Just when you thought you’ve seen everything…
Administrators at Fairmount Park Elementary in her St. Petersburg, Fla., had a 5 year-old girl arrested for doing what many 5 year-olds do – having a tantrum. What’s different about this case is that most of the action just so happed to be caught on videotape.
According to 10News, the child wound up in handcuffs and leg restraints, which Police say was an appropriate response. The state’s attorney apparently disagreed and refused to prosecute the five year old. ABC News quotes the attorney for the family of the girl:
“The police officers’ actions are way over the top. Three police officers having to forcibly handcuff a 5-year-old little girl? I mean, come on,” said John Trevena, the family’s attorney. “Is there anything more that needs to be said about that?”
He was also critical of the actions of Dibenedetto and Tsaousis, who he said could have done more to calm the girl.
“I’m concerned that the educators shadowed and hovered around the young girl,” he said. “It certainly gives credence to the argument that they may have been provoking her to act out more. To me, it didn’t look like a de-escalation. It looked like an escalation, an attempt to get her to act out more. I just don’t understand why they didn’t distance themselves back further and allow things to cool off.”If you watch the video you’ll hear this quote from one of the three officers who “Do you remember me?” one of them asks the girl. “I’m the one who told your mom I’d put handcuffs on you.”
I watched through all of the video tapes, and a much as I want to give the benefit of the doubt to the school, there’s nothing on the tape that warrants the police treatment, in fact there’s nothing on the tape that warrants police presence. The initial outburst occurs before the first tape starts, but as the parent of two stubborn 3 1/2 year old boys there wasn’t anything on those tapes I’d never seen before, which I imagine is true for many of you as well.
What do you think?
Classroom Video [SPTimes]
Office Video [SPTimes]
Police Handcuff 5-Year-Old After Tantrum [ABC]
Video of 5-year-old getting arrested, leaving school in handcuffs [10 News]
Sorry, except for that taunting statement, which is completely inexcusable. Chalk that up to immaturity by whoever said it but the actions are what are key here and their actions are sensible and required.
Mike said:
“And wavemaker I think that is where you can tell this girl does not have the same condition that your boy does. The moment she sees the police she sits down at the table and becomes silent and still. She now knows she has gone too far.”
Good observation, Mike — you may be right. But I have had the police visit my home here, as a result of my son calling 911 in one of his states. As soon as he saw the uniformed guys enter his house, he fell silent (not in control, just silent) and placid.
I must say that, reviewing the descriptions of how the school personnel treated the situation, they did a good job — if the teachers in my public schools had learned the techniques used by this teacher, my son may not have to be attending a special ed school for autistic kids.
I think Hector is right on the mark, the police were called in when they shouldn’t have been because teachers are now afraid they’ll get sued if they lay one finger on any child, whether to restrain them or even comfort an upset child, this way the cops will get sued instead….
on the other hand, I think times have changed
I don’t remember any kids going kamikazi when I was in the early grades of school, there is a difference between tantrum and kamikazi and I hear this kid went kamikazi, tearing the classroom apart, hitting the teacher, which may be symptomatic of some deeper issues (abuse? neglect?)
but my neice went to a private school for her early grades and there was this one sad pathetic kid, from wealthy parents, who was a disaster, he threatened to kill my neice, he wasn’t tiolet trained at age 4, he had tantrums almost every day, he threatened most of the girls and did hit them on occasion, they finally kicked him out of the school – which is a luxury of a private school, you can get rid of troublemakers, the next serial killer lives…..
now given the girl was calm when they arrived, were handcuffs necessary but I agree with another poster, the remark from the police officer suggests that perhaps the mother had warned the daughter that if she misbehaved again she would tell the police to handcuff her, and perhaps the mother had told the police to do so….
what do you want to bet this is the case but that won’t stop momma from suing the police because most people are appalled and she can get some bucks out of it – how about the police insurers agree to a settlement provided the money goes into counselling the parents and the kid….
the more interesting question is this, will this kid throw another tantrum in school again or was she sufficently terrified, but if the parents sue the police and she comprehends that, I suspect that will negate any lesson learned….too bad perhaps?
My older sister teaches 3rd grade in Newark, NJ, and some children are truly out of control. They have never been properly disciplined growing up, and more and more parents expect a school…to teach their children proper standards of behavior, respect etc…
The problem with that child started at home, and it’s not about medicating these children. Ritalin is waaaaay over-prescribed because people are too lazy to RAISE their children properly.
