Tenerife forum

[rob]

I received this from a doctor friend in the States....



A few weeks ago, an incident in a Florida kindergarten garnered national attention in America: It was the police handcuffing of a violent child after the five-year-old threw an hour-long fit that included tearing papers off classroom walls, trashing an administrator's office, repeated climbing of desk and tables, and THROWING DOZENS OF PUNCHES at the school's assistant principal. At least 30 minutes of the scene was caught on video. At no point on the tape did any of the staff at Fairmount Park Elementary School attempt to restrain little Ja'eisha Scott as she rampaged - I assume either because it's against the law or out of fear of a lawsuit (big surprise: they're being sued anyway). So they exercised the only option available to them:

They called the cops.

Predictably, the police restrained Ja'eisha - not with guns, batons, tasers or pepper spray, but using only their officially-issued handcuffs and zip-ties - before holding her until her Mother arrived. No charges were pressed against her. But instead of thanking the officers for teaching her hellion daughter some limits without hurting her or blemishing her record, Ja'eisha's mother has hired an attorney, and is exploring her lawsuit options against the police department, and possibly the school as well.

Hmmm. I'm starting to see the root of the problem, I think. The mother obviously believes that it's the school system's job to teach her child how to behave and function in a civil manner - without touching, castigating, or punishing her, of course - in addition to educating her. Which brings me to another interesting point: What's really ironic is how the whole scene began...
Apparently, little Ja'eisha didn't want to take her maths lesson like the rest of the kids!

Now here's a crazy question: Since when do five year olds get to decide whether they WANT to be educated or not? Clearly, Ja'eisha (along with a lot of other kids today) has been brainwashed by today's discipline-less child-rearing that puts a kid's "self-esteem" above anything even resembling a rule or responsibility. She probably honestly believes she doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do. But I tell you, this is all a bunch of pop-psychology crap designed not to make happier, better-adjusted kids, but to prevent PARENTS from ever having to feel the painful pangs that go along with disciplining their offspring.

This same blameless, non-accountable MO is what makes an ever-increasing number of parents pressure doctors into medicating their kids for non-existent ADHD - or makes them hire lawyers to sue those who discipline their out-of-control children instead of disciplining their children themselves. And what's even more sickening than this prime-time illustration of just how far we've gone toward the death of discipline are the things some people are saying about it...

Diagnosis: Malparentitis

Of course, this "5-year-old in handcuffs" incident has blogs and newsgroups buzzing all over the 'Net. Many of those who've written (clearly those who have bothered to watch the tape) are deeming the actions of both the school personnel and the police as wholly appropriate - even restrained.

Then there are those bleeding hearts out there (most of whom are no doubt raising little brats themselves) who are quick to speculate that little Ja'eisha Scott is not simply symptomatic of the ineffectual modern "time-out" philosophy of parenting, but rather suffering from a disease. In just a very short time searching these forums, I found suggestions of autism, ADHD, Asperger's or Tourette's syndrome.

But I assure you all, the only disease that anyone who actually watched that tape could credibly deduce is a case of "mal-parent-itis." What's worse, some brainwashed jury's probably going to reward her handsomely for it. Meanwhile, little Ja'eisha will continue to grow up without guardrails, believing herself persecuted any time anyone tries to make her learn anything, follow any rules, or take any responsibility for her own actions.

And because of this, she really IS a victim.

Some of you parents out there are going to want to write nasty things to me (or about me) after you read this, but these things have to be said - and real changes have to be made. And before you decide to lay into me, consider this: Could what happened in Florida have ever in a million years happened to YOUR child?

If your answer isn't a resounding "NO," then perhaps you're the one who should be in handcuffs.



Please post your reactions or comments.



..

[sam]

I think the problems is that you can sue people for anything these days!! If you can't bring up kids and teach them, right from wrong then you shouldn't have them in the first place!! If a kid is behavin like that at that age imagine what a "NICE" person its gonna be when it grows up!!! I totally blame the parents!! I think its Crazy that teachers and such like can't Discipline Kids for fear of bein slapped with a law suit!!!!!!

[browser]

this could only happen in america! parents should instill in their offspring respect for all others and their beliefs and not leave the discipline to teachers etc.. why should teachers go to work to be physically and verbally abused when they are only trying to do their jobs and educate the children? malparentitis- plenty of parents in this country are suffering from this as daily reports of teachers being attacked on school premises shows. if the parents don't nip their unruly kids behaviour in the bud at an early age, what will they be like as teenagers/ adults?

[rob]

Hi Browser,


It could only happen in America? Yet you go on to say how so much of it is happening in the UK albeit on a smaller scale.

[Boddamer]

Hope these cops are at the hotel next week. I've had many a day at the poolside wrecked by parents ignoring unruly kids. I also wouldn't mind them moving here for a couple of months - someone needs to exert authority over these little blighters

[Guest]

Children learn off the adults and the society they are brought up in. What chance has a decent mother/father trying to bring up her child with adults behaving badly around them. It's not the children or the parents its the selfish society around all of us.

[Boddamer]

[sara]

give 'em all good slap..parents and children!!!

ONLY JOKING!!

[Akualele]

Hi Browser:

Perusing this Forum as I do occasionally, I came across your comment "This could only happen in America."

Perhaps! It's interesting to live in America and watch a multiplicity of cultures and belief systems fighting for position. But I don't plan to stay around to find out who the winner(s) is.

Various political and social interests are trying like hell to gain footage in the political arena. Their fight is destabilizing the country as a whole. As regards your example of the child in Florida who was handcuffed, many here who watched the broadcast of the video watched in discomfort, if not horror. When the police are called in to tame an unruly child and end up handcuffing her, the symbolism is powerful: The visual that is presented shouts loudly: "Since we can't control or handle this rather innocuous situation, we call on the police to intervene." In other words, the culture - conciously or unconsciously - is showing its impotence, and giving up control. How this came to be in America can be argued, but things are changing here, and they are not necessarily for the better.

Although there may be some who relish in the problems the United States may be facing, the country looms large as a symbol for freedom, and the disintegration and denigration of such freedoms may bode negative for all other countries who also value such freedom.

So, Browser, you state "only in America." Many of us are asking: "How in the world could this happen IN America!

Akualele

[sara]

i think is actually quite alarming that a child behaves in this way, and adults are either unable to sort the situation because they don't know how, or are too afraid to because of any repercussions...it's a sad world we live in......why should it be happening anywhere?

[rob]

Could it have something to do with the fact that so many politicians come from a 'legal' background. Laws are passed not necessarily for the good of the people or the country but to satisfy the strongest(richest) lobbyists.

[sara]

hmm good point...who knows??