Georgia School Paddles 5 year Old

[Χά�ων]

Has this been discussed? I found the entire thing to be disturbing and am having trouble putting how I feel into words. The child is 5 and in preschool. The reason was that hit apparently hit and spit on another child. 

 

I do not think the mother should have allowed it to happen no matter what. I have worked with enough families dealing with administrators who will twist things to coerce parents to comply and I can fully believe the school could very well have lead her to believe that if she did not allow it the OSS would be counted as truancy. With close to 20 medical appointments I wonder if there is more going on with the child that is being said. Why is the punishment for hitting to be hit? But mostly, WHY IS THIS STILL LEGAL IN THE US?!

 

Mom's Facebook with videos
https://www.facebook.com/shana.p.perez?fref=photo

Facebook Page run by mom for support
https://www.facebook.com/Justiceforthomasberryhill/

 

News source and interview with the mom

http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/122669797-story

Edited April 15, 2016 by Χά�ων

[Χά�ων]

Correction, he TRIED to hit a child and ran around the school and spit on someone. 

[PeacefulChaos]

I can't click on the links right now (site is blocked here), but my thought is this:  

 

The mom shouldn't have said she was okay with it, which she had to have done at some point.  Was this a public school (doubtful) or private?  Most likely there was something she signed that said she was okay with corporal punishment.  Why turn around now and change her mind after the fact?

 

If she signed the form and wasn't okay with it, she shouldn't have signed it then.  If she was present when her child was paddled, she should have not given permission then.  If one has qualms about something, they need to speak up about it THEN.  Not throw a media fit afterward.

 

It rubs me the wrong way for someone to be okay with it but then decide they aren't and make it a big public debacle.  Ridiculous.

[Tsuga]

I don't know why it is legal. It is not legal here. Some people value things and principles over human life. I do not get it.

[SemiSweet]

Seems like there is a lot going on with mom and she didn't seem very opposed in the video.

 

However, my mind is totally boggled that this is still a thing. I lived in Mississippi about 6-7 years ago and you had to sign a consent to paddle form, which I refused. I had never heard of such a thing prior to that and it still totally disgusts me.

[Χά�ων]

I can't click on the links right now (site is blocked here), but my thought is this:  

 

The mom shouldn't have said she was okay with it, which she had to have done at some point.  Was this a public school (doubtful) or private?  Most likely there was something she signed that said she was okay with corporal punishment.  Why turn around now and change her mind after the fact?

 

If she signed the form and wasn't okay with it, she shouldn't have signed it then.  If she was present when her child was paddled, she should have not given permission then.  If one has qualms about something, they need to speak up about it THEN.  Not throw a media fit afterward.

 

It rubs me the wrong way for someone to be okay with it but then decide they aren't and make it a big public debacle.  Ridiculous.

According to the mom she only agreed because she was lead to believe that she would be arrested if she did not allow the paddling and he was suspended. 

 

ETA: It was a public school

Edited April 15, 2016 by Χά�ων

[PeacefulChaos]

According to the mom she only agreed because she was lead to believe that she would be arrested if she did not allow the paddling and he was suspended. 

 

ETA: It was a public school

 

 

That's very strange.   

 

I'm skeptical.  I don't see how there could be any legal standing for her being arrested, that makes no sense whatsoever.  If anyone did say that, it would be almost laughable.

 

It's legal to paddle children in public schools?  I thought that didn't exist anymore except in the very fringe private sector.

 

Hmm.  Idk.  The whole thing is fishy to me.

[PeacefulChaos]

Okay, I found a news article and I think the mom has some serious issues.  

 

18 unexcused absences?  For what?  And 20+ incidences of excessive tardiness?  

 

I may be wrong, but I see no legitimate reason for this.

 

She was out on bail for truancy in the first place, and 'thought' she had signed the form against corporal punishment, and was 'afraid' she'd go back to jail.  The sheriff's office has said she definitely wouldn't have been charged with anything because OSS doesn't count as absences since it can't be helped by the parent.