Kids eat sugared cereal, add more sugar to it, drink a coke, and then come to class. Of COURSE they can’t sit still or pay attention, but that’s not ADD, that an improper DIET…
Medicating children is a one size fits all solution (that lines the pockets of big pharma.) And is RARELY needed….and the future potentially psychotic mental effects of being medicated from the age of five haven’t BEGUN to be explored…
What the heck is going on? I have ridden on planes with unruly children. I see them in supermarkets and toy stores, in restaurants and at churches. Usually they are caucasian children and the parents are there. I dont notice anyone calling the police on them and trust me some of them needed it. I DONT CARE what kind of parent a child has who is five years old, I DO NOT ever want to see five year olds in handcuffs. If the child is that unruly call an ambulance and have the child sedated and committed for evaluation. Call child protective services and file a complaint that the child is at risk. NOTHING in that video makes handcuffing that five year old acceptable rational behavior. Dont give me that you feel sorry for the teachers and police thing. I am sure that they have all had children who have misbehaved at one point or another and children DO misbehave. It would have NEVER dawned on them to cuff their own children or relatives children. There is not a teacher in that school who would allow it to happen to a child whom was a relative of theirs.
This was clearly a case of some adults with axes to grind trying to get even with the mother when all else has failed. You mean it didnt dawn on them to simply expel her and tell her mother to come and get her? And if the mother didnt come then calling the local authorities to get the mother? If you are parents YOU KNOW what kids are like from time to time. If you are not parents YOU KNOW in spite of all the beatings and discipline you received you misbehaved. Or else how could you say that if YOU acted a certain way your mother or father would have done this or that? You were NOT perfect when you were five and you are not perfect now. So are you saying that this child is somehow a worse individual than you yourself are? So then what do you deserve? The question is not whether or not the child needs discipline. The question is WHO disciplines and to WHAT extent. The only other place I would guess this would have been acceptable was in NAZI German. But In the land of the free and the home of the brave? Its downright sick. This was not a police matter. Why the police? It was used as a tactic to scare the little girl into behaving. And when she was sitting quietly why cuff her? Why not simply call child protective services then or an ambulance? Or the mother? It was to inflict a punishment because at that point there was no need to cuff her. It was downright sick. Say did they read her her rights?
Do so many here not understand? The school was put in the ludicrous position of having “school security” officers handcuff a child doubtless because of PRIOR LITIGATION and FEAR OF DEVASTATING JUDGMENTS for disciplining children. They didn’t dare lay a spanking hand on the spoiled hellion.
Something also tells me, in a school that has walkie-talkies and security officers, there’s a written code of behavior and punishment, doubtless acknowledged, agreed to and signed by the parents, which clearly sets out the possibility of physical restraint by officers if the child is out of control and a parent does not immediately come and remove the child from the school. This almost certainly is a contract and waiver issue. So cut the crap about out-of-control-Florida and Angie’s PETA-like “physical discipline is torture, and a failure of the parent” fluff.
Unbelievable! The police did no wrong. Obviously this “Brat” is a headcase that recieves absolutely no discipline at home. The mother should also be cuffed and charged with neglect. Yes, I believe raising a child without teaching “IT” how to act or behave is in fact neglect. Simplest solution is to expel the child and let Darwinism run it’s course.
I’m sure that bleeding heart clueless liberals, like `What the Heck` as well as others will disagree with this. But they don’t seem to realize that the views of living in their ideal “Utopia” just isn’t feasible. Liberals are the most responsible party for the breakdown of morality.
No, I’m not a Republican, or a Democrat. I actually look at the issues, weigh the merits and vote accordingly. Unlike what you might be led to believe “I Care”
This child obviously doesn’t!!!
