Elementary School Misbehavior and Violence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to trust FCPS to teach children when they can’t do the basic minimum of keeping everyone safe?

Should we tie up the child with special needs? Restrict them to a 6x6 room? Not allow them to have recess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised kids don't ever gang up on the troublemakers at recess and sort it out themselves.

Because kids nowadays are generally kind and know the student probably has a neurodevelopmental disorder that they can’t control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised kids don't ever gang up on the troublemakers at recess and sort it out themselves.

Because kids nowadays are generally kind and know the student probably has a neurodevelopmental disorder that they can’t control.

It’s terrific that kids are growing up kind. But most people in prison probably also have neurodevelopmental disorders they can’t control. Regardless of who is causing physical harm and why, we have to be able to prevent it in our schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to trust FCPS to teach children when they can’t do the basic minimum of keeping everyone safe?

Should we tie up the child with special needs? Restrict them to a 6x6 room? Not allow them to have recess?

So what is your solution? The child is attacking kids and teachers at recess. The child has an aide with them, so there is a known issue. Why can’t there be a consequence for the child's actions, like solo recess indoors. The idea that the child is allowed to continue to hurt other kids because they have an IEP is what angers people. Why is it ok for other kids to be hurt because another child has an issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to trust FCPS to teach children when they can’t do the basic minimum of keeping everyone safe?

Should we tie up the child with special needs? Restrict them to a 6x6 room? Not allow them to have recess?

So what is your solution? The child is attacking kids and teachers at recess. The child has an aide with them, so there is a known issue. Why can’t there be a consequence for the child's actions, like solo recess indoors. The idea that the child is allowed to continue to hurt other kids because they have an IEP is what angers people. Why is it ok for other kids to be hurt because another child has an issue?

If this incident in Charlotte does not teach us something, it is that violence for violence sake (or mental illness) should not be tolerated.

It is one thing when a kid gets angry and into it with another kid--it is something else when a child is attacking others randomly with viciousness. There is a reason some kids need to be in a special environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kid to run around the school screaming very loudly “help me I’m scared” when something like this happens, then requested an evaluation for screaming and running at school. The problem child was removed.

You are awful. That student needs help, not shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kid to run around the school screaming very loudly “help me I’m scared” when something like this happens, then requested an evaluation for screaming and running at school. The problem child was removed.

You are awful. That student needs help, not shame.

I think (hope?) that PP was being facetious.

And, yes, the student needs help--but not at the expense of other students. And, staff also does not deserve to be hurt.

[Anonymous]

I think parents need to write their lawmakers about IDEA and add them to modify so that violent and disruptive children get (1) the supports they need and (2) get consequences for their behavior. The new Republican crop of lawmakers are insensitive and cold enough that they'd surely change things to better meet the general population's needs at the expense of special ed kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think parents need to write their lawmakers about IDEA and add them to modify so that violent and disruptive children get (1) the supports they need and (2) get consequences for their behavior. The new Republican crop of lawmakers are insensitive and cold enough that they'd surely change things to better meet the general population's needs at the expense of special ed kids.

Wow! She spelled it out.

FCPS policy as a whole. Ignore the needs and safety of the general population. See the Title IX suit. And, PP does not even realize that FCPS is playing poker with the funds for her special ed child.

Make it make sense.

[Anonymous]

More is coming. We’ve been told “buckle up,” because the new push from above is to have at least 80% of kids with IEPs mainstreamed for at least 80% of the school day. Apparently FCPS has too many kids in separate classes.

How this fits in with IEPs being *individual* plans that shouldn’t be affected by the desire to make inclusion numbers higher, no one has explained to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More is coming. We’ve been told “buckle up,” because the new push from above is to have at least 80% of kids with IEPs mainstreamed for at least 80% of the school day. Apparently FCPS has too many kids in separate classes.

How this fits in with IEPs being *individual* plans that shouldn’t be affected by the desire to make inclusion numbers higher, no one has explained to me.

I'm not teaching anymore, but most kids with IEPs do not go around attacking other kids. The kids who harm other kids need a different plan.

And, contrary to what a PP said, "training" cannot always prevent this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I taught my kid to run around the school screaming very loudly “help me I’m scared” when something like this happens, then requested an evaluation for screaming and running at school. The problem child was removed.

good strategy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More is coming. We’ve been told “buckle up,” because the new push from above is to have at least 80% of kids with IEPs mainstreamed for at least 80% of the school day. Apparently FCPS has too many kids in separate classes.

How this fits in with IEPs being *individual* plans that shouldn’t be affected by the desire to make inclusion numbers higher, no one has explained to me.

I'm not teaching anymore, but most kids with IEPs do not go around attacking other kids. The kids who harm other kids need a different plan.