[Joker]

I think it's still legal in Florida as well but I never heard of it happening. It was in the handbooks I signed every year. I turned in a separate letter stating it was not ok.

 

It was definitely legal in schools in Texas while I was growing up. Both of my brothers were paddled in school at that age as well. My oldest brother and his wife, both teachers, think it's a good thing and gave permission for their dd to be paddled if the teachers felt it necessary. It boggles my mind.

 

I don't understand why is OK anywhere.

Edited April 15, 2016 by Joker

[MedicMom]

Mom says the absences were for medical appointments that should have been excused.

All of that aside, the moment mom said "don't paddle him," it should have ended right there. My guess is that the school considers mom to be a "problem" and that she was naive and uneducated enough to believe what they told her.

 

Who pins down a 5-year-old and hits them with a wooden paddle anyway???

[Joker]

I did a quick Internet search and it looks like it might still be legal for schools in 19 states. I think it's ridiculous.

[Χά�ων]

That's very strange.   

 

I'm skeptical.  I don't see how there could be any legal standing for her being arrested, that makes no sense whatsoever.  If anyone did say that, it would be almost laughable.

 

It's legal to paddle children in public schools?  I thought that didn't exist anymore except in the very fringe private sector.

 

Hmm.  Idk.  The whole thing is fishy to me.

It is legal in 19 states for schools to use corporal punishment. 

 

I understand where you are coming from. I spent years working as an advocate for families with special needs children and have seen first hand how school word things to give parents a false impression. Had I not encountered it so frequently first hand I would be skeptical as well. The school district I was the most involved with would not allow parents to record meetings and the meetings I attend were eye opening and disturbing. Parents were lead to believe certain things that were, at best, untrue, at worst, illegal. Without any kind of documentation of what is verbally said the parents are at a steep disadvantage when they realize they were deceived and their child is the one not getting the services they need. 

 

ETA: Here is a breakdown of the states, number of students hit and the percentage, if you are interested.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0934191.html

Edited April 15, 2016 by Χά�ων

[Χά�ων]

Okay, I found a news article and I think the mom has some serious issues.  

 

18 unexcused absences?  For what?  And 20+ incidences of excessive tardiness?  

 

I may be wrong, but I see no legitimate reason for this.

 

She was out on bail for truancy in the first place, and 'thought' she had signed the form against corporal punishment, and was 'afraid' she'd go back to jail.  The sheriff's office has said she definitely wouldn't have been charged with anything because OSS doesn't count as absences since it can't be helped by the parent.

 

To the bold My son would have exceeded that many last year due to medical appointments, illness and therapy that is medically necessary but not enough for him to receive the services through an IEP or 504 plan.

[PeacefulChaos]

To the bold My son would have exceeded that many last year due to medical appointments, illness and therapy that is medically necessary but not enough for him to receive the services through an IEP or 504 plan.

 

I hear ya.... I assumed such absences would be excused, though, as long as they got a note from the doctor or something... or perhaps they could try to schedule as many appointments as possible late in the day so they didn't count as absences?

 

Granted, this is not something that I have to deal with in my family, so I could be incredibly naive on the flexibility of scheduling appointments.  

[Happy2BaMom]

From what I understand from a friend who lives in GA, most school districts reserve the right to paddle unless the parent signs a form opting out. 

 

It's sick and twisted, IMHO. 

[dancingmama]

I hear ya.... I assumed such absences would be excused, though, as long as they got a note from the doctor or something... or perhaps they could try to schedule as many appointments as possible late in the day so they didn't count as absences?

 

Granted, this is not something that I have to deal with in my family, so I could be incredibly naive on the flexibility of scheduling appointments.

You would think that pediatric specialists would work after hours but I swear they are the worst. My son currently has 42 absences or "Tardies". We finally have one doctor who he sees at 4 and one he sees at 3:30 (he gets off school at 3:30) after being on the wait list for two years. Anything special and I usually get a 10:00 - 2:00. If you add in drive time, sometimes an hour or more,miss conceivable that a kid could have that many absences, especially if they are special needs, add in an uneducated, frazzled mom who the school doesn't like and a kid who isn't "likable" and you have a perfect storm.

