Police say teacher hit boy over a broken crayon

[*Angie*]

Reason #391 I don't want to put my kids in public school :eek:

Link (http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/26/teacher.arrest/index.html)

David Adam Grant, 36, a teacher at Sunland Elementary School, turned himself in to police Tuesday in connection with the November 5 incident, police said in a written statement.

/snip/

The boy, whose name is redacted in the police report but who is identified as V-1, told police that as his art class was ending, Grant told him to return his crayons to their proper place, the report said. But "before V-1 returned the crayons, one of them broke," according to the police report.

The boy told police that "Grant became angry, walked up to him and grabbed him by the shirt. ... Grant then began to shake V-1 back and forth and then punched him one time," the report said.

The boy said he fell to the ground, and Grant ordered him out of the room. He said he left the room and recounted the incident to another teacher, who told him it was time to learn to "not complain," the report said.

[Birbitt]

:shock: OVER A CRAYON? :shock: What was it made of PURE GOLD? :shock: I tell you if that was my child I'd not only pursue criminal charges but I'd go after the school and teacher as well for allowing this to happen! :shock:

[sloan127]

Both of my sons in law and my daughter in law teach in elementary or middle schools. One of my twin daughters is a high school teacher. I pray that they never get to the point that they would attack a child over anything! I hear them talking about how some kids behave so horribly and do such annoying things, but they are still children and no teacher has the right to abuse a child. I am so glad that my girls are not in public school. People tell me I can't protect them from the real world. Seems to me I am doing a pretty good job of it right now. Actually I don't protect them from the real world. It is just that our real world is a bit different from most people's. I will be praying for the child and the teacher in this case. They both will need it.

[Ava Rose]

My real world is different also and I am very thankful. I would hate to teach my kids the real world is full of abusers and horrible things. Yes, these things happen but they don't have to happen to my kids, ya know?

Who knows what was wrong with that teacher. I could see my son breaking a crayon in school...geesh, I better keep him home forever. lol.

[Autumnleavz]

I guess that teacher would hate to see our crayon box! It's full of broken crayons!

But regardless, even if the student would have stood in front of him and spitefully broken the crayon, you don't punch a child over that! My gosh!

[HOMEMOM]

OVER A CRAYON? Sounds like the teacher forgot to take his medication.

[Lesa]

It has been my experience that many elementary teachers forget what it is like to be a child. But on the other hand, I know from having subbed that the middle school kids now are much worse than they were in our day.

They are not given the discipline at home, nor are they taught to respect themselves, much less adults and authority figures.

Definitely a great reason to keep our kids at home!

[gwenny99]

This is an interesting thread, as I was having a small epiphany yesterday. We live in CA and belong to a charter. Part of that allows us to take "elective" classes at the school if we want - so we go on Fridays and take a few classes. A lot of parents (both moms AND dads!) volunteer to teach a class or assist, or help the little kidlets walk from on class to the next. It is a really great environment.

But what struck me (no pun intended) was how these little elective classes must compare to a traditional public school. Many of the teachers for these classes are Certified Public School teachers - they could teach at any public school, but by choice or the Grace of God, they lucked out and got our little charter. I was not volunteering this Friday, so I got to observe the school in action while waiting for the kids.

What a difference it must be to teach here, where most kids are respectful of themselves, the teachers, and fellow students - both their age AND younger. What a difference it must be to have SO MUCH parental support, where even the ones just "hanging around" waiting for their own kids will jump in and help walk kids or help out in a class. Where parents are everywhere! What a difference it is to have girls gossip cutely about what movie they want to see (I think it was the Kit movie last session - I overheard during my son's pottery class) instead of gossiping about a boy they like or a girl they don't. What a difference to see kids who help out little kids, speak nicely AND properly, who do their work and don't screw around. I thought, these teachers must think they are the most blessed teachers on the PLANET to have a gig like this.

So when I hear about the crazed teacher - I wonder, did he start like that, an angry guy, or did his environment make him like that? And if so, what kind of environment are you in where you need to hit a kid over a crayon?

I think most teachers are great people with a noble calling who are put into a terrible situation and have their hands tied to fix it. But since I know they are in this situation, I don't want to see just how jaded they will become, and I don't want my kid on the receiving end of that jaded, worn out teacher.

[KrisRV]

not to go into a long short here, but that is the reason I homeschool my dd's my oldest dd went through that and more, we ended up in court all 30 students it was mess and very hard on her. She was 6 years old and still talks about it from time to time..

[ediesbeads]

OK, I am in NO WAY saying that what the teacher did in this case is correct. It was NOT!

BUT

I wonder if there is more to the story. There often is when a writer is trying to sensationalize the situation.

My first thought was of the first cub scout den meeting held at my house this year.

We had 8 first grade boys. My son is the only homeschooler... the rest attend our local public school. They are a particularly rowdy group of 6 yr olds to boot.

We were doing a craft involving crayons. My son was so excited about hosting the meeting, and insisted that we pull out the nice new crayons we bought instead of grabbing the big box of mixed up crayons we SHOULD have used.

One little boy saw that box of new crayons and purposefully started breaking each crayon in half. I asked him to stop. He stopped for one minute until my back was turned, and then started up again. His mother was sitting right next to him and saw it all, and didn't say a word to correct him or even ask him to stop. I removed the nice crayons from the table and brought out the old bin of mixed up crayons. My son was so sad he had tears streaming.

So yes.... the teacher was way out of line. But it may not have been accidental... ya know?


Edie

[MamaBear]

I truly doubt the teacher was upset just over the crayon. This teacher apparently has other issues to do something so repugnant.

We have to keep in mind though, there are MANY wonderful ps teachers out there, this teacher unfortunately is the one who is getting all of the negative attention.

[KrisRV]

Katie, I agree but she should of remember she is teacher and if she has other problems she is suppose to leave them at home or where ever. Not out on the child.


Yes there is some wonderful teachers out there, but like everything else it takes one rotten apple to mess up the wholel bushel.

[homeschoolmama]

That's terrible!!! The teacher obviously had other issues. And I do agree that there are a lot of wonderful teachers out there, but the few that are not so grand are making it so difficult.