8 year old arrested for battery for punching a teacher

[Pilipinas and Malaya]

He wasn't going to the principal's office willingly. What was she supposed to do, wave a magic wand?

EDIT: To be fair, a lawsuit would be a good way to force both sides to explain themselves.

You call the principal to come to him. Is this too difficult to understand? You get the guidance counselor. You get the school nurse. You get someone to talk to him. Did he look dangerous in the video? Did he talk back or try to hit the police?

And seriously, this idiot cause the whole situation becase she didn't like how he was sitting, and then committed battery by grabbing him and trying to drag him. He told her to let go and defended himself when she wouldn't.

The teacher is the entire catalyst for this, and should not be around kids, end of.

Wait, the teacher did WHAT? Possible detention for failing to sit properly? And that ended in an arrest. While the kid may have escalated things with a punch, like what most people are saying in this thread, the kid isn’t ready to handle stuff like this. If they are scared of the principal, how much more do you think getting arrested will impact a child’s perception and thoughts?

[Nuroblav]

Of course this is Florida .

[Dollystana]

If I punched my teacher I would get a talk from her, some extra work, and maybe a visit to the principal. But arrest? Seriously? Something needs to be done about school inequity, and as a rich white autistic kid, I know firsthand.

[-Astoria-]

Of course this is Florida .

I'm sure there's similar crap like that popping up around; it's just that Florida's more likely to be reported on.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Of course this is Florida .

I'm sure there's similar crap like that popping up around; it's just that Florida's more likely to be reported on.

Florida is kinda a shit show tho

[2nd Spanish Republic (Ancient)]

Age based loopholes? What kind of nonsense is this? This would have to assume that 8 year olds are opportunistic and educated on laws to understand they can take advantage of the legal system. No child will think like this. 8 year olds don't have the mental capacity to even think in this regard, let alone know the consequences of their actions. Children shouldn't be arrested for actions such as hitting school faculty. This matter should be settled between the school and the parents.

[-Astoria-]

I'm sure there's similar crap like that popping up around; it's just that Florida's more likely to be reported on.

Florida is kinda a shit show tho

Yes, but actually no... but actually yes... but no... ah bugger it, yes.

[Purpelia]

I absolutely support convicting people irregardless of their age for their crimes. Put him away in prison and throw away the key.

[Kowani]

I absolutely support convicting people irregardless of their age for their crimes. Put him away in prison and throw away the key.

Going for that shock value today, are we?

[Gravlen]

A failure of the educational system, a failure of the law enforcement system, a violation of the rights of a special needs child, and child abuse potentially leaving lasting trauma.

More than one person should get fired for this.

Edit: That said, not a surprise given the nature of the carceral state.

[Andsed]

I absolutely support convicting people irregardless of their age for their crimes. Put him away in prison and throw away the key.

So arrest a special needs child and perhaps ruin his life because he hit a woman who was forcibly grabbing him even when he said he did not want to be touched? You see how wrong that is right? Now call me crazy but I getting him any help he might need to be an actually productive member of society to be a far more helpful solution.

[Saiwania]

I'm not justifying any harsh punishment but I am for the arrest in that I can understand why it happened. The kid still laid his hands on a teacher which is usually too out of line. He was detained for one day at best and will probably behave more next time.

[Andsed]

I'm not justifying any harsh punishment but I am for the arrest. The kid still laid his hands on a teacher which is usually too out of line. He was detained for one day at best and will probably behave more next time.

The kid is special needs and made it clear he did not want to be touched. The teacher decided to step out of line and grabbed him forcibly. The kid lashing out is not some great crime, and is in fact perfectly understandable. Corporal punishment is not the answer here. Making sure the kids needs are actually addressed and that teachers do not step out of line like that are is needed here.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

So anyway, the teacher lost all right to complain about retaliation when she was touched first.

Arresting 8 year old kids is stupid, and this still isn't news compared to Microsoft lobbying for irs defunding.

[Andsed]

So anyway, the teacher lost all right to complain about retaliation when she was touched first.

Arresting 8 year old kids is stupid, and this still isn't news compared to Microsoft lobbying for irs defunding.