[Heatherwith4]

It is legal in schools here, and it definitely still happens. Parents have to sign a consent form, however. It boggles my mind.

[Murphy101]

The only thing I could access was the news link, so that's all im basing this on.

 

I don't think it should be legal for the school to spank him, his mother was right there. So that's kind of moronic. If it was agreed he needed a spanking and the mom is right there, why didn't she do it?

 

(But I'm old school too. Back in my day, none of the kids were worried about the principal giving the paddle even though we knew he could, bc we knew all they had to do was call mom or dad and we were in for it. Lol)

 

But there's a lot of shady info in that news clip.

 

How in the world could they file any truancy when the law in Florida is that a child doesn't have to attend at all until age 6 for kindergarten? There's no mandate to attend school at 5 or to attend preschool. They don't have a right to it either, so the school is within rights to deny it.

 

She says it was for possible cancer, but no medical records to show for the 18 days.

 

He tried hitting a kid, missed, *and was running around the buses* - okay that's very dangerous. I'm not sure what the school can do to stop that though unless he has some kind of IEP that says they can put him on a leash of sorts or something. And I'm not sure that's any kinder than a paddling. Suspending him until and unless they can be sure he isn't going to endanger himself running around buses might not be the worst idea ever. (And what kind of suspension? Bus suspension? Everything?)

 

The news video never showed a spanking of any kind, paddle or otherwise. It showed a kid struggling and saying no, and briefly his mother is adjusting his pants up. For all I know from the video, a spanking never even happened. And at one point his hands are being held behind him, elbows kind of jutting out, and that's not conductive to a spanking either. There were threats from the MOM, but I never heard the elderly woman say anything at all.

Edited April 15, 2016 by Murphy101

[Mimm]

Okay, I found a news article and I think the mom has some serious issues.  

 

18 unexcused absences?  For what?  And 20+ incidences of excessive tardiness?  

 

I may be wrong, but I see no legitimate reason for this.

 

She was out on bail for truancy in the first place, and 'thought' she had signed the form against corporal punishment, and was 'afraid' she'd go back to jail.  The sheriff's office has said she definitely wouldn't have been charged with anything because OSS doesn't count as absences since it can't be helped by the parent.

 

In our school district, medical appointments are not excused. I don't know what they do if the child has a chronic illness or something, but yeah, I could see someone having a bunch of "unexcused" absences. My attitude would be... so what? Don't excuse them, I'm still taking my kid to the doctor.

 

BUT my attitude would still be that there was NO WAY in hell that anyone was hitting my child. I'm disgusted with her and I don't really buy her silly excuses and I'm disgusted but not surprised that this is legal. A lot of people in the US seem to love hitting children and basically think it's the answer to any problem a child has.

[Murphy101]

Seriously. I see no evidence of a single thing she said being true or that a paddling by anyone happened at all.

 

Smells fishy to me.

 

And I'm not exactly quick to presume the best of public schools.

 

But I like evidence before screaming for heads to roll.

[AimeeM]

That's very strange.   

 

I'm skeptical.  I don't see how there could be any legal standing for her being arrested, that makes no sense whatsoever.  If anyone did say that, it would be almost laughable.

 

It's legal to paddle children in public schools?  I thought that didn't exist anymore except in the very fringe private sector.

 

Hmm.  Idk.  The whole thing is fishy to me.

It's legal in certain public school districts in my state (SC).

It's disgusting and archaic. Mom never should have agreed, but I'm not sure what scare tactics they used either. I could not, however, sit idly by while someone assaulted my kid 

[AimeeM]

I hear ya.... I assumed such absences would be excused, though, as long as they got a note from the doctor or something... or perhaps they could try to schedule as many appointments as possible late in the day so they didn't count as absences?

 

Granted, this is not something that I have to deal with in my family, so I could be incredibly naive on the flexibility of scheduling appointments.  

Not all schools excuse medical appointments because they do assume you can just schedule after school hours - which is rarely the case. Many specialists are booked solid after 2pm for 6-12 months out... because everyone wants an after-school appointment.