I can’t believe that you are all saying that what this child needs is to be hit by an adult. How is that going to teach her anything at all, other then it is OK for a 200 pound person to physically abuse her? Where is your compassion. Five year olds have tantrums. They should have helped her to find a quiet place to tantrum, and then let it go. It is good to know that apparently none of you EVER had a good tantrum when you were growing up, your parents must have been so proud.
mmm. definitely. the liberal conspiracy has ruined good, old-fashioned education in this country where we could beat the shit out of all those little snotrags who didn’t know how to hop-to fast enough. man, if only we could bring back corporal punishment, everything would be better. it’s amazing how much regular beatings improve a child’s behavior… good, god-fearing children never ever misbehave, you see, because they know their parents will beat the crap out of them. must be nice…
Great thats it call me a liberal without even knowing me. It still does not negate the fact that hog tying a Five Year Old over a Jelly Bean Game is WRONG. You know what I find telling is that you “Fucking Liberals” claim to care. About what? Ohhhhhh YOUR OWN OPINION. For the record I am not a liberal. I am not against discipline. I believe the punishment should fit the crime. I support the death penalty hey I would support it for those who havent even killed anybody a mere attempt to take anothers life is enough for me. But I DO NOT support a POLICE STATE and arresting five year olds for misbehaving in school is RIDICULOUS. I see that you are completely without sin Fucking Liberals and your choice of grammar is evident of that. You know I believe in biblical times they could cut your tongue out for such innappropriate language. Or maybe you too can be arrested… I find it hard to believe that you would even attempt to call this a liberal issue. Don’t try to use the tactic that so many fake conservatives use to brand people they disagree with. I know the difference. Don’t try to make this a Democrat or Republic issue. Or have you not noticed five year olds are not allowed to vote. This is cut and dry five year olds may require 1) time outs 2) no television 3) spankings 4) physical restraint. They do not require being bent over a table by TWO or THREE police officers and cuffed. If you can not see that there is more to this picture than meets the eye. A) If the police had been to the school before concerning the child why not EXPULSION? Or how bout this? How did she get to school that day? Was it on a bus? Does everyone hold the same opinion of this child that you do? I am sure she has come in contact with other people. Do you think that neighbors or church goers or her pediatrician see her as an obvious satan spawn requiring police arrests and restraint in the same manner as umm okay Scott Peterson or John Couey? She is still a FIVE YEAR OLD who basically needed at best a mother present and some intensive counseling and at worse a mother present, a spanking and some intensive counseling. NOT in my conservative thinking something as extreme as being cuffed and not read her rights. Which I did not notice on the tape and frankly before you cuff someone be it a toddler or kindergartener you should follow the letter of the law and read them their rights. But wouldnt it be ridiculous to read rights to a FIVE YEAR OLD?
So many simple-minded and uncaring judgments out there. It is possible to be caring and have the child’s best interests at heart and still remain in authority. These pathetic teachers were none of the above. If there’s backstory revealed in the cop’s comments, there’s also backstory revealed in the teacher’s stupidity and utter inability to manage the kid’s behavior. This didn’t start here–as a previous thread stated, the kid knew who was in control, and it wasn’t the hovering 200-pound white woman yapping at her. And you all are fortunate to have jobs in which you have the freedom to declare that you are leaving early because the school called. I mean, perhaps the mother was just blowing off her responsibilities, but perhaps she would have lost her (probably minimum-wage) job had she cut out. At least reserve the possibility of having some empathy. The authoritarian, come-down-on-them, show em who’s boss mentality may instill civil order, but it certainly does not instill civility and respect for one another. The girl is 5. She has limited means to express her anger and limited means of getting herself under control. What she learned is that using her Voice will get her squashed by big white people with guns.
It is good to know that apparently none of you EVER had a good tantrum when you were growing up, your parents must have been so proud.
I never, ever saw any kid act out like this one did when I was in grade school. (And yes, I went to public school. And it wasn’t in the 40s either, but rather the late 70s.) If any kid had acted like this in my kindergarten, ripping things off the walls in a total rampage, they would have been dragged off to the principal’s office by the teacher (with as much force as needed), and probably transferred into special ed, never to be seen by the rest of us again.
Tantrums are when you yell and stomp your feet and act petulant. This kid was screeching and committing outright violence.
Erin and Sarah have pretty much displayed how our feel good, politically correct social/education workers have redefined the act of spanking of our children. To think that a good spanking could be termed physical abuse or that light forms of corporal punishment can be labeled beating the snot/shit out of our kids is ridiculous. I’m so sick of hearing about ADD and people trying to talk it out with bratty, spoiled kids. We have become a society where we are afraid to discipline our kids the way we were disciplined. THere is too much litigation and not enough personal responsibility.
In regards to this incident, I can understand why the police were called and why the handcuffs were placed on her. It is all in the name of liability and not wanting to get sued, which is obscene but necessary. A parent should have been there immediately, unfortunately the parent(s) seem to be part of the problem as well. The girl would have most likely reacted the same way when her mom and/or dad walked into that office (that is if this girl respects her parents), but since her mother couldn’t be bothered until 3 o’clock, the cops had to take care of this the only way they know how.
