When is a classroom unsafe? How would you handle? Kindergarten DD scratched in face and kicked in back at recess

[Anonymous]

Did you get this in an email? If so, I promise it’s bcc’ed to someone and you are part of the documentation process they’re starting to get intervention or an aide or a new classroom placement.

I got these when DD was in 1st grade. You need to reply and ask specifically what they are doing to ensure your child’s safety- acknowledge the injuries in your response and ask “what steps are you taking to ensure that this classroom is a safe learning environment for my child”.

In my DD’s case, that phrase triggered a cascade of responses which included deliberate separation from seating and lineups near the other child, a safety plan since she was often targeted, and eventually removal of the other child to a special program. They can’t help that other child until you and the teachers help them by documenting the impact it has on your child’s ability to experience a safe learning environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school is saying this student is dealing with anger management issues and that this is not the first classmate incident. They are monitoring the situation. Teacher profusely apologized and admitted she is struggling to retain control of the student. I have about a million emotions going at the same time.

Shocking the school would give you any information about another child. Public school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Horace Mann?

Oh no! Is a similar issue happening at Mann? I have a kindergartener but so far no issues in their class that I’m aware of

[Anonymous]

Now you know why teachers are quitting and nobody wants to become a teacher. This is the job now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is saying this student is dealing with anger management issues and that this is not the first classmate incident. They are monitoring the situation. Teacher profusely apologized and admitted she is struggling to retain control of the student. I have about a million emotions going at the same time.

Shocking the school would give you any information about another child. Public school?

Are you serious? You think it’s reasonable or normal that a child come home from school bruised or bleeding and that the parent is owed nothing in terms of an explanation?

I would be making a police report and filing charges.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is normal in el classrooms nowadays. There is usually always 1 kid who acts out aggressively and the teacher has to basically have a plan to protect the other students from harm. The kid is usually a boy, who bites, hits, throws pencils, chairs, etc...I've seen it time and time again.

Yep. In the threads people start here about teachers leaving, they try over and over again to talk about the difficulties with behavior and how their hands are tied by policy. This kind of behavior is no longer an anomaly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is saying this student is dealing with anger management issues and that this is not the first classmate incident. They are monitoring the situation. Teacher profusely apologized and admitted she is struggling to retain control of the student. I have about a million emotions going at the same time.

Shocking the school would give you any information about another child. Public school?

Are you serious? You think it’s reasonable or normal that a child come home from school bruised or bleeding and that the parent is owed nothing in terms of an explanation?

I would be making a police report and filing charges.

What lesson will your kid get from that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is saying this student is dealing with anger management issues and that this is not the first classmate incident. They are monitoring the situation. Teacher profusely apologized and admitted she is struggling to retain control of the student. I have about a million emotions going at the same time.

Shocking the school would give you any information about another child. Public school?

Are you serious? You think it’s reasonable or normal that a child come home from school bruised or bleeding and that the parent is owed nothing in terms of an explanation?

I would be making a police report and filing charges.

What lesson will your kid get from that?

That I care about my child and that it’s not acceptable or normal for someone to physically abuse them. And that I’m doing everything I can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is saying this student is dealing with anger management issues and that this is not the first classmate incident. They are monitoring the situation. Teacher profusely apologized and admitted she is struggling to retain control of the student. I have about a million emotions going at the same time.

Shocking the school would give you any information about another child. Public school?

Are you serious? You think it’s reasonable or normal that a child come home from school bruised or bleeding and that the parent is owed nothing in terms of an explanation?

I would be making a police report and filing charges.

What lesson will your kid get from that?

That everyone should expect appropriate, safe behavior in public places: work, school ……

What would you do if another employee hit, kicked or scratched you at work?

[Anonymous]

I would behave the same way I would if my child was shopping with me in a store and was attacked by another child. I do not think that schools should be any different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would behave the same way I would if my child was shopping with me in a store and was attacked by another child. I do not think that schools should be any different.

File a police report? Sue the kids’ parents? What would you do if you were shopping?

My dd was savagely bit on the cheek. Every tooth mark was visible, bleeding, bruised. I’d never seen a bite that looked like this before. It got infected even. Anyways, I was glad this was in a private preK. The kid got kicked out and his parents were working closely with him (he was not special needs). The following year in K when violent things happened, nothing happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is saying this student is dealing with anger management issues and that this is not the first classmate incident. They are monitoring the situation. Teacher profusely apologized and admitted she is struggling to retain control of the student. I have about a million emotions going at the same time.

Shocking the school would give you any information about another child. Public school?

Are you serious? You think it’s reasonable or normal that a child come home from school bruised or bleeding and that the parent is owed nothing in terms of an explanation?

I would be making a police report and filing charges.

What lesson will your kid get from that?

That I care about my child and that it’s not acceptable or normal for someone to physically abuse them. And that I’m doing everything I can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

There is a lot of you in that. What are you saying to your child about what they should do? Stand and take it, go get someone more powerful, tell the kid to stay away? You are showing love through protection, but sometimes your protection won’t be enough. If you call the police, I would make sure you also give your kid a ton of strategies (Martial arts programs are great for this) so they are empowered as well.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, knowing how long the process will be to remove the kid, I'd involve the police and a lawyer. I'd demand my child be moved to another class and that the school changes the schedule so both classes are not at recess at same time. After watching this scenario many times as a teacher, nothing will happen otherwise. You may also want to speak publicly at a board meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask for a classroom change.

Demand it. Also teach your kid what PP suggested and to yell "get away from me" if that kid comes near them.
Between teaching and being a parent I have seen this way too many times to take a "wait and see" approach

[Anonymous]

What the heck is wrong with schools?! Is there some reason we can't open more for disciplinary issues? There's a lot of focus on special needs and also gifted kids, but what about the ones who are violent?