[MrsWeasley]

She says that most of the absences are for medical appointments. She says she signed a form that said corporal punishment should never be used on her child, but then they told her she would fail jail time if she opted to have her child suspended rather than take a paddling. Assuming all this is true, I have nothing but sympathy for her. Is it really in the best interest of a child for their mother to go to jail than to take a swat with a paddle? What if it has long-term consequences like she loses her job and ability to financially take care of that child? I'm not sure that's a straight forward decision, even if you would have made a different one. 

[Joker]

I wanted to add that I can't help but laugh when people suggest after school doctor appointments. Oldest has weekly appointments with a psychologist and monthly appointments with a psychiatrist. We're lucky if any of them are after school. Her psychiatrist (a 40 minute drive one way) actually only sees patients between 9am-2pm so none of those are out of school hours.

 

We received a few warnings and had to have a conference. They don't mess with us anymore.

[Katy]

I was paddled twice in kindergarten for talking during nap time.  That was in Florida, and there was a warning system - at the third incident, you got paddled.  Honestly the teacher barely touched me and it didn't hurt.

 

About ten years ago I was talking to a high school teacher I know in Florida and she said typically high school students were given an option of paddling or a one week suspension (where they couldn't practice or play sports either).  Most opted for paddling to just get it over with.

[TeenagerMom]

This Mom is wayyyyy full of crap.  Seriously.  Do some research on Facebook (Check out We Stand With Mrs Edge).  The Mom is under investigation by DFACs and the boy's paternal aunt has come forward speaking out against the Mom.  The Mom also admitted in an interview that they never told her she WOULDN'T go to jail over the suspension (which means they also probably didn't tell her that she WOULD).  She posted an alternate version of the story in an ADHD support group that stated they left bruises on him & posted pics of bruises in various stages of healing (supposedly what she's being investigated for now).  There are people from her town speaking out about how their kids were on lockdown at school because of the phone threats being called in. 

 

Even just on her Facebook page, there are photos of the child flipping off the camera, holding a gun, and a filthy house including little brother (about 18-24 months old) in a INFANT carrier for transportation purposes. If he did have a cancer scare, there would be hospital records, she wouldn't have been taken to court for truancy (and the aunt says there was no cancer scare).

 

This family has deep, deep issues and I certainly hope those kids get the help they need.

Edited April 16, 2016 by TeenagerMom

[TeenagerMom]

Paddling isn't going to help with those deep issues. 

 

Are people saying the pictures of the child being hit by an older looking female teacher are staged and fake ?  Curious. 

 

In a way, it doesn't matter. Schools shouldn't be able to hit students. Goes against everything we know about education and child development. 

 

Actually, the video doesn't show him being paddled at all.  Neither of the videos she posted on her personal Facebook page show a spanking, but supposedly, he got 1 swat.  Mom also says in the video (when he's putting his hands over his bottom) that he does that at home too, so apparently, spankings are nothing new to him.

 

It isn't against the law in Georgia and she signed a consent form.  The kid seriously does need help, but in the form of his mother learning how to parent him.

Edited April 16, 2016 by TeenagerMom

[ReadingMama1214]

I agree. I've read multiple stories and mom's story seems false. No medical records. The police won't support her story. She most likely assented to corporal punishment (or didn't sign anything against it). She just seems fishy.

 

And, I don't support schools using corporal punishment. If parents choose to spank, that's one thing. A school shouldn't have that ability.

[Catalytic]

I think Murphy101 nailed it (it's GA not FL, but compulsory age is still 6)...how can they do truancy on a 5 year old?  Mom is full of crap.

 

I didn't watch the video linked here, but I did watch one earlier and I saw the paddle in the video.  I did NOT see the child hit with it, but I did see it in the principal's hand.

 

That said, I grew up in the Deep South, my mother was a school teacher.  Most of my teachers up through 6th grade had a paddle hanging in their classroom and they used it.  (I never had it used on me because my mom had one at home, too, and I knew I would get it triple at home)  Quite frankly I think more corporal punishment in schools might solve some of the issues we're having in our society today.

