MCPS policies for parental notification when children are hit in school

[Anonymous]

My daughter's in first grade and has been hit several times in class last year and this year -- by three different kids, each of whom it seems like is struggling with some level of behavioral issues. The latest incident seemed pretty out of control. From what the kids are saying, one of their classmates had a meltdown, tore apart the classroom and hit several kids. The class was then evacuated and the kids spent the day in another room.

I've never gotten notified about these incidents from the teachers or the school.

I shrugged off the first two incidents (although I did reach out to the teachers to say: my daughter says she got hit, is that right? and talked to my child about always letting an adult know if someone hits you). But this latest incident has me concerned and questioning what the MCPS policy is around violence in school and notifying parents. It seems like this latest incident should rise to the level of parental notification.

Does anyone have a resource or MCPS policy they can point me to? I'm going to reach out to the teacher and principal, but I want to have some facts on hand.

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

It sounds like there is a conflict between what you expect and what the school can provide without compromising the privacy of a child with special needs. Was your child injured when this kid acted out? Did she go to the nurse?

[Anonymous]

You are totally right to be addressing this head-on. Other parents are probably also wondering what's going on there.

[Anonymous]

I would expect a note from the principal about a classroom evacuation. Of course it would be quite general due to privacy issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like there is a conflict between what you expect and what the school can provide without compromising the privacy of a child with special needs. Was your child injured when this kid acted out? Did she go to the nurse?

I know of an incident where the school failed to do much of anything effective, until a victimized child had to go to the emergency room.

Sounds like you're suggesting that until medical treatment is required, is ok to keep "trying" to get the wild child under control?

Please correct me.

[Anonymous]

My DD got punched during recess. The kid got a pink slip. I wasn't notified. DD told me, and she said she did cry, but it didn't require medical attention. I let it go.

But, if a classroom were evacuated, and/or this happened multiple times by the same kid? Yes, they should notify the parent.

[Anonymous]

I dont have a child in MCPS but will do in Sept.
This scares me, I have a friend with a 3rd grader being bullied at a MCPS, She didnt know half of what was going on until the kid told her.
I think the schools should spend more time teaching kids about respect and kindness, and then enforcing it.

[Anonymous]

OP's report is really outrageous.
This should not be tolerated.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what the policy is but generally I have not been notified of things like this either.

Some of this is not a matter of "teaching kids about respect and kindness." That's naive. Not to excuse it, but some of these kids have special needs.

Its not clear whether OPs child was actually hurt or not. Some battles just aren't worth fighting if you know what I mean.....

[Anonymous]

I believe they have to notify you when there is something like a head injury. Beyond that is anyone's guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like there is a conflict between what you expect and what the school can provide without compromising the privacy of a child with special needs. Was your child injured when this kid acted out? Did she go to the nurse?

I know of an incident where the school failed to do much of anything effective, until a victimized child had to go to the emergency room.

Sounds like you're suggesting that until medical treatment is required, is ok to keep "trying" to get the wild child under control?

Please correct me.

Well, I think it is complicated. A child for whom they had to clear the classroom very likely has some sort of behavioural management plan in place. As the parent of a 1st grader in MCPS, I would not expect to be notified if a situation was dealt with by the teacher/counselor and my child was uninjured.

I also would not expect to be notified if a child was out of control, but no one was hurt. I feel like the privacy of the child with the special needs trumps my desire to know every detail of my own child's day. I also have not had any reason to believe, at my child's school, that hitting is tolerated. It seems to be dealt with by the teacher/counselor/administration and therefore I don't need a special letter home unless my child was actually hurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like there is a conflict between what you expect and what the school can provide without compromising the privacy of a child with special needs. Was your child injured when this kid acted out? Did she go to the nurse?

I know of an incident where the school failed to do much of anything effective, until a victimized child had to go to the emergency room.

Sounds like you're suggesting that until medical treatment is required, is ok to keep "trying" to get the wild child under control?

Please correct me.

Well, I think it is complicated. A child for whom they had to clear the classroom very likely has some sort of behavioural management plan in place. As the parent of a 1st grader in MCPS, I would not expect to be notified if a situation was dealt with by the teacher/counselor and my child was uninjured.

I also would not expect to be notified if a child was out of control, but no one was hurt. I feel like the privacy of the child with the special needs trumps my desire to know every detail of my own child's day. I also have not had any reason to believe, at my child's school, that hitting is tolerated. It seems to be dealt with by the teacher/counselor/administration and therefore I don't need a special letter home unless my child was actually hurt.

They can let parents know that a classroom had to be evacuated due to unruly behavior of a child without naming names, but more than likely, you kid can tell you who the unruly kid is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would expect a note from the principal about a classroom evacuation. Of course it would be quite general due to privacy issues.

NP here. That is the least I would expect. My youngest is in a school with an ED program. She often has at least two kids from that program in her class periodically during the day (with one on one aides). She has come home and told me about things they have done in class, but I have never received correspondence from the school. However, nothing required the class be evacuated.

[Anonymous]

How long ago did the evacuation occur? What I find in MCPS (and I have kids from ES to HS currently in school), is that the day after an incident like this, a letter goes home to the entire school from the principal. I have gotten notices about many things - power outages, suspicious person in the parking lot, etc. As to getting hit, I have never been notified of anything like that unless my kid had to be seen by the health tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's in first grade and has been hit several times in class last year and this year -- by three different kids, each of whom it seems like is struggling with some level of behavioral issues. The latest incident seemed pretty out of control. From what the kids are saying, one of their classmates had a meltdown, tore apart the classroom and hit several kids. The class was then evacuated and the kids spent the day in another room.

I've never gotten notified about these incidents from the teachers or the school.

I shrugged off the first two incidents (although I did reach out to the teachers to say: my daughter says she got hit, is that right? and talked to my child about always letting an adult know if someone hits you). But this latest incident has me concerned and questioning what the MCPS policy is around violence in school and notifying parents. It seems like this latest incident should rise to the level of parental notification.

Does anyone have a resource or MCPS policy they can point me to? I'm going to reach out to the teacher and principal, but I want to have some facts on hand.

Thank you!!

My child is in first and this is just run of the mill at our school. Behavioral issues, special needs, etc.. are all combined in the classes now. Some kids get a 1on 1 aide and some don't. But either way, it can be very dangerous and challenging because the aide is just some joe smoe and doesn't have a special ed or behavioral degree. If you try to speak up in favor for more info or complain, they will tell you, you are against special needs assimulation and a horrible person. It is a no win situation. I am sorry this has happened. I would not be surprised if you don't get any info about the class evacuation.