Handcuffing a 5 Year Old....Going Too Far?

[kis123]

A phenomenon in the making!!!

Well folks, I'm about to do something that even I never thought possible.

Just letting you know up front, this is going to be a long one. But there are some of you here that are going to like this one. Hold onto your hats!!!

I was driving to work this morning, stuck in traffic (as usual) and I heard a DJ announce National Teachers Appreciation Day. I think it's for a week, but today is the actual day.

Suddenly something hit me like a lightning bolt and I'd like to share it with all of you-especially Sunrise!

I've always prided myself on being one of the more mature members of the forum. I like to feel I provide a voice of experience and wisdom.

Well, looking back at the posts I made in this thread, I have to say I totally missed my objective (the wisdom/maturity part).

I've made a real mess out of this thread and posted out of emotion and bad childhood flashbacks, not out of logic or wisdom at all! I caused complete chaos in someone's life who did not deserve it. For that, the only thing I can do is apologize-the damage has been done already.

The person who made those posts was the fat kid that was harrassed abused by teachers and students throughout her childhood. This is the mother who had to watch her disabled son in emotional pain because he couldn't make friends. He was an easy target because he rarely fought back and those teachers involved didn't get involved. His academic career was pretty miserable.

All weekend long I sparred with Sunrise and I kept asking myself one question throughout this madness that I couldn't get out of because I was in too deep:

Why is she taking this so personally?

How else could she take it? She went to college, spent thousands of dollars (unless she was blessed with a scholarship), to work in a profession that probably will not advance her financially. Her benefit is to educate kids and help them better their lives. My comments spat on her world and I deserved the responses I got.

My and my son's experiences with police were very real. However, not every cop is dirty, lazy, or irresponsible. So if anyone here is a police officer or related or friends with one, I apologize.

I did the very thing I accused Sunrise of-taking thing way too personally. I posted out of my pain, and she posted out of her anger (which I probably incited).

I'm not "dumb" or "ignorant" but I didn't behave in a manner that draws respect either.

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day

I humbly bow and honor those who have hung in there giving their best to change the world in front of them one child at a time. Some of them are going to fall through the cracks-but how many more will succeed and thrive through the efforts of teachers?

In conclusion,

I still believe that little girl should not have been handcuffed. But I believe her parents should've been because this child had been a consistent behavioral problem in the classroom. Personally, I would've spanked her behind until she got the revelation. But, that's why I'm not a teacher. I'm not blessed with the patience it takes to do the job.

I'll be more careful with the threads I post in the future. If I can't be passionate without being personal, I need to move on!!!

So I apologize first to Sunrise who got the worst of my rantings, then to the fellow TMFers who had to endure my display. I don't know if she's going to see this or not. She might find a copy of this in her PM box. I don't expect a response because I'm not doing it for response. I'm doing it because if I claim to be mature, now would be a good opportunity to prove it.

I was always taught that if you screw up in public, don't try to fix it in private. I could have easily sent a PM, but I should have done that in the first place. I messed up in public, I try to make it right in public!

This is kis eating her crow with a huge slice of humble pie on the side...........

 

[BigJim]

To reply to something Sunny said, it's interesting to note that crime rates among non-caucasians are higher here and I expect they're higher in America too (specifically I'm talking about violent "street" crimes). Is this because black, hispanic and other people are less worthy than whites and more likely to act like scum? No, I sincerely doubt that. My personal opinion is that the colour statistics are a telling symptom, rather than an actual cause. Poverty and desperation are most often the precursors to a life of crime. I would not be surprised at all to learn that non-whites are considerably poorer than average and consequently more desperate too. That being the case I think it's very sad.

Now everyone carries personal responsibility in this world and having a shitty start does NOT give anyone the right to be pissed off at the world for the rest of their life and act like a guttersnipe (especially when we have shining examples of people who start off with less than nothing and achieve college degrees and fantastic lives), but I'm betting most white people would end up being criminals given a similar background.

 

[kis123]

To reply to something Sunny said, it's interesting to note that crime rates among non-caucasians are higher here and I expect they're higher in America too (specifically I'm talking about violent "street" crimes). Is this because black, hispanic and other people are less worthy than whites and more likely to act like scum? No, I sincerely doubt that. My personal opinion is that the colour statistics are a telling symptom, rather than an actual cause. Poverty and desperation are most often the precursors to a life of crime. I would not be surprised at all to learn that non-whites are considerably poorer than average and consequently more desperate too. That being the case I think it's very sad.

Now everyone carries personal responsibility in this world and having a shitty start does NOT give anyone the right to be pissed off at the world for the rest of their life and act like a guttersnipe (especially when we have shining examples of people who start off with less than nothing and achieve college degrees and fantastic lives), but I'm betting most white people would end up being criminals given a similar background.

I'm confused Jim-help me out! Is this commentary for me, or just one of your insightful observations?

 

[BigJim]

Just an observation. I was saying that while crime statistics usually show black people, hispanic people etc committing more violent street crimes, it's not because of their racial characteristics but because their races are more likely to be poorer and disadvantaged than the white one, and thus more likely to be drawn to crime. While there are always exceptions, I think white people are generally richer than black people and so on, so there is less tendency to become muggers and car thieves.