 

AND, all that said, when my children were in schools where corporal punishment was still legal, I gave both verbal and written notice that my children were NOT to be spanked at school (oh but I would have gotten them at home if they had ever been sent up to be spanked!)  And if someone took a paddle to my 6 yr old (just turned last week 6), I would probably go to prison.  I would have never agreed in the first place, though, and I think the mother is not a stellar individual and I seriously doubt those absences/truancies are medical related.  (Her photos are apparently private now on FB)  

[Xahm]

I think Murphy101 nailed it (it's GA not FL, but compulsory age is still 6)...how can they do truancy on a 5 year old?  Mom is full of crap.

 

I didn't watch the video linked here, but I did watch one earlier and I saw the paddle in the video.  I did NOT see the child hit with it, but I did see it in the principal's hand.

 

That said, I grew up in the Deep South, my mother was a school teacher.  Most of my teachers up through 6th grade had a paddle hanging in their classroom and they used it.  (I never had it used on me because my mom had one at home, too, and I knew I would get it triple at home)  Quite frankly I think more corporal punishment in schools might solve some of the issues we're having in our society today.

 

AND, all that said, when my children were in schools where corporal punishment was still legal, I gave both verbal and written notice that my children were NOT to be spanked at school (oh but I would have gotten them at home if they had ever been sent up to be spanked!)  And if someone took a paddle to my 6 yr old (just turned last week 6), I would probably go to prison.  I would have never agreed in the first place, though, and I think the mother is not a stellar individual and I seriously doubt those absences/truancies are medical related.  (Her photos are apparently private now on FB)  

In Ga, students don't have to be enrolled until 6, but if you choose, as most everyone does, to enroll at 5 for kindergarted, you are then in the system and truancy laws apply. I'm not sure how it works for pre-k. It used to be that if you missed too many days, they gave your spot to someone else, but with the expansion of the program that may have changed.

[SparklyUnicorn]

In Ga, students don't have to be enrolled until 6, but if you choose, as most everyone does, to enroll at 5 for kindergarted, you are then in the system and truancy laws apply. I'm not sure how it works for pre-k. It used to be that if you missed too many days, they gave your spot to someone else, but with the expansion of the program that may have changed.

 

Yep.  That is how it is here.  You don't have to do preschool either, but if you enroll in public preschool they'd get on you for attendance issues.  In the case of pre-school I understand because they have limited free slots (done on a lottery).  So if you aren't going to have your kid attend regularly that's a slot that could go to someone else.

 

I hate the fact I never know what is true in these articles. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

This sort of thing is not allowed in our state thankfully.  I'd never agree to it.  I don't care what kind of pressure they put on me. 

 

 

[8circles]

 

That said, I grew up in the Deep South, my mother was a school teacher. Most of my teachers up through 6th grade had a paddle hanging in their classroom and they used it. (I never had it used on me because my mom had one at home, too, and I knew I would get it triple at home) Quite frankly I think more corporal punishment in schools might solve some of the issues we're having in our society today.

 

AND, all that said, when my children were in schools where corporal punishment was still legal, I gave both verbal and written notice that my children were NOT to be spanked at school (oh but I would have gotten them at home if they had ever been sent up to be spanked!) And if someone took a paddle to my 6 yr old (just turned last week 6), I would probably go to prison. I would have never agreed in the first place, though, and I think the mother is not a stellar individual and I seriously doubt those absences/truancies are medical related. (Her photos are apparently private now on FB)

So, you'd like more corporal punishment in schools. Except for *your* children. If anyone paddled *your* child you'd do something that would result in going to prison. But for all those *other* children - they need more corporal punishment. Do I have that right?

[HomeAgain]

Paddling is a thing here.  Even for high schoolers - having the wrong backpack, being tardy...these are things that get you two swats.  One of the school systems just dropped corporal punishment in 2014, the other continues.  The private schools have statements in their handbooks ranging from "we proudly use corporal punishment" to descriptions of offenses and punishments.