Think how much time and energy was spent on one little girl. Her mother should be paying extra for her daughter’s education. All the other students in that class had to wait in the hall. If my daughter were in that class I would be concerned about the amount of down time she was getting due to pitter-patting around with a disruptive child.
How many uneducated people do we have in this world? Too many. You don’t repay a 5-year old’s bad behavior with spanking or corporal punishment. It doesn’t work. All of those who think it does need to visit our Prisons and talk with the prisoners to see just how great their childhood’s were. This child needed to be protected not arrested. She was obviously in distress but the distress I believe in reviewing the tapes was brought on by the teacher. If the teacher doesn’t now how to control a 5-year old, then God help her! This teacher needs to go back to school and learn about new techniques. She obviously made the situation worse by her actions and non-actions. The proper actions would have been to isolate the child, call the parents, and call in trained medical staff….not turn a video camera and say “look at me, I did everything right and this child is just plain BAD!” which bless her soul she is not. This is behaviorism at its worst for both the adult and the child. The child had an excuss….she’s 5 years old! What are the adult’s excuses???? THEY’RE JUST PLAIN STUPID! We should arrest them for their stupidness!!
Although Kevin linked to two sptimes videos, he didn’t link to the paper’s article.
During an interview of the mother in her home, “her three children rambled through the apartment. The girl, the oldest child, rode a pink bicycle through the living room, one of the training wheels missing. Her brother got up on a table and swatted a light fixture, laughing.” [emp ed.]
Despite the hype, I don’t think the school or law enforcement should be blamed. The fault seems to be a mother who lets her children do whatever the heck they want, and then tries to blame somebody else.
The money quote from the article (http://tinyurl.com/bw795) may be: “They set my baby up.”
In order to respond to comments by some people I know, does anyone know if the mother is gainfully employed, or is she on welfare? Also, does she live in public housing? My contention is that just because of this incident she does not have to fall in that group, but some I tale to do not believe me.
Absolutely astonishing that there are posters here that refuse to condone the school or the police for these actions. Regardless of the girls back ground I’m flabbergasted that the teachers felt this kind of action was needed and that 3 police officers went ahead and handcuffed her.
This a sad indication of the direction society is moving here in the US. As a New Zealander nearing the end of my tenure I can say it is with great relief that myself and family will shortly be returning. In 5 years here I’ve yet to have experienced a society that so malignantly denies responsibility for itself as the US. This episode is yet another symptom of the cancer that steadily grows in this country. When we came in 2000 we were anxious to see all our misconceptions about the US dispelled but alas, 5 years on we leave with misconceptions confirmed as hard truths. Good luck for the future, Lord knows you need it America !!!
Amazing how expert people are who have never walked in the school’s shoes, or raised children, or…imagine this….weren’t there.
I wasn’t there. I haven’t raised a child. But I am a public school teacher – oh, and not a democrat. This child is acting out in an inappropriate manner. Obviously, she has no idea how to deal healthily with her anger. And here she is in school.
And since it is a public school, everyone’s hands are tied by the PC police. So, no, they can’t do much with a child who is not ready for school, except refer to the parents…which apparently was done.
In this case, from what the officer said, this is nothing new for the child. And obviously, the Mother is aware of her behavior, AND of the consequences should the child do it again.
So, for a moment, let’s quit playing the blame game, get out of the judgement seat, and look at it for what it is. A child out of control, in a public institution that MUST follow the rules, with no legal means to handle her, being handled by a police officer that obviously knows the child, the Mother, and has dealt with this before. The only reason everyone’s panties are in a wad is because it is on video tape.
If you must sit in the judgement seat, then observe the child. Children learn what they live, and here’s what she’s learned to do when she is angry. The school is not the home, nor can it BE the home, mother, or whatever is lacking in the child’s life. Obviously the school contacted the parent…and here we have a man who knows the child and is at least one person following through with some consistency in her life. Maybe this man is the only father figure this girl has. Maybe the Mother even called this man. For whatever reason, the chld has learned an innapropriate response. She was warned of the consequences, and now, she is reaping what she has sowed.
It’s called ‘real life’.
