unsinkable Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 http://www.wxii12.com/education/21973453/detail.html MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee teacher was charged with disorderly conduct after cutting off a 7-year-old's braid in front of her classmates, WISN-TV in Milwaukee reported. Lamya Cammon was angry, confused and scared by the incident last week in which the apparently frustrated teacher cut one of her braids off after she wouldn't stop playing with them in class. Cammon, 7, sports a few dozen braids, but one is conspicuously absent. "She told me to stop playing with it, then cut it off and sent me back to my desk," Cammon said. Cammon, a first-grader at Congress Elementary, said her teacher used a pair of classroom scissors to cut off one of the braids after she absent-mindedly kept playing with them. She said the teacher called her to the front of the room and cut it in front of the whole class. "I went to my desk and cried. And they was laughing," Cammon said. "She threw it away, and she said, 'Now what you gonna go home and say to your momma? ' And I said, 'That you cut off my hair,'" Cammon said. Cammon's mother is furious. She went to the school and confronted the teacher. "I said, 'Well, you know, you cut a lot of her hair off.' And she was like, 'Well, I do apologize.' She said, 'But I was frustrated,'" Cammon's mother, Helen Cunningham, said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Unbelievable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I was frustrated so I punched you in the face. I do apologize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I would have been so mad if that was my child. I might have become frustrated myself, and ended up with assault charges against me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 If justice is fair, the student gets access to a pair of sharp scissors while the teacher is strapped to a chair. This is unbelievable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Oh...I appear to have drop kicked you I do apologize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 Oops, I called a civil attorney and I'm suing your @$$. I do apologize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 My girls are so attached to their long hair. I would be beyond furious. When my oldest was in Kindergarten, a boy behind her kept playing with her braid. I wanted him moved, but the teacher wouldn't do it. I went to the headmistress, and said that if he cut Dd's hair, I would show up at his house with a gun. Did she want that kind of publicity for her school? He was moved the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 My girls are so attached to their long hair. I would be beyond furious. When my oldest was in Kindergarten, a boy behind her kept playing with her braid. I wanted him moved, but the teacher wouldn't do it. I went to the headmistress, and said that if he cut Dd's hair, I would show up at his house with a gun. Did she want that kind of publicity for her school? He was moved the next day. Er...I don't think threatening children with violence is really cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I didn't say it to the child, and I was not trying to be "cool". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alte Veste Academy Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Poor dear! What gets me more than anything is that hair twirling can be a nervous habit and that teacher just gave her more reason to be full of anxiety! She has ruined school for her, with the other kids laughing at her and putting her in the spotlight that way. :crying: That teacher should find another way to earn a living. She shouldn't be working with kids if something as innocent as hair twirling sends her into an uncontrollable frenzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I didn't say it to the child, and I was not trying to be "cool". Alright, I don't think it is "OK" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshine Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Er...I don't think threatening children with violence is really cool. wellllll..... she didn't exactly threaten the child. She said it to the headmistress. But yeah, that could be and would have in the glorious state of "sue me and you Georgia" considered Terroristic Threats. That is actually a charge here in GA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 (edited) What?! Edited December 16, 2009 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in WI Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Oh, that poor little girl! I cannot imagine someone cutting off my hypothetical daughter's braid! That "teacher" should not be working with children! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 :lol: If an adult did this to another adult, would they not arrest and charge them with some sort of assault? Why is it different because it is a child? Because in school your dc has no rights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I was frustrated so I punched you in the face. I do apologize. :lol: You crack me up. I wonder if the teacher involved would buy that line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I was frustrated so I punched you in the face. I do apologize. :lol: Oops, I called a civil attorney and I'm suing your @$$. I do apologize. :smilielol5: I didn't say it to the child, and I was not trying to be "cool".:coolgleamA: :svengo: I don't know if you meant to be funny, Amy G., but you made me snort. It must've been the spirit of the other posts leaking into yours... Another funny... the code for that particular smiley I added to your post is "cool gleam A." Named appropriately, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Sherry Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 My girls are so attached to their long hair. I would be beyond furious. When my oldest was in Kindergarten, a boy behind her kept playing with her braid. I wanted him moved, but the teacher wouldn't do it. I went to the headmistress, and said that if he cut Dd's hair, I would show up at his house with a gun. Did she want that kind of publicity for her school? He was moved the next day. I believe if you made that threat to a school teacher or principle here in the state of Washington you could expect to have a police officer show up at your house to arrest you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamturner Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 That teacher should find another way to earn a living. She shouldn't be working with kids if something as innocent as hair twirling sends her into an uncontrollable frenzy. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Hen Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 No question, uncalled for behavior on the part of the teacher. Anyone else catch the MTEA's excuse? Stress from budget constraints --- why am I not surprised --- give the teacher more money and she won't be in the mood to trim someone's locks. More money is the answer to all educational/teacher problems........ The Milwaukee Teachers Education Association can't talk about the incident but said stress is not unusual. “As budget constraints get tighter every year, the stress level and frustrations do increase,†said the MTEA’s Sid Hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danybug Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I would be beyond livid. The nerve??? I personally feel like she should be removed from any teaching position. If this is how she reacts to hair twirling, then what can we expect from a larger offense? Scary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Major, major violation of boundaries and personal space. She should be fired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Major, major violation of boundaries and personal space. She should be fired. :iagree: That's just unbelievable! I would be beyond livid if I was that child's mother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renai Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I was frustrated so I punched you in the face. I do apologize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Renai, you are busy with the smilies tonight! Shall we nickname you "smiles a lot"?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renai Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Renai, you are busy with the smilies tonight! Shall we nickname you "smiles a lot"?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 When I was in 8th grade, one of my teachers would throw hardback books at kids that were talking. Everybody knew about this and yet nothing was ever done about it. I would hope today, such behavior from teachers (including the hair cutting) would not be tolerated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 One moment of loss of self-control can lead to a lifetime of damage. The little girl will probably always remember the negatives in that classroom, and the teacher may get fired, and probably wouldn't get rehired, at least in that town. Sad all around. Hope the teacher takes a break and re-evaluates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Poor kid... Stress has never caused me to cut a kid's hair... Lame old excuse, I think the kid should get to cut the teacher's hair...in front of the class. Due to the stress and all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowWhite Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 This is assault. The teacher should be arrested. In my religion, a female's hair is never to be cut (like Samson's Nazarite vow). What an ignorant cruel teacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 It's funny how the teacher's union is blaming it on budget cuts. :001_huh: Yeah, it's that and not a ridiculous union process that allows really bad teachers to keep their job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I believe if you made that threat to a school teacher or principle here in the state of Washington you could expect to have a police officer show up at your house to arrest you. That's what would happen in dh's school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Every time I've scanned thread titles this morning, I've read this as "Teacher cuts off student's head"--and every time I'm shocked for a second until the word "braid" finally registers :lol:. Either way I think the teacher should be fired. I saw this on the TV news yesterday (I didn't see it in the paper, unsinkable, so I thought I'd clarify ;)) and was shocked she's not been fired. They did show the girl playing with her hair, and it would've driven me up a wall (she's got beads at the end of her braids and the tapping sound the beads made when they hit each other was highly annoying to me), but to cut off the braid is simply inexcusable behavior on the teacher's part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I agree it's assault. Can you imagine if the poor kid had struggled and made the teacher even madder while she had those scissors in her hand?! And WTH -stress over her paycheck is an excuse for assault? Why is teachers can abuse our kids, but if a parent were to treat their kid that way it's grounds for CPS? I'd be livid. But what really freaks me out, is that any parent would send their kid back! I know some can't homeschool, but still. I don't know what I'd do but my kid would not ever set foot in the place again. My dd has very long hair. It's not just cutting a braid. You gotta know that meant her mother had to take her in and get it all cut even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 This is offensive on so many levels. What if she were twiddling with her bra strap or a male student had "jock itch"?! Incidentally, when I was in high school, scissors were considered a weapon that students were not allowed to possess on school grounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 In the interview, both the child and parent seem remarkably restrained. "Do we want someone like that working with our children" asked the mother calmly. I don't think I could have pulled that off. The little girl explained how the teacher made her get up and go to her, and in front of the class the teacher cut the braid and threw it in the trash. " Everybody laughed. I went back to my desk and cried". Livid would hardly describe me if that were my little girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Because in school your dc has no rights. Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdeveson Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Oops, I called a civil attorney and I'm suing your @$$. I do apologize. :lol::lol::lol: My sentiments exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alte Veste Academy Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Why is teachers can abuse our kids, but if a parent were to treat their kid that way it's grounds for CPS? Wow! That didn't even occur to me but you are so right! One call from the neighbor if you did that in your home and CPS would be charging you with emotional abuse and in your lives neck-deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuff Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Oops, I called a civil attorney and I'm suing your @$$. I do apologize. Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calandalsmom Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 It seems this teacher has received absolutely no consequences in the school system. Is that correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalicoKat Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 unbelievable. After she apologizes that teacher should pay for that little girl's trip to the beauty parlor to get it fixed. Hair like that doesn't come cheap. Were they extensions? If not she'll be sporting that short braid for many years to come while it grow out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calandalsmom Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 She ought to be suspended without pay while they sort it out. My word! What is that school board thinking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 After she apologizes that teacher should pay for that little girl's trip to the beauty parlor to get it fixed. Hair like that doesn't come cheap. Were they extensions? If not she'll be sporting that short braid for many years to come while it grow out. I wonder if there was some thought on the part of the teacher that it was an extension and therefore "didn't matter." I can't help but wonder if this would have happened to a blonde girl in pigtails? I just really do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I wonder if there was some thought on the part of the teacher that it was an extension and therefore "didn't matter." I can't help but wonder if this would have happened to a blonde girl in pigtails? I just really do. Not to say little blonde pigtails couldn't drive a teacher nut with fiddling, but no I don't think it would've happened to little blond pigtails. The pigtails would be a clue that the parent cared enough to take time to 'fix' their child's hair, meaning the parent would probably care enough to take the time to contact a lawyer. Also, as much as the race card irritates me, I would almost bet this teacher assumed this little girl's parents were too ignorant to contact a lawyer and too poor to pay one. The Mom almost seems worn down to me, like she nearly expected this. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 What bothers me almost as much in this story (other than the obvious assault on a child) is the fact that her classmates thought it was funny. What does that say about all those other 7 year olds and how they view acts of aggression. Makes me really sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 What bothers me almost as much in this story (other than the obvious assault on a child) is the fact that her classmates thought it was funny. What does that say about all those other 7 year olds and how they view acts of aggression. Makes me really sad. It could be the teacher is a chronic bully and expects the class to laugh after she bullies a student. It is a very ugly dynamic but I have known teachers like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 My girls are so attached to their long hair. I would be beyond furious. When my oldest was in Kindergarten, a boy behind her kept playing with her braid. I wanted him moved, but the teacher wouldn't do it. I went to the headmistress, and said that if he cut Dd's hair, I would show up at his house with a gun. Did she want that kind of publicity for her school? He was moved the next day. Well, you know me, I don't have a problem with this. I've personally threatened two little bullies, not with a gun, just with my own wrath. You were simply illustrating how strongly you felt about your dd's personal space. I probably would have told headmistress that I was going to show up at HER house with a gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 It could be the teacher is a chronic bully and expects the class to laugh after she bullies a student. It is a very ugly dynamic but I have known teachers like this. They had a 'Lie to Me' where the gym teacher was encouraging bullying. He made the kids feel like he would not like them if they didn't tease (think along the lines of heckling the non-hecklers). I don't usually take tv for an example of reality, except I've known teachers like that. That being said, there's comfort in a mob. Those kids could've been laughing from the sheer relief of NOT being the one getting their hair chopped off :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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