 

There's a reason only my 6ft+ high schooler is in school.  I'll be damned if I let him be hit but he went into the system with a clear understanding of their ways and decided for himself if it was worth it.

[Mimm]

I wanted to add that I can't help but laugh when people suggest after school doctor appointments. Oldest has weekly appointments with a psychologist and monthly appointments with a psychiatrist. We're lucky if any of them are after school. Her psychiatrist (a 40 minute drive one way) actually only sees patients between 9am-2pm so none of those are out of school hours.

 

We received a few warnings and had to have a conference. They don't mess with us anymore.

 

Yeah our pediatrician leaves the office around 3 several days a week. I like her a lot so I'm not switching, but what kind of KID'S doctor doesn't see kids outside of school hours?

 

I'm stunned that they still paddle high schoolers! How humiliating and demeaning. I have a 9th grader who would never submit to that. Thank goodness. We're trying to teach these kids to be responsible adults and paddling them at school! :huh: :confused1: :glare:

[OneStepAtATime]

Mom may be nuts and who knows what really happened but there are about a zillion ways to help a 5 year old with behavior besides bullying him and making him feel threatened, unsafe and powerless to protect himself (and yes when someone much larger than you threatens physical violence and you can't defend yourself that is exactly how you can feel).

[MinivanMom]

I taught in the public schools in a deep-South state up until a decade ago. Yes, they paddled. No, they did not need consent. No, they were not required to notify the parents. If a parent didn't want their child paddled, then they had to write a letter to the principal at the start of each new school year requesting that their child not be paddled. Very few parents wrote that annual letter.

 

Once you are enrolled in public school, then you are under compulsory attendance laws and can face charges for truancy. This is true for all students including kindergartners and 1st graders who have not reached the compulsory attendance age. If you are enrolled, then you are obligated to attend. If you don't attend, then you can face truancy charges. And many schools are amazing difficult about excusing legitimate medical absences. And, yes, school administrators frequently bend the truth to get parents to consent to things that the parents might not otherwise consent to.

 

Now, the mom may be completely crazy-pants, but paddling isn't going to help a child in that situation. And I have absolutely no trouble believing that a child in a Georgia elementary school got paddled. I think some of ya'll just haven't been to Georgia lately.

[Murphy101]

There is a difference between being able to believe it happened and it actually happened.

 

I can easily believe that any school paddled a 5 yr old for running around buses.

 

That doesn't mean that's what actually happened here.

 

And since I see no evidence that it actually happened and mom's story seems to have plenty of other bat guano issues, I'm not going to jump to hang the school just yet.

[JumpyTheFrog]

Paddling aside, I wonder why a mom claiming she was having her child checked for cancer doesn't have a doctor's note, receipts, or insurance claim forms showing the kid actually went to the doctor.

[Dmmetler]

I taught in the public schools in a deep-South state up until a decade ago. Yes, they paddled. No, they did not need consent. No, they were not required to notify the parents. If a parent didn't want their child paddled, then they had to write a letter to the principal at the start of each new school year requesting that their child not be paddled. Very few parents wrote that annual letter.

 

Once you are enrolled in public school, then you are under compulsory attendance laws and can face charges for truancy. This is true for all students including kindergartners and 1st graders who have not reached the compulsory attendance age. If you are enrolled, then you are obligated to attend. If you don't attend, then you can face truancy charges. And many schools are amazing difficult about excusing legitimate medical absences. And, yes, school administrators frequently bend the truth to get parents to consent to things that the parents might not otherwise consent to.

 

Now, the mom may be completely crazy-pants, but paddling isn't going to help a child in that situation. And I have absolutely no trouble believing that a child in a Georgia elementary school got paddled. I think some of ya'll just haven't been to Georgia lately.

 

My former (Also deep South) district was the same way. The first time I sent a student to the office and then had the principal pull out a paddle and spanked the girl-and expected me to witness and sign off on it, the girl wasn't crying, but I barely made it out of the office before I burst into tears (I ended up in an older teacher's classroom, where she told me that every young teacher reacted the same way). The student later told me it was OK-it didn't hurt. I think the kid was truly more upset by my being upset than by the paddling. I didn't send a kid to the office until we got a superintendent from MN who was also appalled that the practice was legal, and stopped it immediately. I think in many ways I became a better teacher and better at managing behavior because I knew that there was no higher authority to call on.

