Disruptive student in class

[Anonymous]

Anyone here have any experience with a 8/9 year old "hitter" in their child's class? This boy has hit other classmates the previous school year in 3rd grade, as reported to me by my child, and now on first day back yesterday has slapped a classmate in the face. And he stayed in the class, not sent to the office. Is this acceptable and normal at mcps? It is unknown to me what triggers this child. It frightens me honestly.

[Anonymous]

Is the hitter sped?

[Anonymous]

It is highly unlikely the school will do anything.

We had a boy in my kid’s 4th grade class who would throw chairs and trash cans. He got into fights with other kids. Gave one kid a bloody nose when he punched him. It was pretty terrible.

The kid would get sent to the office for a day and then get sent right back to the classroom the next day. Admin can’t do much.

[Anonymous]

If the school does anything, especially in ES - it will likely involve restorative justice.

Where the other classmates will have to gather around and discuss what THEY did to provoke the students who hits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is highly unlikely the school will do anything.

We had a boy in my kid’s 4th grade class who would throw chairs and trash cans. He got into fights with other kids. Gave one kid a bloody nose when he punched him. It was pretty terrible.

The kid would get sent to the office for a day and then get sent right back to the classroom the next day. Admin can’t do much.

Omg. I do think it could depend on the principal and the victim’s parents the consequences.

When I complained to our principal (who is a top notch principal) about a violent child who has a documented history of incidents, and demonstrated how serious the situation is, the principal took it seriously and suspended the child. The child stopped bothering my DC.

[Anonymous]

School year just started. Tell the principal you want your son moved to a new class immediately as you worry for his safety.

[Anonymous]

Do you find it acceptable?

If not, what do you suggest that the teacher/administrator(s) do in response?

Does your suggestion fall within the boundaries of the school system's obligation to educate all children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone here have any experience with a 8/9 year old "hitter" in their child's class? This boy has hit other classmates the previous school year in 3rd grade, as reported to me by my child, and now on first day back yesterday has slapped a classmate in the face. And he stayed in the class, not sent to the office. Is this acceptable and normal at mcps? It is unknown to me what triggers this child. It frightens me honestly.

Acceptable--no
Normal--yes

You will not be privy to what is going on behind the scenes. Maybe something; maybe nothing. You should contact the principal and ask your child to be moved. However, there may be another child with similar behaviors in the new classroom.

[Anonymous]

Why is there nowhere else to stick these kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School year just started. Tell the principal you want your son moved to a new class immediately as you worry for his safety.

+1. We dealt with this last year and I really regret not asking my DC to be moved early in the year. It did not get better and DC was dreading school by the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone here have any experience with a 8/9 year old "hitter" in their child's class? This boy has hit other classmates the previous school year in 3rd grade, as reported to me by my child, and now on first day back yesterday has slapped a classmate in the face. And he stayed in the class, not sent to the office. Is this acceptable and normal at mcps? It is unknown to me what triggers this child. It frightens me honestly.

It's neither acceptable nor normal, but it does happen. If I extrapolate from what you are saying, I'd guess that this child has some impulse control issues and is not a great fit for a mainstream classroom environment and/or would benefit from a one-on-one aide.

The problem is that moving a child to a more restrictive classroom environment against the will of his parents is extremely difficult, and a one-on-one aide is very expensive and may be impossible to hire in this environment.

Best case scenario is the parents and school working together to find this child a better and more supportive environment, but even then the bureaucracy can take a while.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry for your child. In all our years at MCPS especially in elementary at this age there were kids who have impulse control issues that result in hitting. Most kids do not think much about it. The child apparently just had a habit of flailing out at whoever was nearby.

This child is now in high school and does not hit anymore and is a perfectly nice kid.

If your child is anxious about it and cannot learn by all means ask for him to switch classes but you might be surprised like I was how most kids just ignore it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone here have any experience with a 8/9 year old "hitter" in their child's class? This boy has hit other classmates the previous school year in 3rd grade, as reported to me by my child, and now on first day back yesterday has slapped a classmate in the face. And he stayed in the class, not sent to the office. Is this acceptable and normal at mcps? It is unknown to me what triggers this child. It frightens me honestly.

Normal in mcps - it's part of character building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone here have any experience with a 8/9 year old "hitter" in their child's class? This boy has hit other classmates the previous school year in 3rd grade, as reported to me by my child, and now on first day back yesterday has slapped a classmate in the face. And he stayed in the class, not sent to the office. Is this acceptable and normal at mcps? It is unknown to me what triggers this child. It frightens me honestly.

Normal in mcps - it's part of character building.

physical assault is character building?

[Anonymous]

Is this child actually disruptive in a way that results in missed instruction or is the hitting a light hit like how toddlers sometimes steal toys from each other by hitting?

There are kids who are years behind in maturity and may not be able to communicate with words. This happened in our pre-K classroom all the time and all those kids grew up to be nice, gentle kids. A child with a disability may just be behind a few years.