Indeed. Unless the kid is an actual danger to themselves or others(which the kid in question did not seem to be) a teacher has no right to lay their hands upon them. Especially in a situation like this when dealing with an upset child with emotional and behavioral issues.

[North American Imperial State]

Why should anyone, let alone a child, be arrested for punching someone. That means we would all be in jail since nearly everyone has punched someone else in their lifetime. In fact, the cops were arguably more disciplinarian against the 8 year old than you average joe since I don’t see regular people going to prison for punching someone

Dont no about US law but in UK an adult punching someone is assault which can (not always) get you in jail.

Mind you the the kid should be punished in school by the school not by the law, strange US criminal system.

[Saiwania]

The kid is special needs and made it clear he did not want to be touched. The teacher decided to step out of line and grabbed him forcibly. The kid lashing out is not some great crime, and is in fact perfectly understandable. Corporal punishment is not the answer here. Making sure the kids needs are actually addressed and that teachers do not step out of line like that are is needed here.

I really do balk at anything "special needs" in general. The child needs to be challenged at home until they reach a level where they no longer need accomodations and can be in regular classes or more advanced- assuming that is, they're not truly disabled. The outside world to a large extent, isn't going to be so merciful. If he's minimum wage for life as an adult, then he's arguably failed. For their sake, the child needs to learn how to compete and be their best and to be ruthless when needed. That is the only way to truly win or get ahead.

I haven't seen much evidence that the teacher did anything wrong. Normally this would be handled by the school but the school apparently doesn't want to deal with this either.

[Andsed]

The kid is special needs and made it clear he did not want to be touched. The teacher decided to step out of line and grabbed him forcibly. The kid lashing out is not some great crime, and is in fact perfectly understandable. Corporal punishment is not the answer here. Making sure the kids needs are actually addressed and that teachers do not step out of line like that are is needed here.

I really do balk at anything "special needs" in general. The child needs to be challenged at home until they reach a level where they no longer need accomodations and can be in regular classes or more advanced- assuming that is, they're not truly disabled. The outside world to a large extent, isn't going to be so merciful. If he's minimum wage for life as an adult, then he's arguably failed.

I haven't seen much evidence that the teacher did anything wrong. Normally this would be handled by the school but the school apparently doesn't want to deal with this either.

And I balk at your ignorance about special needs. You cannot just get rid of a child's disability. You can help them manage it, but they are going to need some accommodations, especially at such a young age.

And the teacher did everything wrong when she decided to lay her hands on a child. Unless a kid is an actual danger to others or themselves no teacher should be putting their hands on them. The teacher grabbing the kid only escalated the situation. If the kid was aggravated the proper thing to do would to have been call a councilor or some other trusted adult to help calm the kid down. Not grab him when he did not want to be touched.

[Necroghastia]

The kid is special needs and made it clear he did not want to be touched. The teacher decided to step out of line and grabbed him forcibly. The kid lashing out is not some great crime, and is in fact perfectly understandable. Corporal punishment is not the answer here. Making sure the kids needs are actually addressed and that teachers do not step out of line like that are is needed here.

I really do balk at anything "special needs" in general. The child needs to be challenged at home until they reach a level where they no longer need accomodations and can be in regular classes or more advanced- assuming that is, they're not truly disabled. The outside world to a large extent, isn't going to be so merciful. If he's minimum wage for life as an adult, then he's arguably failed. For their sake, the child needs to learn how to compete and be their best and to be ruthless when needed. That is the only way to truly win or get ahead.

And I'm sure you can quote some actual literature backing up your claims, hm?

[Purpelia]

I absolutely support convicting people irregardless of their age for their crimes. Put him away in prison and throw away the key.

Going for that shock value today, are we?

No. I genuinely believe that if you allow children to behave violently toward others without serious punishment they will grow up into adults that think this sort of behavior is acceptable.

So arrest a special needs child and perhaps ruin his life because he hit a woman who was forcibly grabbing him even when he said he did not want to be touched? You see how wrong that is right? Now call me crazy but I getting him any help he might need to be an actually productive member of society to be a far more helpful solution.

