WWYD? Saw crying k student being picked up and moved to classroom by teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One clown should not be allowed to halt the circus.

I don't teach ES, but four separate times in my public school teaching career, my students and I have been forced to evacuate a classroom because a disruptive student refused to leave and no adult was able to make the student exit. There is a special frustration in losing instructional time for 29 students as you wander the halls looking for an empty classroom while admin and security try to cajole one child into leaving. I know I am not the only teacher this has happened to. As recently as this school year, my students warned me to never ask "Larlo" to take his binder off the desk. They said that last year, they all had to leave a classroom because he trashed it after a teacher told him to place his binder on a window shelf during a test.

I'm sorry this has happened, but every year in this country, hundreds of people die because someone moved or restrained them.

Restraining people, and that includes picking them up and moving them, is dangerous. It's less dangerous with a Kindergartener, but it's still not something that should happen in schools unless there's truly no other choice.

I can't tell if this is a joke or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One clown should not be allowed to halt the circus.

I don't teach ES, but four separate times in my public school teaching career, my students and I have been forced to evacuate a classroom because a disruptive student refused to leave and no adult was able to make the student exit. There is a special frustration in losing instructional time for 29 students as you wander the halls looking for an empty classroom while admin and security try to cajole one child into leaving. I know I am not the only teacher this has happened to. As recently as this school year, my students warned me to never ask "Larlo" to take his binder off the desk. They said that last year, they all had to leave a classroom because he trashed it after a teacher told him to place his binder on a window shelf during a test.

I'm sorry this has happened, but every year in this country, hundreds of people die because someone moved or restrained them.

Restraining people, and that includes picking them up and moving them, is dangerous. It's less dangerous with a Kindergartener, but it's still not something that should happen in schools unless there's truly no other choice.

It is dealing with the bat-shit crazy parents like you who make teachers leave the profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really know these parents, I would certainly mention to them that their child seemed to have a really rough day at school and they should try and understand why she was so upset at the singalong.
To be mad at a K teacher because she moved the kid away from the situation that was upsetting her (and away from all the other kids who were behving and trying to have a good experience) is something I just don't understand.
You really want the K teacher to do breathing exercises (or other "social emotional exercise" whatever the heck that even means) with this kid smack in the middle of the singalong? I don't think that would have been very effective anyway.

A few clarifications, this is a private school. There are 11 students and 2 teachers. It prides itself on a strong social-emotional foundation based on the Responsive Classroom curriculum. This was right after school started, not at the sing along, happening right outside the classroom.

I understand what many are saying in that teachers need to be able to get their classroom on track for the sake of the other students. However, I do think other tactics could have been used other than forcibly carrying a girl who was resisting. All in all, I appreciate the feedback but I do stand by my gut.

Thank you to all who replied.

-OP

If you think a private school should have handled it differently why not ask in the private school forum?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the teacher acted in the best interest of the child-- moving her away in an effort to calm her down. This wasn't physical force being used as punishment.

[Anonymous]

You can't win with nutty parents. If the girl was left in the hallway alone she could wander off and leave the school, which is more dangerous. The teacher needed to teach the other students in the class so the teacher placed the girl inside the classroom. She didn't pin her down to the ground. She moved her three feet from outside the door of the classroom to inside so she would be SAFE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One clown should not be allowed to halt the circus.

I don't teach ES, but four separate times in my public school teaching career, my students and I have been forced to evacuate a classroom because a disruptive student refused to leave and no adult was able to make the student exit. There is a special frustration in losing instructional time for 29 students as you wander the halls looking for an empty classroom while admin and security try to cajole one child into leaving. I know I am not the only teacher this has happened to. As recently as this school year, my students warned me to never ask "Larlo" to take his binder off the desk. They said that last year, they all had to leave a classroom because he trashed it after a teacher told him to place his binder on a window shelf during a test.

I'm sorry this has happened, but every year in this country, hundreds of people die because someone moved or restrained them.

Restraining people, and that includes picking them up and moving them, is dangerous. It's less dangerous with a Kindergartener, but it's still not something that should happen in schools unless there's truly no other choice.