 

It was very, very common, also, for parents called about kids' behavior (which apparently became the default for more minor behavior issues) after paddling was banned to take them out to the parking lot and spank them there, so I don't know that it really changed anything except who was wielding the paddle, hairbrush, etc. If anything, based on what the kids said, it had been better to be paddled by the principal or assistant principal or guidance counselor because they hit fewer times and not as hard.

 

Many of the charter schools allow CP and actively practice it here-and, in fact, I've heard parents give that as a reason to go to a charter vs a public school.

 

Which is why DD, when she started school, did so in a parochial school which was anti CP and explicitly disallowed it on their campus, by anyone including parents. I didn't want her witnessing it or the aftermath, and it's still really common here.

 

 

 

[Χά�ων]

Paddling aside, I wonder why a mom claiming she was having her child checked for cancer doesn't have a doctor's note, receipts, or insurance claim forms showing the kid actually went to the doctor.

If it were me I would not have anything. I hate paper and shredd or toss everything ASAP. If I get an EOB, I keep it until everything is settled and paid and then shred it. I really hate paper. Anyway, I am given one excuse per visit for my son and would turn that into the school and not think about it again and, at least at first, assume the school was doing their job. Now, if they started losing them or not counting them I would use camscanner and email it as a PDF to all relevent parties, in addition to turning it in when my son returned to school, but I have trust issues based on my personal experience.

 

With that said, I could walk into the children's hospital and walk out in less than 30 minutes with every piece of documentation they wanted or needed. Or, if I was not putting off setting up patient portal, I could log in and print it off in 5 minutes. A third option would be me calling the social worker attached to the specialty clinic(s) my son is followed by and asking for her assistance in getting copies of the needed excuses sent to me digitally if I was unable to get to the hospital or access the online patient portal. It might take a bit longer, but is an option if thenother two are not feasible. The social worker would also help me advocate with the schools to make sure the absenses were excused.

[Daria]

If it were me I would not have anything. I hate paper and shredd or toss everything ASAP. If I get an EOB, I keep it until everything is settled and paid and then shred it. I really hate paper. Anyway, I am given one excuse per visit for my son and would turn that into the school and not think about it again and, at least at first, assume the school was doing their job. Now, if they started losing them or not counting them I would use camscanner and email it as a PDF to all relevent parties, in addition to turning it in when my son returned to school, but I have trust issues based on my personal experience.

 

With that said, I could walk into the children's hospital and walk out in less than 30 minutes with every piece of documentation they wanted or needed. Or, if I was not putting off setting up patient portal, I could log in and print it off in 5 minutes. A third option would be me calling the social worker attached to the specialty clinic(s) my son is followed by and asking for her assistance in getting copies of the needed excuses sent to me digitally if I was unable to get to the hospital or access the online patient portal. It might take a bit longer, but is an option if thenother two are not feasible. The social worker would also help me advocate with the schools to make sure the absenses were excused.

My son's school won't take any documentation after 3 days.

 

I am not saying anything about this case because I don't feel like I have enough info, but my kid has definitely had unexcused absences when an excuse note sent in in his backpack didn't make it and by the time I realized it didn't make it my 3 days were gone.

 

I have also walked out of a doctor's office, deep in thought about medical news I just received and not remembered that I needed paper for a school or insurance.

 

His 504 now specifies that they have to accept emailed excuse notes, which has helped this issue.

[SKL]

Too many strange things going on here.  My first thought after seeing all the links was that maybe the mom is a child abuser herself.  That is sometimes a reason for truancy.  The family has more than one big problem, quite aside from the principal's paddle, and I hope for the kids' sake that someone gets it straightened out.