This isn’t “real life” , this is “American life” 2 entirely seperate concepts. Only here would you find a member of the education sytem that feels 3 police officers HANDCUFFING a 5 yr old child appropriate. Like I said America , best of luck, with people like this responsible for your children your going to need it !!!
I think they did everything CORRECTLY…if the girls mother was to busy to come and control her child then they had to call someone to do it, they could have controled her themselves and then they would have been accused of child abuse.
MOM IS THE REASON THE CHILD IS THIS WAY IN THE FIRST PLACE – TO BUSY TO DISIPLINE YOUR CHILD!
Real life is reaping what you sow. In this particular part of America, sir, this particular child was apparently told she would get handcuffed by this particular man, who then followed through. This is her life. Her real life.
The problem with America is that personal responsibility and being held personally accountable is no longer PC…and the real abomination is PC rules. Everyone blames someone or something else. I agree with you sir. You made your point. I was not arguing with you. Neither was I referring to you.
you cannot let the child “de-escalate”, this places the power to control the situation in the hcild’s hands. The administrators need to display their power and forcibly display it if needed. The child was likely not being punished appropriately at home and the state had to step it.
this kid needs a spanking! with a belt! worked for me, so why not it work for her?
Richard, you said initially:
“Absolutely astonishing that there are posters here that refuse to condone the school or the police for these actions. Regardless of the girls back ground I’m flabbergasted that the teachers felt this kind of action was needed and that 3 police officers went ahead and handcuffed her.”
Obviously, you meant “refuse to criticize” or “condone,” not “refuse to condone.”
But since we are in such dire need of assistance in this matter, how does a public school teacher in New Zealad handle a child in the circumstance. Specifically what was it that the teacher did wrong in dealing with this girl?
Several Points Of View
Generally Kids Who Act up at this age (in a Violent Manner around Adults), Usually don’t have a father in the house, More Likely than not, The Mother Doesn’t Watch the Child, and Thirdly The Mother Usually Beats the Child When She See’s Something She Doesn’t like whether the child is at fault or not; causing the child to have a hard time understanding the right and wrong way to act when in a confrontation.
I believe a child should be told that they are going to be Spanked if they don’t quit being bad, I believe that you must never Bluff a child. If they Do not Stop, and you do not act on it. Then they will never believe that a punishment is ever going to happen. And then they will act however they want.
I don’t believe all Adults about the Behavior of Children.
Now, a marble isn’t really anything big to get mad about, but Theft is…
From an experience I had when I was a child I will never take a teachers word as the Absolute truth… Here is what happens. It’s the 2nd Grade, Marble Season, I was playing marbles with another kid, and I won. The kid took both marbles, and pretended to throw them down across the playground, at this point I did what a small child is supposed to do… I told the Teacher. the teacher tells the kid that he has to look all over the playground for the marble, that’s when he pulls it out of his pocket, showing that he stole it… at this point the teacher tells him to hand it over, (here I am dumb thinking that she intends to give it back to me) then she says that she is going to keep it and put it in her Jar to give out to the good kid of the week… (WHAT!) So he steals it from me, then she steals it from me… I argue that its mine and she should give it back… she says no. and get back in line….
Walking back I shout You F*CKING B*TCH… at this point she asks me what I said, so I repeat it… word for word… So I go to the principal’s office… The principal asks me what I said… So I repeat it … Word for word… Then my parents come to get me (I’m being suspended for the Theft of my marble) apparently the Teacher and the Principal lied… they said that I said “I’m gonna kick your a**” so they take that as a threat and Suspend me… So here is honest proof that a child who’s mad about The Theft of his Property, Who Did the Right Thing by reporting the Theft, Got Screwed by a Lying Teacher and A Lying Principal. Don’t always believe the adults Folks.
As a teacher, I’m interested to know how all these people who suggest “putting her in a room by herself” plan on getting her into the room. Obviously, the teachers are not allowed to lay a hand on the child —– due to ridiculous and inadequate educational statutes. Do you think she’s going to go to that room of her own free will?
Wave, Thank you for pointing out my grammatical error.
What really chills me to the bone is that you and millions of others honestly see no wrong in the image portrayed here. A 5 year old, thats FIVE years old , not 15, is handcuffed by 3 police officers, are you so emotionally numb that you honestly feel that the correct course was followed here for a , let me repeat this again “FIVE” year old having a tantrum.
Armed police officers, restraining this 5 yr old by the hands and feet and you ask what exactly did the teacher do wrong !! I guess if you can’t see it then you are beyond help.