 

[kis123]

Just an observation. I was saying that while crime statistics usually show black people, hispanic people etc committing more violent street crimes, it's not because of their racial characteristics but because their races are more likely to be poorer and disadvantaged than the white one, and thus more likely to be drawn to crime. While there are always exceptions, I think white people are generally richer than black people and so on, so there is less tendency to become muggers and car thieves.

I knew you'd make sense for me!

Sometimes people don't realize that the folks in the "hood" are human beings too. Their circumstances are different than the rest of the world but they desire the same things. They just don't always know

 

[BigJim]

True. But just like people born in a disadvantaged "hood" can rise to become doctors or engineers, so people born in affluence can waste their gifts of life and end up worthless bums or despised criminals. Personal responsibility is both God's greatest gift and the Devil's biggest curse, depending on whether you relish it or are frightened of it.

 

[kis123]

True. But just like people born in a disadvantaged "hood" can rise to become doctors or engineers, so people born in affluence can waste their gifts of life and end up worthless bums or despised criminals. Personal responsibility is both God's greatest gift and the Devil's biggest curse, depending on whether you relish it or are frightened of it.

Now I can definitely applaud this statement! It works for me!

 

[MrMacphisto]

Like it or not, the public schooling system in this country is very liberal. they follow the marching orders from the unions. thank god i was one of the lucky ones that didnt stay brainwashed. unfortunately, some of us havent waken up to reality yet. but hang in there, theres still hope!

Don't worry, maniac, all that liberal education won't keep the kids from growing up to be conservative moneygrubbers that enjoy the oh-so-progressive talk radio shows that flood the airwaves.

 

[MrMacphisto]

teachers most certainly have an agenda out there. whos idea is it to teach 5, 6 or 7 year olds that heather has two mommies? or any gay issues for that matter. like i said, indoctrinate them young so they fall in line.

Maniac, I totally understand... Indoctrinate them to view gays as sinful, since that's what most religions preach. Right?

 

[Roseblossom]

I was always taught that if you screw up in public, don't try to fix it in private... I messed up in public, I try to make it right in public!

This is nicely done - you're a big person, kismet.

~Rose

 

[Oddjob0226]

Nicely done, Kis.

And Jim, you've pointed out things a lot of people believe, but so many more don't seem to want to hear. Society at large so often like to put up the invisible, reflecting shield of "personal choice/personal responsibility" when it publically learns of someone committing a moral or legal screw up. What it doesn't worry about is on what basis those personal choices were made. That's then the armor of "how is that my responsibility" comes into play. We'd rather pay big mo0ney to punish than pay a little less money to prevent, since it's all about what one 'earns' or 'deserves'. Ironically, the people who talk about these things are also the ones who like to point out that "life isn't fair".

 

[maniactickler]

Don't worry, maniac, all that liberal education won't keep the kids from growing up to be conservative moneygrubbers that enjoy the oh-so-progressive talk radio shows that flood the airwaves.

Please feel free to keep sleepwalking through life.

 

[Sunriseticklee]

Thank God It's Friday!

Whew! I'm sure ya'll enjoyed that break without me. 😀

The last month of school is true torture, and not the good kind. I'm completely exhausted, but true to my word, I'm back to see what happened to this thread in my absence.

I have to admit I am pretty surprised.

Thank you Kis for the apology. And I apologize as well. I know you are NOT ignorant, and I know you were making statements based on your experiences and circumstances. Most of us do. But then we have to step back sometimes and realize that there is another side... There are other people who live through the racism, the bullying, the lies, the fear. (people who don't always look, and think, and act like us.)

There is always that other side where we have someone else's experiences, heartaches, hard work.... And DAMN IT.... It IS HARD! For each and every one of us. And many of us need help to survive. We need each other and our community. That's what I was trying to say. It shouldn't just be my problem or my responsibility. (of course, I wanted to be a little ass while trying to get my point across. )

I know it is hard to raise kids and hard to watch someone you love get beat upon for no apparent reason. And I know everyone has had that teacher who has just SUCKED, or the police officer who was crooked, or just people who treated ya like dung just because they felt they were better than you. But, hopefully you've had at least one person in your life who you will always remember for being totally awesome. Remember that.

And yes I did take it personally because regardless how many times people say I (we) shouldn't do it, I take my job home with me. My job is my life. My kids are everything to me. And the downhill direction society is dragging our kids; our future is ripping me apart. I just don't understand why so many people don't care at all, or say simply that it's my problem.

Your tax dollars should tell you otherwise. The interest you have in your children should tell you otherwise. It is our problem... not just mine.

(Of course, lest I forget, I can't wait until I get my new curriculum. I must be behind the times because I haven't been trained on how to teach math, science, reading, and language arts with the new liberal indoctrinal guidelines. What a failure! 😱 )

Anyway, I hope you all (who have children and read this) thanked at least one teacher this week for something. 😀

One of my students asked me, "Ms. Sunrise (yeah right LOL), when is Student Appreciation Week?"

I replied (while she chomped on the pizza that I had rewarded the kids for meeting their reading point goals that week), "Everyday is Student Appreciation Day!"

And.... so it is!

Sunny


PS... I'll try to be good from now on. 😛