 

As for the school policy, I was aware that a number of states still allow corporal punishment in schools (with parental permission).  I was actually surprised to find that my state isn't one of them any more.  I am not a fan of schools spanking kids, but I also don't think it's that big of a deal.  I was paddled in school a number of times, as were most of my siblings, classmates, etc., and it really isn't a big thing unless someone crosses the line into abuse.  Since teachers and principals have been known to cross that line, I do prefer that they don't have the opportunity.

[QueenCat]

We used to live in Georgia. In this century, there were many counties, mostly in southern GA, where you had to notify the school in writing if they weren't allowed to use corporal punishment on your child. Thankfully, our county did not allow it.

[regentrude]

When we moved to the US and I learned that corporal punishment is legal in public schools in so many states, I had a hard time believing that a so called civilized country would allow and endorse this, when elsewhere in the first world violence against children is illegal the same way as violence against adults.

Crazy.

 

Yes, parents can opt out, and I cannot fathom why parents would not write the letter to that effect. But still, state sanctioned beating of kids... nuts.

[maize]

When we moved to the US and I learned that corporal punishment is legal in public schools in so many states, I had a hard time believing that a so called civilized country would allow and endorse this, when elsewhere in the first world violence against children is illegal the same way as violence against adults.

Crazy.

 

Yes, parents can opt out, and I cannot fathom why parents would not write the letter to that effect. But still, state sanctioned beating of kids... nuts.

When I was in school in France it was relatively common for teachers and administrators to slap students, often with no warning (i.e. I witnessed a child new to the school get slapped in the face for breaking a rule they didn't even know existed). Edited April 16, 2016 by maize

[Guest]

Yeah our pediatrician leaves the office around 3 several days a week. I like her a lot so I'm not switching, but what kind of KID'S doctor doesn't see kids outside of school hours?

 

I'm stunned that they still paddle high schoolers! How humiliating and demeaning. I have a 9th grader who would never submit to that. Thank goodness. We're trying to teach these kids to be responsible adults and paddling them at school! :huh: :confused1: :glare:

For real. High school students?!?!? That is the most insane bunch of idiocy I have ever heard of. I'm not a big believer in any kind of paddling, and definitely not by the school, but it would seem surely nobody could think paddling makes a shred of sense for teenagers. (Apparently I am wrong.)

 

I'm wondering about the legality thing for private schools, though. I live in a state that has not permitted paddling since 1993 (even that seems amazingly late to me), but I recall when I was reading the website of a local private school, it talked about how corporal punishment is part of the school's philosophy and parents would need to sign a waiver to be called in if they would not allow administrators to paddle. I guess that is allowed in a private school?

 

Truly cannot imagine so eone paying for a private school and choosing one that plans to paddle. What the what? I really think we as a nation have evolved beyond that now. Keep finding out I am wrong.

 

P.S. The private school I attended as a kid had paddling with a very abusive paddle. I have memories burned into my brain of hearing those paddlings being regularly administered to a couple of the "bad" boys. That was probably a major factor in my stance against spanking as an adult. Those poor boys. I can't imagine what may have become of them. I doubt they grew into "strong Christian soldiers".

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

 

 

 

Violence against children is just as wrong as violence against adults.

 

This story is horrible. That poor scared little boy. There is no excuse for violence against children.

 

:(

[Catalytic]

In Ga, students don't have to be enrolled until 6, but if you choose, as most everyone does, to enroll at 5 for kindergarted, you are then in the system and truancy laws apply. I'm not sure how it works for pre-k. It used to be that if you missed too many days, they gave your spot to someone else, but with the expansion of the program that may have changed.

 

Ah, thanks for explaining that.  (I still think Mom is bonkers lol)

 

Actually, the video doesn't show him being paddled at all.  Neither of the videos she posted on her personal Facebook page show a spanking, but supposedly, he got 1 swat.  Mom also says in the video (when he's putting his hands over his bottom) that he does that at home too, so apparently, spankings are nothing new to him.

 

It isn't against the law in Georgia and she signed a consent form.  The kid seriously does need help, but in the form of his mother learning how to parent him.

 

The video here shows the paddle, I didn't continue watching to see if it shows the paddling.  http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/16/us/georgia-school-paddle-video/index.html