There's no CRYING In Kindergarten!?!
I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that a tiny six year old boy has been suspended from school - and it's Kindergarten class no less.
Why? Not for acting out or talking back or even for fighting, the little tyke got the boot for crying. He's six for heavens sake.
Anyone who has children, or anyone who can remember back that far when you yourself were in school, will know that when the time comes to leave mom and dad's side for the first time, it can be a scary thing. As parents we also feel the pain. But we know it's for the best and we leave "little Johnny" in the hands of people we hope are caring and qualified... And then we find out that instead of comfort, our child gets singled out and punished?
Now at this point I HAVE to stress that I realize this is an isolated incident and that there are many, many fantastic Kindergarten teachers out there who wouldn't dream of doing something similar... it just seems ridiculous that this particular school and its principal, could be okay with this happening.
"There is a suspension for disruptive behaviour on his school record now. And that follows you. And it's cumulative, meaning that if something else happens, he's now considered a kid who creates problems," said a representative from a civil liberties organization looking into the matter on behalf of the child and his concerned parents.
Civil liberties? A problem kid? A record? What?!? We're talking about a small child who cried in Kindergarten class.
In a letter sent to the school by a constitutional attorney who is now involved, the attorney called the young boy's suspension "perhaps the most shocking example yet, of the extent to which school officials are failing in their duties to create healthy and supportive educational environments for their young charges.
"While crying in class may indeed be inconvenient for the teacher, surely there are other, less draconian means of addressing this type of disruption than an out-of-school suspension."
And wouldn't there be? Maybe the teacher could have at least tried calling the parents? That said, I'm thinking the whole thing is getting a tad blown out of proportion. I mean there's now lawyers involved and the story is plastered all over the internet.
It's Kindergarten. There's bound to be a few tears and tribulations. Let's get back to the basics and put the child's needs first.
