15 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 i'd say that the young'un prolly's got some issues 'n 't seems's though the mother's doin' the best she can to get the lil fella some help.
yer correct, that principal'd be hollerin' from the tops'f the hills't the injustice'f such. i also agree that violence begats violence 'n 's a grown adult'n a position'f authority, they ought to realize that. what the boy did was wrong, but there's other ways to handle such situations.
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
15 Apr 16
I do have to wonder what the principal would think if she were told she'd be paddled for the way she bullied the mother! I imagine she'd get her knickers in a right twist, and would say that it's not right to hit. And that's exactly it! 
Turns out the little guy did try to hit another child. But how is hitting him with a wooden paddle going to teach him not to do that? Won't it just teach him to answer violence with violence?
Turns out the little guy did try to hit another child. But how is hitting him with a wooden paddle going to teach him not to do that? Won't it just teach him to answer violence with violence?1 person likes this
@lovebeingmummy2 (806)
• Aberdeen, Scotland
16 Apr 16
Poor boy, isn't that appalling. They shouldn't be allowed to look after children if they treat them like that. I'd have phoned the police if it were my child
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
15 Apr 16
No child should ever be punished for doctor appointments. That mother should fight that school tooth and nail. Also any documents you sign in, parents should make copies of. That way, you have documentation on hand. Such as the no spanking policy. Plus, any copies of doctors notes.
I say this because I started going this years ago. I am glad I did. As the first time my son ever rode a bus. The bus driver spanked him for standing up one time. I fought the school and bus driver. I went after both. The school backed off of me and realized I meant business. The bus driver ended up being fired for placing his hands on my son. When I signed a piece of paper strictly forbidding it.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
15 Apr 16
I've actually gotten to the point with one school that I not only kept copies of paperwork, but photocopied my son's communication book (which the principal would occasionally "disappear") every day. I also had the school secretary sign for all the paperwork we filed, after the school conveniently lost the beginning of the year forms for all three kids.
The secretary was not pleased, but we had sent each set of paperwork in to a separate classroom, and my son's paperwork was received directly by his aide. These papers included confidential documents with medical info, among other stuff. There is no way all of it got lost....
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
17 Apr 16
I read this on Facebook yesterday. I felt quite sad about it. Did this happen in US kindergarten?
I never think spanking at school happens in US or any western countries, I know there are a lot of these cases in my country, but might not be using paddle (I think that's too much!).
I always thought nowadays teachers are not allowed to spank children, I was so wrong. I have heard from my neighbors, read from the newspapers, there are many teachers spanking the children, not only because they are naughty, but also because they didn't finish the homework, or didn't bring certain books, etc.
I totally against spanking the children. No matter how "naughty" the child is, spanking is not a solution to guide him. I agree with you that, spanking the children actually is like teaching them it's good to be violent. Moreover, he's just a 5 year old boy!!
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
18 Apr 16
Spanking is no longer allowed in Canadian schools, but corporal punishment was used in our schools when I was growing up. Students who were in serious trouble would get the strap from the principal (on the hand) in schools I attended, but I had friends who attended Catholic schools where it was apparently common for teachers to slap students in class for minor infractions such as you describe.
In the US, it seems there are about 20 states that allow spanking. And from what I understand, they do commonly use a paddle.
@allknowing (137933)
• India
16 Apr 16
This has something to do with the individual with a sadistic mind. Not all teachers will resort to this. Most do not.
@vhpsandi (358)
• Mumbai, India
18 Apr 16
I think they took the risk of filming the video to make it a one time lesson for all. Otherwise which person with a sane mind do something as stupid as this and then they themselves film it as evidence against themselves.
However they never thought of the backlash it would generate.
First of all she needs to be forced to resign and then the school be blacklisted. If this is what the principal does, God knows what goes on in those classes. Had my kid been in this school I would pull him out and home school him.
The world is going crazy.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
19 Apr 16
Actually, I don't think the school had any idea about the video. The principal thought the mother was texting, but she was recording the spanking. She felt cornered, and I guess she wanted proof that the school was insisting on the spanking in case they tried to use it against her later.
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
16 Apr 16
Yes, apparently he spit on another child and tried to hit him. It wasn't mentioned in the earliest reports, but I've seen the mother admit it on her FB page. Even so, it doesn't make sense to paddle a child. He's very young, and at this age it's expected kids will need to be reminded how to get along. How does spanking him teach him not to be violent?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220408)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jul 17
I think paddling kids is wrong. It just models violence as a way to solve problems. We have kids spitting on each other, hitting each other, and bopping each other with objects all the time. It's a part of being young. We might give them a time out, but first we give them an opportunity to see how the other feels. I actually encourage kids to "blow a kiss" toward each others' invisible owies. It gives the situation a sense of resolution.
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Apr 16
This would be illegal in Australia. Corporal punishment is very much a no-no and all kids seem to know their rights. This does make it very hard to discipline hard-core (older) offenders.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
15 Apr 16
Even if the mother signed or did not sign such agreement, nobody should spank or paddle a child! To think that his absences were due to a medical condition gives more reason for the mother to complain or charge the school principal for that action. It's child abuse!
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
15 Apr 16
It does turn out that the paddling may have been for fighting with another child. But I agree with you that it isn't right to spank. It's illegal for a teacher to spank, here in Canada. But in the US it's legal in something like 20 states. I think it just teaches violence.
@shaggin (72288)
• United States
15 Apr 16
I don't think any school should be allowed to hit the students. I think that kind of punishment should be left up to the parent. If he was spitting on a child and trying to hit another student then he should have been sent home from school not paddled.
@just4him (317315)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 Apr 16
Ah so we're reverting to that again are we? I don't believe teachers should have the right to hit or spank children, this coming from one who was slapped across the face by her Kindergarten teacher.
@HebrewGreekStudies (1646)
• Canada
16 Apr 16
If they wanted to arrest my parents for me being truant as a child...they'd have to arrest my dr.s as well, I was quite ill as a child and at times in the hospital-to penalize someone for that...is...insane. Like, it's really...insane...if the issue of the childs well being is in question, arresting a parent one would think would be...very counter active...especially for a say kindergarden child. And yes, I think in that kind of circumstance, corporal punishment would just anger the child and reinforce that...especially since sometimes children behave a certain way because of other factors-I remember often getting in trouble for defending myself in public school against bullies...their actions were never taken into account...in high school, that was one of the main reasons why I would be truant...my line of thought was, okay, you want to get me in trouble for not showing up in a place where I don't feel safe? Like, you're going to punish me for skipping school, with suspension from school? Sounds good sign me up:)! I've known a lot of teachers which I considered not suited for the job, and...I've known some really great teachers as well and some of my friends are teachers...I'm glad that there is more awareness and sensitivity happening...but it looks like it's still a work in progress...and I hope that it does keep progressing.