It is dealing with the bat-shit crazy parents like you who make teachers leave the profession.

I'm not a bat-shit crazy parent, I'm a teacher with a specialty in emotional disturbance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One clown should not be allowed to halt the circus.

I don't teach ES, but four separate times in my public school teaching career, my students and I have been forced to evacuate a classroom because a disruptive student refused to leave and no adult was able to make the student exit. There is a special frustration in losing instructional time for 29 students as you wander the halls looking for an empty classroom while admin and security try to cajole one child into leaving. I know I am not the only teacher this has happened to. As recently as this school year, my students warned me to never ask "Larlo" to take his binder off the desk. They said that last year, they all had to leave a classroom because he trashed it after a teacher told him to place his binder on a window shelf during a test.

I'm sorry this has happened, but every year in this country, hundreds of people die because someone moved or restrained them.

Restraining people, and that includes picking them up and moving them, is dangerous. It's less dangerous with a Kindergartener, but it's still not something that should happen in schools unless there's truly no other choice.

It is dealing with the bat-shit crazy parents like you who make teachers leave the profession.

I'm not a bat-shit crazy parent, I'm a teacher with a specialty in emotional disturbance.

That makes me feel better, do you work in ECE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One clown should not be allowed to halt the circus.

I don't teach ES, but four separate times in my public school teaching career, my students and I have been forced to evacuate a classroom because a disruptive student refused to leave and no adult was able to make the student exit. There is a special frustration in losing instructional time for 29 students as you wander the halls looking for an empty classroom while admin and security try to cajole one child into leaving. I know I am not the only teacher this has happened to. As recently as this school year, my students warned me to never ask "Larlo" to take his binder off the desk. They said that last year, they all had to leave a classroom because he trashed it after a teacher told him to place his binder on a window shelf during a test.

I'm sorry this has happened, but every year in this country, hundreds of people die because someone moved or restrained them.

Restraining people, and that includes picking them up and moving them, is dangerous. It's less dangerous with a Kindergartener, but it's still not something that should happen in schools unless there's truly no other choice.

It is dealing with the bat-shit crazy parents like you who make teachers leave the profession.

I'm not a bat-shit crazy parent, I'm a teacher with a specialty in emotional disturbance.

That makes me feel better, do you work in ECE?

Not currently, but I did for the majority of my career.

I'm also a parent, I picked up my kids against their will as toddlers. It's almost impossible to parent without it. But in the classroom, there are other, better, safer choices in almost every circumstance. My post above was in response to what was clearly a secondary teacher, and the risks of physical restraint are obviously higher when the kid is bigger, but I strongly support very clear guidances about when physical management is appropriate, and neither what the OP describes, nor what the PP at the top of this post describes is a situation that warrants putting hands on kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One clown should not be allowed to halt the circus.

I don't teach ES, but four separate times in my public school teaching career, my students and I have been forced to evacuate a classroom because a disruptive student refused to leave and no adult was able to make the student exit. There is a special frustration in losing instructional time for 29 students as you wander the halls looking for an empty classroom while admin and security try to cajole one child into leaving. I know I am not the only teacher this has happened to. As recently as this school year, my students warned me to never ask "Larlo" to take his binder off the desk. They said that last year, they all had to leave a classroom because he trashed it after a teacher told him to place his binder on a window shelf during a test.

I'm sorry this has happened, but every year in this country, hundreds of people die because someone moved or restrained them.

Restraining people, and that includes picking them up and moving them, is dangerous. It's less dangerous with a Kindergartener, but it's still not something that should happen in schools unless there's truly no other choice.

It is dealing with the bat-shit crazy parents like you who make teachers leave the profession.

I'm not a bat-shit crazy parent, I'm a teacher with a specialty in emotional disturbance.

That makes me feel better, do you work in ECE?

Not currently, but I did for the majority of my career.

