Anyone think it is appropriate to send PK3/4 kids to the principal's office?

[Anonymous]

At our school, it's used as a reward. You can actually win a prize to spend time with the principal for an hour or two.

[Anonymous]

The principal's office at my children's school is not a scary place at all. My PK3 kid might wonder why he was going, but I can't imagine he would be scared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Putting on question list for open houses...

I think I would be upset if this happened to my child and I was not aware that this was a common practice.
They are so young in preschool, hard to be a working parent and leave them all day and then to be thinking they are being treated like the 5th graders with no special consideration of their age is tough.
They grow up too fast these days.

It's a little bit of a stretch to assume they're being treated like fifth graders because they go to the principal's office, no? Surely it's possible for the principal to interact with a four-year-old student in an age appropriate way.

+1. I'll be damned if your kid monopolizes an entire school day for the teacher. Also, in our school it is definitely a safe cool down spot. Principal is highly effective with preschoolers and talks through issues, colors with the kid, and most certainly will discuss the day with the parent.

+1 to the latter. And no... the preschool children are not treated like 5th graders. Also, because a child is 3-5 years old, doesn't mean that they can't be removed from a classroom for behavior. Sometimes it's a break, sometimes it's for safetly. Some 3-5 year olds hit/punch/bite/throw massive tantrums and removing to calm down is critical.

[Anonymous]

This also happens at our private preschool- kids get removed and sit with the head of school when a break is warranted. What's the big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would not be traumatizing at a school where the principal knows every student by name and the students know the principal. This has been the case at both
school communities my children have attended.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a "time out" and in a well run school, it should function that way. A child who has obviously become emotionally out of control needs some soothing on a one-on-one basis. Good for the school and shame on the armchair principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This also happens at our private preschool- kids get removed and sit with the head of school when a break is warranted. What's the big deal?

This being DCUM, the big deal is probably trolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would want to know this philosophy for early childhood classes at open houses - guess it is a good question to ask.
Just seems like a philosophy either you agree with or not.
There are two teachers in preschool classes and supposedly schooled in dealing with normal 3-4 year old behavior which at times can be challenging.
But sending 3 year olds out of the classroom to the principals seems a bit extreme for me - I would not send my child to a school that used this as common practice. There must be better ways to deal with this age group or I would think all schools would be doing this and the school my daughter goes to does not use this practice. I have never heard of this before. I volunteer at my child's school.

The truth is that the philosophy doesn't matter. Public prek3 teachers are often either very inexperienced or are embedded in a system with incentives that are not conducive to age appropriate treatment of 3 year olds. And parents don't pay them, so they don't necessarily care about making parents upset by mistreating their children. To be honest most daycares probably do a better job on average of providing an age-appropriate setting for three year olds around here. /bitter/.

[Anonymous]

ITA with principal and others who say very young kids think it's a treat to get extra attention. One of our kids had a good DCPS where kids only went to "the office" if they felt bad physically or needed to go home. The principal was almost always in the classrooms or common areas, so there was no appeal to being in her empty office.

At age 3 or 4, it's probably most helpful for parents to understand the rest, food, and movement routines for children. Discipline policies for adults should also be transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say yes because why should a teacher have to stop want she's doing to pay attention to a disruptive kid.

Because that's kind of the definition of spending time with three year olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ITA with principal and others who say very young kids think it's a treat to get extra attention. One of our kids had a good DCPS where kids only went to "the office" if they felt bad physically or needed to go home. The principal was almost always in the classrooms or common areas, so there was no appeal to being in her empty office.

At age 3 or 4, it's probably most helpful for parents to understand the rest, food, and movement routines for children. Discipline policies for adults should also be transparent.

Discipline policies for adults?

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering why OP is so scared of the principal's office. Seems like a good idea to me in any situation in which the principal's office may be able to provide a better environment for the kid. Behavior issues, emotional issues, sick. This seems like a really good tool in the box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5th grader would understand situation, be familiar with the surroundings and know the principal well.
The 3-4 year olds are most likely unfamiliar with both the principal's office and the principal and not really fully aware of why they are there.

So don't assume being treated like a 5th grader, being treated worse.
I know a child psychologist - I will be asking her, but it seems like a undesirable option for children this age.

I would not send my preschooler to any school where the principal would be scary to the kid. I'm shocked that anyone would.

[Anonymous]

My son's preschool has kids visit the head of school's office often, for discipline issues, or missing their mommies, or because they just need a break. It doesn't bother me at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Putting on question list for open houses...

I think I would be upset if this happened to my child and I was not aware that this was a common practice.
They are so young in preschool, hard to be a working parent and leave them all day and then to be thinking they are being treated like the 5th graders with no special consideration of their age is tough.
They grow up too fast these days.

You're making an assumption. As others have mentioned, it's not intended as punishment. Rather, it's an opportunity for the child to calm down and be comforted, and redirects the undesirable behavior.