I newer understood why people with "special needs" should be given a free pass. Does their special condition undo the act commuted? If an autistic kid shoots someone dead does that someone suddenly rise from the grave because the shooter is autistic? No. They do not. As far as I am concern the punishment must suit the end result of the action. And in this case the action is dangerous bodily injury how ever you translate that.

Now of course I am not saying to literally throw away the key. That was a bit of hyperbole. But have him spend a night or two in jail, maybe a week. If that does not teach him punching people is bad nothing will.

[-Astoria-]

I newer understood why people with "special needs" should be given a free pass. Does their special condition undo the act commuted? If an autistic kid shoots someone dead does that someone suddenly rise from the grave because the shooter is autistic? No. They do not. As far as I am concern the punishment must suit the end result of the action. And in this case the action is dangerous bodily injury how ever you translate that.

...no one's giving a free pass for the kid in question.

[Purpelia]

I newer understood why people with "special needs" should be given a free pass. Does their special condition undo the act commuted? If an autistic kid shoots someone dead does that someone suddenly rise from the grave because the shooter is autistic? No. They do not. As far as I am concern the punishment must suit the end result of the action. And in this case the action is dangerous bodily injury how ever you translate that.

...no one's giving a free pass for the kid in question.

I am just sick and tired of the argument that people with mental issues need to be coddled by the law. I am also against the concept of an insanity defense. The punishment should match the consequences of an action and things like motivation, state of mind or mental health should only be relevant if they magically undo the action or lessen it. A punch is a punch is a punch. Who throws it and why is irrelevant. Only the force with which it is thrown is.

[Andsed]

I newer understood why people with "special needs" should be given a free pass. Does their special condition undo the act commuted? If an autistic kid shoots someone dead does that someone suddenly rise from the grave because the shooter is autistic? No. They do not. As far as I am concern the punishment must suit the end result of the action. And in this case the action is dangerous bodily injury how ever you translate that.

...no one's giving a free pass for the kid in question.

The teacher physically grabbed him without his consent. He had every right to act in self defense.

Going for that shock value today, are we?

No. I genuinely believe that if you allow children to behave violently toward others without serious punishment they will grow up into adults that think this sort of behavior is acceptable.

So arrest a special needs child and perhaps ruin his life because he hit a woman who was forcibly grabbing him even when he said he did not want to be touched? You see how wrong that is right? Now call me crazy but I getting him any help he might need to be an actually productive member of society to be a far more helpful solution.

I newer understood why people with "special needs" should be given a free pass. Does their special condition undo the act commuted? If an autistic kid shoots someone dead does that someone suddenly rise from the grave because the shooter is autistic? No. They do not. As far as I am concern the punishment must suit the end result of the action. And in this case the action is dangerous bodily injury how ever you translate that.

Now of course I am not saying to literally throw away the key. That was a bit of hyperbole. But have him spend a night or two in jail, maybe a week. If that does not teach him punching people is bad nothing will.

The kid punched(which did not even hurt) a woman who was trying to grab and drag him without his consent. That is not some terrible crime that indicates his going to be a violent adult. Just that he is a kid lashing out in a bad situation. Throwing him in jail is not helpful. Working to establish an actual plan moving forward to best suit the kid´s needs to avoid such incidents is.

[-Astoria-]

I am just sick and tired of the argument that people with mental issues need to be coddled by the law. I am also against the concept of an insanity defense. The punishment should match the consequences of an action and things like motivation, state of mind or mental health should only be relevant if they magically undo the action or lessen it. A punch is a punch is a punch. Who throws it and why is irrelevant. Only the force with which it is thrown is.

what

No; seriously - what.

[Nuroblav]

what

No; seriously - what.

Bold of them to assume it's something that can simply be brushed to one side. The teacher - as Crump said in his statement, "had no awareness or concern about his needs and who escalated the situation by using her hands to forcibly move him."

I don't think anyone here is really saying that nothing should be done - obviously this is something that needs to be dealt with in some way - but that the police have acted too harsh on the matter.