And, contrary to what a PP said, "training" cannot always prevent this.

It’s like reading comprehension isn’t a thing. For the 5th time- TRAINING PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM GETTING INJURED WHEN THESE INCIDENTS OCCUR. Clearly, very clearly, other issues need to be addressed. But the SAFETY of students needs to be PRIORITY. Not training staff is NEGLIGENT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why you would rather crowdsource this than just call and make an appointment with the school counselor.

Op here. Because I wanted to be sure I wasn't overreacting? Admin and teachers have so much that they're dealing with that I don't want to bother them for something that I'm over reacting about.

My biggest issue is that my 9 year old was upset by whatever they saw go down and, if what my child says is correct, there should have at least been a check in that everyone was okay.

Based on the responses on this thread, I'll reach out to their teacher and hopefully if this happens again, they'll be more equipped to handle the kids who struggle with seeing other kids being violent towards not one but at least 3 teachers/admin at the school.

At least tell your kid he can leave if he feels unsafe, these situations can escalate quickly. You also can’t unsee children getting injured, one has to wonder what that does to kids.

DP. How can OP's kid just leave? If they're all out on the playground, he has to stay with his teacher/class. If the incident happens in the classroom, he can't just walk out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look email the teacher. The thing with the kid getting violent etc is that the kid more than likely has an IEP for learning disability plus emotional behavioral disorder. The parents want the kid mainstreamed but the kid needs services and are receiving them. There’s not much you can do besides request your child not be in the same class with that kid. At recess, it’s not fair game but what every parent says I don’t want my kid to have recess with the school wild child that’s unreasonable and unrealistic for all the kids. Likely what hopefully happens is after K and 1st the kid gets better social control of themselves or they end up at like Burke school. The thing is you can’t just shove kids into a program without clear support for why. Maybe he does need more support but for now they need to document to get him there and also to show the parents that the current learning environment is not the best one for the child. You gotta remember sometimes parents are their kids own worst enemies because they want to prevent their kid from being defined as different.

Idk why people say inmates run the asylum this is just how things work. It’s complicated but we can’t just assume because Jimmy walks out to recess one day and starts punching over kids because he wants to use the slide that Jimmy should be somewhere else. But idk this thread some people seem like we shouldn’t even wait to see if it happens like that. Oh that kids wild get him away from kid and to special place. But I think we all know that in the real world, there’s all sorts of people out there some with and without issues

This is hogwash. If the entire staff has not been trained then I’d argue the school isn’t even equipped to handle this level of care, that lack of training alone should result in immediate outside placement. I’ve worked in the worst schools you can imagine, the difference is the ENTIRE SCHOOL was trained for this. Rarely, VERY rarely, did student to student contact take place. Not because problems didn’t happen-they did multiple times per day- but because they trained us. Very well. Student to student contact is like the worst thing that can happen. You don’t just sit around and allow that to continue.

Teachers and parents saying this is just how it goes is absurd and borderline negligent. The adults need to make noise, lots of noise. Empower your children, give them an out. You don’t just tell them to sit there and wait to be victimized. If that were my child I’d tell them to say I’m not safe here I’ll be in the office and leave immediately. Every single time Larlo starts acting out or they feel unsafe. Let the school call me and complain about my child seeking refuge, I’m here for it.

I learned in public schools if there is enough disruption to the point of chaos for other students and staff changes get made. Every adult involved needs to be protecting these children, the ones exhibiting the problem behavior and others in the school. They need to be complaining and reporting this and requesting assessments where applicable and refusing to work without proper training. It’s not hard to be injured when students are like this and it happens very quickly and once it escalates it’s often difficult to deescalate. You’re placing the children and adults in danger if you’re passively doing nothing. This is unacceptable.

If you ever taught in FCPS or tried to raise an issue in FCPS, you'd know that the only thing they respond to is negative press from major outlets, or laws from Richmond. Anything less and they send you form email responses (if that) and ignore you. That goes for both teachers and parents, emails to Gatehouse-level staff and the school board. There are very rare exceptions, and the one I'm thinking of off the top of my head (Megan McLaughlin) retired from the SB already.

The lack of response doesn't go for admin and teachers at schools, in my experience. They really are trying. But above that, starting at the region principals? They really, really, really don't care.

I disagree about admin. I've been a longterm sub in a classroom in which there were *horrible* behavior issues. The principal and ass't. principal could not have cared less. I tried to handle it by myself for as long as possible, and when I finally took it to them, they dismissed me so fast my head was spinning. They didn't call the parents of the troublemakers or do anything at all to prevent them from acting up again and again. It's disgraceful, the way admin allows the miscreant kids to ruin the class for everyone else because they're so afraid of notifying parents.
DP