New York Police Handcuff First-Grader

[IAN 2411]

What is the school supposed to do? If they try to discipline the child, the parents will be all over them for abuse. If they don't do anything, and another child gets hurt, parents will be all over them. So they call the police/social services, who come and do their jobs and the parents are all over them.

I will say that as the child was 6 years old the teacher was probably young with no children of her own. I doubt whether he/she has seen a child in a tantrum before unless it was he/she when they were a child. I am probably right in saying that because he/she stood back and let it go on because of his/her inept knowledge of childrens behaviour for so long is the reason why it got worse.

Of course, calling the parents to come and take care of their child might not do any good, either, since so many parents believe their child is a little angel and the school/police are overreacting.

That is a stupid argument. Are you telling me that if it was your child, that is what you would say? If not, then why would you think other parents would?

Was it necessary to handcuff her?

Probably by the time the police got there it was the safest option, for both child and police.

And remember, the police do have procedures, and if they put those procedures aside and something happened to the girl, the whole community would have been on their case. Seems like a no-win situation for all concerned.

I don’t think that I have ever heard of a case similar in the UK or Europe where a child of this age has been cuffed and taken to the police station and charged. I am in no doubt that when she was there she would be well looked after and I have no reason to think otherwise. Locked up in a cell! I take with a pinch of salt, and in this case I will take the police officers statement as fact. The Americans have made their laws so hard that there is no room for manoeuvre and I do sympathise with the police on that fact. I would think that if they called the social services to the school and they called the police, then that person in the social services should not be in that job.

I do agree with lucy that to be charged with assault and damage at six years old is a bit over the top. The mind boggles at the stupidity of that addition. I wonder what the minnimum sentence for that is when she goes in front of Judge Judy?

Be well IAN 2411