Spank him!

[Tref]

GD, I think you'd make a fine office supervisor. Myself, I would have signed it anyway. I don't care. I'll deal with each issue as it is presented to me. Until then, the kid gets a good edu-macation.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Tref

GD, I think you'd make a fine office supervisor. Myself, I would have signed it anyway. I don't care. I'll deal with each issue as it is presented to me. Until then, the kid gets a good edu-macation.

But this lady never said, "I didn't know about the policy." She claims she never signed it. I'm not buying it. The spanking rule is part of the school's overall agreement, not a separate thing to sign. There's no WAY a school lets someone in without signing the agreement. And, according to administrators, they specifically mention the spanking thing and tell them that the other option is suspension. So she knew about it, and enrolled him anyway. I can't sympathize with her tears and outrage for dealing with exactly what she was told she would have to deal with.

[Tref]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

But this lady never said, "I didn't know about the policy." She claims she never signed it. I'm not buying it. The spanking rule is part of the school's overall agreement, not a separate thing to sign. There's no WAY a school lets someone in without signing the agreement. And, according to administrators, they specifically mention the spanking thing and tell them that the other option is suspension. So she knew about it, and enrolled him anyway. I can't sympathize with her tears and outrage for dealing with exactly what she was told she would have to deal with.

I shall rest on the eloquence of my previous statements.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

But this lady never said, "I didn't know about the policy." She claims she never signed it. I'm not buying it. The spanking rule is part of the school's overall agreement, not a separate thing to sign. There's no WAY a school lets someone in without signing the agreement. And, according to administrators, they specifically mention the spanking thing and tell them that the other option is suspension. So she knew about it, and enrolled him anyway. I can't sympathize with her tears and outrage for dealing with exactly what she was told she would have to deal with.

What is baffling to me about this being made into such a big deal is that spanking was not the only option. No one's free will has been threatened. This was not a spank or die situation. If the child went too far, in the school's eyes, the parent could either spank the child or accept suspension. It's elementary school. Not high school. So why not accept the suspension in lieu of the spanking, and have a discussion with your kid about why he's gotten into so much trouble. Treat the suspension like a severe grounding. It's not going on his permanent record.

Suspension or spanking. They're giving the parents a choice, yes? Am I just completely misunderstanding that part of the article?

I don't have a problem with a parent ocassionally spanking a child. But if I were a parent, I wouldn't sign up with a school that gave me those kinds of options. We might disagree with what kind of behavior merits what kind of discipline, and it's a battle I wouldn't feel like fighting. I'd rather go to a place that encourages parent/teacher conferences in which both parties can discuss what disciplinary measures need to be taken. I work in a program for juveniles who have gotten into some serious trouble, and part of the difficulty in working with them is that they're forced to accept rigid rules here and then they go home where it's a free for all. It's confusing and inconstant. To some degree it's necessary to keep rules at home and rules at school consistent. An almost impossible task. Obviously this school has tried to come up with a system that allows them to have more of a say in how discipline is dished out. They have a right to do that. And a parent has a right to say, "I'm sorry, I won't be signing any such nonsense." Or, taking a risk, signing it, and then down the line saying, "Uh, I signed it, but screw it. We're out of here. I don't agree with suspending a kid, and I don't agree with spanking. So, latah!"

This isn't a public school. This options were not forced down her throat.

I think the school is in the right here in terms of the actions they took. And she is, of course, free to do what she did, which is what's obviously best for her as a parent. So she's in the right, too.

I think she liked the school. Maybe it's terrific. And so she took a chance that she'd never have to deal with the option, but her kid turns out to have other plans. So it didn't work out for her. Sorry sister. You and the kid lose. She'll find another school that's a better fit for them both, I'm sure.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

What is baffling to me about this being made into such a big deal is that spanking was not the only option. No one's free will has been threatened. This was not a spank or die situation. If the child went too far, in the school's eyes, the parent could either spank the child or accept suspension. It's elementary school. Not high school. So why not accept the suspension in lieu of the spanking, and have a discussion with your kid about why he's gotten into so much trouble. Treat the suspension like a severe grounding. It's not going on his permanent record.

You're right. What's the big deal about a one day suspension? In the article I read though it made it sound like the school was really pressuring her. Telling her that a suspension would look terrible on his records. There are probably a bunch of private schools in the country that wouldn't call her at all. They'd just spank him at school. I disagree with the school, but I don't really get the media frenzy. Canada doesn't have these problems. Spanking isn't legal anywhere there.

[jdramj]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

You're right. What's the big deal about a one day suspension? In the article I read though it made it sound like the school was really pressuring her. Telling her that a suspension would look terrible on his records. There are probably a bunch of private schools in the country that wouldn't call her at all. They'd just spank him at school. I disagree with the school, but I don't really get the media frenzy. Canada doesn't have these problems. Spanking isn't legal anywhere there.

Well if she goes to schools in the future that won't accept her child because of this, then she is going to the wrong schools. It's either that you subscribe to the schools ways, taking actions as laid out by the school or you don't and you take him to a school that better matches the feelings and needs of the family.

Now if the child is acting out like the spawn of the devil (I'm not saying he is, but really he's got into a lot of trouble here), then who the heck wants him in their school if the mother won't take responsibility of properly (not neccesarily spanking) disciplining him? Really, what message did she just send her son by just pulling him out of school without facing any kind of discipline either way? Can she really learn to home school in 3 weeks before she puts him in public school after they move? hmmmmmmm

leaving my soap box now.....so sorry

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by jdramj

Now if the child is acting out like the spawn of the devil (I'm not saying he is, but really he's got into a lot of trouble here), then who the heck wants him in their school if the mother won't take responsibility of properly (not neccesarily spanking) disciplining him? Really, what message did she just send her son by just pulling him out of school without facing any kind of discipline either way? Can she really learn to home school in 3 weeks before she puts him in public school after they move? hmmmmmmm

leaving my soap box now.....so sorry

Who says he didn't face any discipline? We don't know what went on at home. In the article that I read the mother said that the child had been misbehaving since her recent divorce and that they were working on correcting it. His offenses, while innappropriate for school, didn't seem that major. It's not as if he was physically acting out towards other children. His listening skills were off and he was chatty. Doesn't seem that difficult to handle. While a child shouldn't be allowed to misbehave simply because his life has been turned upside down, it would definitely affect how I would handle the misbehavior. I don't see any excuse for repeatedly bringing toys and gum to school though. All the mom has to do is check his backpack on the way out the door.

As far as the homeschooling, I don't know that she has to "learn" how to homeschool him for 3 weeks. The school will give her workbooks and they can practice writing and math together. I doubt that a first graders education will suffer because of three weeks at home. You're right about her choice of schools though. Hopefully she'll make a better choice next time.