A good spanking never killed any child. This child needed it. The problem in our society is that beating a child abusively is always equated with spanking a child and they are two different things. The other problem with our society is that no one is responsible for anything they do, and as long as we hold to this mental attitude, the breakdown of our society will get progressively worse (can anyone say Roman Empire? – once a great world power as well).
I would like to know what started this child’s tantrum and if she is allowed to act like that at home. If her mother allows her to show disrespect in the home (and I would bet a week’s wages there is no father in the house), then why would anyone expect this child to show respect when outside of the home?
Seeing this behavior doesn’t surprise me. I actually expect it to get much worse since parents aren’t allowed to use any type of physical discipline and soon any type of discipline at all. It amazes me that the folks championing against discipline and who have Master’s degrees and PhDs and who come from and era when spanking was accepted turn around and tell today’s parent that it is wrong to physically discipline their children, but then refuse any repsonsibility when these undisciplined children act like animals. Why can’t these Master degreed and PhDs use their so-called superior knowledge to see the correlation between discipline and respect = good behavior and good future as opposed to no discipline and disrespect = violent, disruptive behavior and a non-productive future?
Richard,
Of course we see what’s wrong here. No one feels a child should be handcuffed. No one feels a child should come into school and throw the kind of tantrum she did. No one feels the child should have a mother that can’t or won’t control her children. No one feels we should have a public school system that is so hamstrung by PC policy it cannot lay ANY kind of hands on a child…not even restraining ones….without a threat of lawsuit. No one thinks ANY of this is how it SHOULD be. It all sucks.
Feel better now?
The thing is, it is WHAT IS for this situation. For good or bad, that is WHAT HAPPENED. The only saving grace here is there was at least one adult in this child’s life who was bigger than she; the guy that said he was going to handcuff her, and then did. And the ONLY reason this is positive is this poor kid has NO ONE in her life BIGGER than her tantrums. She gets away with this behavior. And no, the schools cannot do what is needed. THAT is reality!
I’m still waiting for you to tell us what New Zealand would do. Seriously.
In fact, enlighten me on what you had heard about the US that makes it so bad. I’m truly curious. As a US citizen, I have no other perspective. I do, however, have serious problems with the prevailing society in the public institutions. But as a working member of that institution, I know that I have NO power to change it for the simple matter that it IS a public/government institution.
the handcuffs were for everyones protection, the girls included. You can’t just put her alone in a room, how insane is that!??! A kid going nuts, and you leave her alone in a room w/o supervision? And the cops couldn’t control her, sure the chances of something happening are remote but then again do you want to be the one to explain to the officer that his eye was clawed out by an out of control child accidentally and he shouldn’t feel so bad about it?
Richard, come down from your supposed high and mighty perch, you egotistical twit. All you have done is derided this country, explained how bad this all is and how wrong it is, but have refused to impart on us any sort of New Zealand wisdom in how to handle this matter.
And people, can we stop calling this a tantrum. Have you seen the videos, this was no tantrum. This girl was being destructive and seemingly on the edge of violence. We haven’t seen everything, but we also don’t know everything that has led to the handcuffing. Obviously, this girl has seen and been spoken to by this police officer before. That is why he says to her I’m the one who told your mom I’d put handcuffs on you. Like Ministeve said (before his painfully off-topic story about his own childhood) you can’t bluff a child, that is why the cop had to use the handcuffs this time. Hopefully this will teach her a valuable lesson. One she is not learning at home.
I know this situation could have been handled differently, but until we can learn from our superiors of New Zealand, I guess will just keep repeating this.
2 Things.
1. It seems that most people misheard the cop who spoke to the girl. Most people seem to think he said “Do you remember me? I’m the one who told your mom I’d put handcuffs on you.”
When he actually said “Do you remember me? I’m the one you told your mom put handcuffs on you.”
2. I think the cuffs were over the top and the cops should have handled it differently. However, the entire scene points to a much larger problem that we have in our schools right now. This is how children behave when they know that there is no recourse for their actions. As long as educators have no real way to discipline students events such as this will only become more prevelant. I am disgusted that people are making this BRAT out to be a victim because she’s not. In the end all I can say is that the girl in the video is very lucky that she is not my daughter.
