conuly | WTF.

I actually started physically shaking when I read that. I almost don't even want to encourage other people to read it, and I usually am not bothered by sharing information that might upset people...but I'm going to crosspost it anyway.

I know the feeling.

And if the article made you that upset, please, please mind my words - do not read the comments.

Somehow I'm less bothered by the stupid things that random people on the internet say than I am by reading the actual article. The news stories are purposely written in such a way to make people feel legitimately outraged and upset...that's one reason I don't read the news much, it's like they purposely write it to be triggering so that people will feel emotionally involved with what they're reading.

One person makes an interesting point, though: that the course of action to punish this teacher is likely to be standing her in front of the parents and administrators, who will say what they don't like about her and then vote on whether or not she should be allowed to stay in school. I'm pondering how I feel about her punishment being so similar to the action we've identified as abusive and unacceptable, and will probably touch on this in my post.

One big difference is that the teacher is known to have done something wrong, and is not a child.

Totally agree. I'm not saying it's necessarily WRONG to punish her thusly, but perhaps an opportunity to come up with a more constructive and compassionate way to treat other human beings will arise. I'm not against her being punished for her actions, but if there's a better way to handle the situation I would be interested to hear what that is and see if it could be implemented. Does that make sense?

I dunno, I'm just so angry and upset by the whole situation and how common I feel it is that I'd rather see it handled in a way that will change the institutionalization of abusing kids who are "annoying" rather than just punishing someone who crossed the line between "normal abuse" and "over-the-top abuse".

And isn't messing with a child's right to have an education. It probably wasn't a public school given the name, but it does make me wonder what contract was signed. If it was a public school, then that is massively not okay for other reasons as well as the obvious.

I really wonder what that teacher was thinking and why she decided to do that.

St. Lucie is the name of the county, not the school - and if the school is run by the county than it probably is a public school.

And I'm not sure the teacher was thinking at all.

My thought was that she might have lost patience with the child's behavior issues and had it out for him, and this was her way of finally taking out her anger. I just got the feeling that it was some sick sort of revenge.

Could be. Of course, she's ultimately not only hurt this poor boy, but every other child in the class with her little stunt.

1960-'65. Kindergarten through fourth grade. St. Mary Magdalene School, St. Louis, Mo. Forty-three to 48 years ago.

Most, if not all of those teachers are dead. Doesn't matter. I'm still angry for what was done to me, as well as the boy who was beaten for having what we now know as dyslexia.

Trust me, this kid will still remember this half a century from now.

*hugs*