I'm also a parent, I picked up my kids against their will as toddlers. It's almost impossible to parent without it. But in the classroom, there are other, better, safer choices in almost every circumstance. My post above was in response to what was clearly a secondary teacher, and the risks of physical restraint are obviously higher when the kid is bigger, but I strongly support very clear guidances about when physical management is appropriate, and neither what the OP describes, nor what the PP at the top of this post describes is a situation that warrants putting hands on kids.

You could have KILLED them! I hope you voluntarily relinquished custody to the state, there are safer choices!

[Anonymous]

In public education (at least in my state), there are very clear and specific guidelines and training about any physical contact allowed with students. I am curious if the same is not required in private schools.

[Anonymous]

People, this is a 5 year old who didn't want to sing. Not an emotionally disturbed 16 year old. Pick the kid up and deal with her. This isnt fucking rocket science.

2 years ago she was sitting in her own shit in a diaper. OP you are over reacting. Move on, nothing to see here.

[Anonymous]

The rules regarding restraints were written for special ed kids not 5 year old kindergarten students who are crying outside the door of the kindergarten classroom. I am a school psychologist and in the fall I get called to deal with a few kindergarten students who are crying outside the kinder classroom. Often times they won't let go of their parent. If the parent is there we have the parent carry the child into the classroom then the teacher or I hold the student as the parent leaves. If the parent leaves student outside the door and the student is crying and won't move we try talking first but usually it doesn't work. We gently move the student a few feet into the classroom. Most kids calms down in 5 to 10 minutes. There is a big difference between a crying kinder student and an emotionally disturbed student. We never move ED students (unless they are in a dangerous place like the middle of the street) we wait them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The rules regarding restraints were written for special ed kids not 5 year old kindergarten students who are crying outside the door of the kindergarten classroom. I am a school psychologist and in the fall I get called to deal with a few kindergarten students who are crying outside the kinder classroom. Often times they won't let go of their parent. If the parent is there we have the parent carry the child into the classroom then the teacher or I hold the student as the parent leaves. If the parent leaves student outside the door and the student is crying and won't move we try talking first but usually it doesn't work. We gently move the student a few feet into the classroom. Most kids calms down in 5 to 10 minutes. There is a big difference between a crying kinder student and an emotionally disturbed student. We never move ED students (unless they are in a dangerous place like the middle of the street) we wait them out.

I have never worked in a place where the rules said they didn't apply to kindergarteners. What state are you in that the law makes that distinction?

In my experience, kindergarteners with separation anxiety can easily be handled without being picked up. Since it wasn't legal where I worked, we came up with other strategies. For starters, why not ask the parents leave them inside the classroom, taking away the need to move them?

[Anonymous]

You sound like a major busybody OP. Get over yourself.

Emotional tools? Reporting them and checking policies? Who has time for this? Get over yourself

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really know these parents, I would certainly mention to them that their child seemed to have a really rough day at school and they should try and understand why she was so upset at the singalong.
To be mad at a K teacher because she moved the kid away from the situation that was upsetting her (and away from all the other kids who were behving and trying to have a good experience) is something I just don't understand.
You really want the K teacher to do breathing exercises (or other "social emotional exercise" whatever the heck that even means) with this kid smack in the middle of the singalong? I don't think that would have been very effective anyway.

A few clarifications, this is a private school. There are 11 students and 2 teachers. It prides itself on a strong social-emotional foundation based on the Responsive Classroom curriculum. This was right after school started, not at the sing along, happening right outside the classroom.

I understand what many are saying in that teachers need to be able to get their classroom on track for the sake of the other students. However, I do think other tactics could have been used other than forcibly carrying a girl who was resisting. All in all, I appreciate the feedback but I do stand by my gut.

Thank you to all who replied.

-OP

Lesson learned: sometimes words are a poor substitute for witnessing a situation. For us, we see a disruptive child who was removed to a spot where she could perhaps calm down without disturbing the others (too bad that didn't work, or maybe it did but she started crying again). Maybe you were uncomfortable at the non-verbal body language displayed by the teacher: casual disregard for this child's emotional state. But it's hard to put into words.

Honestly, it's minor enough that I would let it go. Observe the teacher from now on and if you see something like this again, speak up.