It’s amazing how many people commenting are teachers and also some of them are psychopaths masquarading amongst you. I am suprised the cops just didn’t shoot the kid as that what some would like to have seen, hell get the kids address and you can have a lynching party as she deserved it. As for a 5 year old taking out a big burly cops eye, what planet are some of you on.
No matter how you want to look at it it’s 3 cops thats right 3 cops holding down a 5 year old Black GIRL and handcuffing her along with leg restraints apparently. Now you may not know this but it’s made worldwide news as I saw it in the UK. Crime must be pretty low in that part of town if the cops have time to handcuff a 5 year old girl. I shouldn’t be suprised as you execute your kids there too, so whats new.
child abuse isnt quite the term for this Bullshit – id say its more like abusive behavior from a child. that little girl needs some jail time (and give that teacher an award, for putting up with all that)
shutup richard – i will complain when they put you (FIVE year old) in handcuffs…happy?
“As a teacher, I’m interested to know how all these people who suggest “putting her in a room by herself” plan on getting her into the room. Obviously, the teachers are not allowed to lay a hand on the child —– due to ridiculous and inadequate educational statutes. Do you think she’s going to go to that room of her own free will?”
The idea that it would have been abusive for a teacher to take hold of the girl when she was being violent and hold her until she stopped but that it’s not abusive to treat a five year old like an adult criminal seems really odd. If indeed that is the case, then it reinforces what I said earlier – there are more signs everyday that something is rotten in the state of Florida. Problem after ridiculous problem seems to be coming from that state. The problem is systemic. It’s not that the particular officer or particular teacher weren’t doing what they were supposed to, it’s that the expectations of all their positions led to such an absurdity. Certainly the parents had a role, but out of control courts and legislature created the legal situation where the teachers couldn’t reasonably react to a bad situation without it escalating to that point.
I first would like to start off as saying that the child was not having a tantrum she need to be left alone and it was plan to SEE that the principal was aggeratation the child SHE made the situation worst. The principal should be fired, cause she put on a good performance, little did she know that the tape that was supppose to help her, hurt her in the end. The principal needs to be sued, the cops need to be fired and sued and the school board needs to be sued and their policies need to change on handling a FIVE YEAR OLD. AND AS FOR THE COPS I WONDER IF THEY WOULD OF LIKED THEIR CHILD TO BE HANDLED IN THAT WAY.I know in my heart that if that was a white child the police would of never been there.And this is not a white black thing and I am not racist but why was all three officers white , and why did three officers needed to be there, and why did all three officers put their hands on her one would have been enough come on now .Im outraged at the cops and I wish to god that was my child cause trust and believe my picture would have been up there right along with my childs and it wouldnt have been pretty.And I really hope this childs mother pulled her out of this school. Oh how lucky they should feel that it wasnt one of my children. And I hope her mom gets everything she deserves and I really hope people think about there actions before they move and act. I have seen the video several time and that child wasnt doing anything a normal FIVE YEAR OLD does but talking back. That principal needs to be put in handcuffs, and think about this if her child was doing what she was doing would she accept that treatment for her child……..THINK BEFORE YOU ACT AND REALIZE THAT TIMES HAVE CHANGE, AND IF YOU DONT CHANGE WITH IT, YOU WILL BE IN A WORLD OF TROUBLE, like you are NOW…………….
and to shark you are so stupid cause that child was not going nuts look at the video you moron and please learn the difference between nuts and being aggervated. That principal had that video tape on and running and she created that whole episode and played it to be just what she wanted it to be.She knew exactly what that child was going to do and she MADE,YOU HEARD MADE IT HAPPEN …..
I think that 5-year old really lost her temper and acted like a psycho path. I’m sick and tired of hearing liberal phonies whine and gripe about how the principle and teachers weren’t suportive, how we’re suppose to understand the family back-ground, and how “mean” the police officers were while they handcuffed the girl. Believe it or not, the 5 year-old was given lots of chance to listen to the teacher to stop her tantrum and clean up her mess. But no, miss crybaby had to punch her teacher and also attempted to hit the principle on several occassion. Too bad the good ol’ paddle wasn’t used to shut that 5 year-old up. If I were the teacher, I would have strapped the girl to a chair and duct tape her mouth. I’m not an old fart who grew up in the 40s. I’m a young male, 23 years old, and don’t like the “lax” education system the USA has. I’m originally from Taiwan, and if you misbehave…even talk back to the teacher, you get spanked…period. I’m just appalled at how young students can behave in the US towards their elders. There’s just too much lawsuits against teachers and school administration these days in the US. This is what’s intimidating teachers and principles from rightfully punishing students who misbehave…and that 5 year-old is a classic example of a young psychopath who needed to be restrained by a police.
