Child hurt by another child- what are our rights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- well, my child would have not pushed on purpose and if by accident would have apologized (which this kid did not do) I know this kid and he's a mean kid that is *constantly* in trouble in class. So- no big surprise to find out this kid did this.

You may someday have to eat your words.

I totally agree.

I have 3 kids, one happy go lucky, another is a well-behaved pacifist, and the third is impulsive and reactionary. Guess what, all of them, including the pacifist, have acted aggressively at one time or another towards other kids on the playground.

Are we talking skinned knees and torn jeans? Happens all the time. Unless it is actual bullying, you are completely over reacting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- well, my child would have not pushed on purpose and if by accident would have apologized (which this kid did not do) I know this kid and he's a mean kid that is *constantly* in trouble in class. So- no big surprise to find out this kid did this.

You may someday have to eat your words.

I totally agree.

I have 3 kids, one happy go lucky, another is a well-behaved pacifist, and the third is impulsive and reactionary. Guess what, all of them, including the pacifist, have acted aggressively at one time or another towards other kids on the playground.

Are we talking skinned knees and torn jeans? Happens all the time. Unless it is actual bullying, you are completely over reacting.

So true. I once made a big deal out of my DD getting bitten at daycare. HOW DARE they let this child bite my DD. Her skin was BROKEN. Oh the horror!!! Next week, of course, it was my child bitting someone else.

Guess what. Kids bite. Kids hit. Kids push.

Get out of your helicopter and move on.

[Anonymous]

You should chat with the mother of the 7th grader who is considering pressing charges against another 7th grader. It sounds like you also want to go after the kid to teach him a lesson. It's never too early to have a police record.

[Anonymous]

Your right is to strongly urge the school to keep your child as safe as possible and for the teachers to do everything they can to not let this happen again.

Otherwise, you have no idea what the school is doing with this other child and his parents, the extenuating circumstances of this child's life or the classroom/playground dynamic. Unless this little boy is continuously vicious to your son, why don't you invite him over and get to know him a little better?

[Anonymous]

OP...I am a new poster here and I have empathy for you. I was so upset reading your post. I would have trouble staying calm if it were my child. Heck I would be going nuts. That said, we need clarification. I

If my child was intentionally pushed and had ripped jeans at the knee or a bruise, I would be upset and would talk to the teacher, but would not take it further. If his face crashed into the pavement and he broke his nose I would be livid as that is a much harder shove. What clothes were ripped? Did someone try to beat him up? Then I would be marching in to meet with the teacher and the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your right is to strongly urge the school to keep your child as safe as possible and for the teachers to do everything they can to not let this happen again.

Otherwise, you have no idea what the school is doing with this other child and his parents, the extenuating circumstances of this child's life or the classroom/playground dynamic. Unless this little boy is continuously vicious to your son, why don't you invite him over and get to know him a little better?

This. FWIW, that was the route we took with my K son and a kid who had kicked/hit him on the playground. I know it sounds odd, but they are in the same class I just felt perhaps they needed to get to know each other better. I don't think they will ever be the best of friends, but they now get along just fine.

[Anonymous]

I was suprised that the injury you described seemed so minor. When my sister was in second grade another boy pushed her off a platform at the playground and she broke her arm, requiring surgery. The school had sent her to sit in class all day even though she couldn't move her arm. The school agreed to cover the cost of her medical care beyond what insurance paid for to settle the matter (we didn't even have an attorney or file a suit, they offered to do this to prevent one). However, for a push, I would say you should not expect anything significant to be done.

[Anonymous]

Golly, lighten up.

Seems like a fair enough question. Lots of parents probably don't know how the school handles injuries.

I agree that a one-time oops is nothing to get upset over -- DONE. But it isn't always easy to know if it's a simple situation where a kid had a few strong feelings he or she couldn't control once or twice (maybe that child felt wronged somehow) or if it's a case where a child has repetitive issues that need to be addressed.

I can't help but thinking that talking to the school (teacher or counselor) is good. Keep it friendly. I don't think it's fair to give a child a "bad" label, but if a child needs help, then it needs to come from somewhere. It's going to start with compassionate talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Golly, lighten up.

Seems like a fair enough question. Lots of parents probably don't know how the school handles injuries.

I agree that a one-time oops is nothing to get upset over -- DONE. But it isn't always easy to know if it's a simple situation where a kid had a few strong feelings he or she couldn't control once or twice (maybe that child felt wronged somehow) or if it's a case where a child has repetitive issues that need to be addressed.

I can't help but thinking that talking to the school (teacher or counselor) is good. Keep it friendly. I don't think it's fair to give a child a "bad" label, but if a child needs help, then it needs to come from somewhere. It's going to start with compassionate talk.

I think people are reacting to the use of the word "rights" -- as in the OP seems to have some sense of entitlement in this situation and no one can figure out exactly what it is.

[Anonymous]

So true. I once made a big deal out of my DD getting bitten at daycare. HOW DARE they let this child bite my DD. Her skin was BROKEN. Oh the horror!!!

This sort of happened to me once at preschool. My DD was bitten & it broke the skin. I was so upset when I saw the mark on her when I got there to pick her up. Then the teacher said to me "We usually don't tell the parents which kid bit their kid, but in this case . . . it was your other kid."

We decided not to press charges against the biter in this case.

[Anonymous]

OP here- by rights I meant a basic understanding of what we can expect from FCPS for some basic issues like safety. It all worked out ok so I'm fine- teacher responded- all was good per say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So true. I once made a big deal out of my DD getting bitten at daycare. HOW DARE they let this child bite my DD. Her skin was BROKEN. Oh the horror!!!

This sort of happened to me once at preschool. My DD was bitten & it broke the skin. I was so upset when I saw the mark on her when I got there to pick her up. Then the teacher said to me "We usually don't tell the parents which kid bit their kid, but in this case . . . it was your other kid."

We decided not to press charges against the biter in this case.

GASP! Not my child. My child would never hit, bite, get angry, aggressive or mean! This is a very funny story PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- by rights I meant a basic understanding of what we can expect from FCPS for some basic issues like safety. It all worked out ok so I'm fine- teacher responded- all was good per say.

May I ask how things were resolved?

[Anonymous]

talk to the teacher and if you're not satisfied talk to the principal. you want to make sure that if it happens again in the future that they are very aware of this incident. hopefully it was an isolated 1 type thing.

but for those parents who think this is silly... there are kids,even 1st graders, who will bully or get away with any behavior they can. you don't know what that childs situation is at home... not that the child is a bad kid, but maybe he just has bad behavior. school is for learning and that includes learning to control yourself and respect other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So true. I once made a big deal out of my DD getting bitten at daycare. HOW DARE they let this child bite my DD. Her skin was BROKEN. Oh the horror!!!

This sort of happened to me once at preschool. My DD was bitten & it broke the skin. I was so upset when I saw the mark on her when I got there to pick her up. Then the teacher said to me "We usually don't tell the parents which kid bit their kid, but in this case . . . it was your other kid."

We decided not to press charges against the biter in this case.

Great story! Probably less funny at the time, but a classic. Thanks for sharing.