That child needed more than handcuffed! This morning I heard on the Today show that the mother of the child said her child was videotaped as some sort of setup. Give me a break woman!!! Nobody FORCED that child to hit another person or throw things! When are parents going to take responsibility for their child’s actions instead of blaming the rest of the world?! That mother should have supported what those officers did and reinforced it to her child instead of making like it’s some sort of setup or racial thing!
Someone asked about schools being gunshy of lawsuits… DAMN RIGHT! This mother is the REASON schools have to make videotapes of these kinds on incidents to protect their own ass!
If the police have had to deal with previous incidents involving this child or her parents’ (as indicated in a prior thread), then good for them for following through with taking the steps they warned they would!
In my day, I would have gotten a spanking at school, AND when I got home!!
My hat’s off to those officers and the school employees!!!!!!
WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND — SHE IS A FIVE-YEAR OLD GIRL.
Children are going to have tantrums! PERIOD!
You may not hear about them to that extent… but they do happen. Do any of you people have darling children?
Anyways, did any of you hear the videotaper person saying ‘Can we get more video’? That is totally fucked up. FUCKED TO THE MAX! This outrages me to think that this is happening in society.
The school had no right to do anything… call the parents and let them deal with it. The school employees seemed to try to encourage her. The girl was standing on the table and wanted to get down… so what did the teacher do? Put her down… When it was something okay that she was doing, they would help her. But they kept talking to her to egg her on.
I can’t think straight after I have seen this footage.
I’m sick of what this world is coming to. People are bastards.
The mother planned the whole thing to cash in on a lawsuit. Her ducks were already lined up and the event went off just as predicted, unless the little girl got into the mom’s stash of crack.
IMHO
April Wright:
You are the one who is acting racist in your reaction to this incident!! Got that? As well as others who see this as white cops doing something outrageous to a black girl. You april are the one bringing race into the equation.
Also, April, it is your reaction that is causing our schools to react the way they did in this incident. Your reaction is to sue and that the mom should get everything that is coming to her, obviously you mean money. That is absurd. The mom should be reprimanded as well as the child. The mom is being more negligent with her children than the cops or the teachers here. The fact is for you there would not have been any satisfactory handling of this situation. Whatever happened you would have cried SUE THE SCHOOLS AND THE POLICE, instead of focusing on the real problem which would be this child’s upbringing.
What you are seeing here is a result of people’s lack of personal responsibility and sue everyone for your misfortunes mentality. This mother deserves nothing! She should be scorned by her community for allowing her children to act this way.
samantha I don’t think you were thinking straight while watching the footage!
The girl was standing on the table and wanted to get down… so what did the teacher do? Put her down… When it was something okay that she was doing, they would help her.
What?? That’s not what I saw, I saw a kid climbing up on the table and being taken down multiple times by the teacher. This was no tantrum, this is a problem child! She is taking away time from every other student in that school. Obviously she can not be controlled by this school and needs special care (more likely a good spanking and some discipline in her life).
The school had no right to do anything… call the parents and let them deal with it.
Did you watch and listen to all of the videotape? They did call the mother, but she couldn’t be bothered to come until 3 PM. I’m not sure what time this little terror started her rampage, but it’s obvious that the mom couldn’t come right away. Interesting too that you think the school had no right to do anything, considering that is obviously what the school thinks too. They didn’t do anything, they let the cops take care of it.
the mom is probably like 15 years old, i mean, any child behaving like that never ever got disciplined. what the hell are people (APRIL WRIGHT) talking about??? boo hoo, that poor kid…at the age of 5 she knows how to pull off some very convincing crocodile tears, and her mommy wants some media publicity to make cash, to top out that crack bag (NEW DEVELOPMENT – was that kid tested for drugs??)
PS – April are you a teacher? What district, im never ever letting my kid go near you…
anyone have a link to the whole video?
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/22/Southpinellas/Video_shows_police_ha.shtml
the links for the video are right under the headline…
This incident is just more proof of the alarming increase in the number of irresponsible parents who probably should have given more thought to having a child in the first place. The 5 year old girl’s mother apparently expects the daughter’s teachers and school administrators to step in and take over parenting duties, but only on the mother’s terms.