5 year old girl handcuffed in school - Page 4 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

flstf · 05-09-2005, 12:34 AM

I admire those of you in this thread who advocate using positive reinforcement etc.. in trying to deal with this 5 yr old's problems. However probably anything positive you can do will be overcome by ineffective parenting. Without parental support these children will probably be a problem for a long time to come.

Quote:

Ire aimed at handcuffed girl's mother
Weeks before the tape was released, Akins sensed that people were blaming her for the incident.
In an interview March 17 with the St. Petersburg Times, she said of school officials and police: "They're trying to make it seem like I'm a bad person and I'm not. But it's going to all come back on them."
Since traveling to New York last week to tape shows for A Current Affair, Akins has limited her public statements to the program.

On Monday evening's show, she said problems between her daughter and the assistant principal, Nicole Debenedetto, forced her hand. "I tried getting her school changed. I tried getting her class changed. (The school district) wouldn't do anything to help me."

On Tuesday, one of the show's reporters asked Akins what she learned from the case. "Listen to your kids because they are telling the truth," she said. "Because I sure listened to mine. And what she was telling me was the truth."

On Wednesday, Akins appeared with Jesse Jackson, who asked her, "What are you doing now about it, Inga?"
She responded: "Trying to get legal representation. And I ask for you to help."

On Thursday, Akins made several comments.
On her daughter: "She's a very active child. She loves to read and write."
On people who blame her: "I don't care what they say. It's not my fault. It's the School Board and the St. Pete Police Department's fault."
On whether the girl was raised correctly: "She was raised right. She was raised very well."
On those who say she's trying to make money from the case: "Get paid for what? I want justice."

* * *

In addition to the 5-year-old girl, Akins has a son, 4, and another daughter, 3. Pinellas court records show she has been trying without success to collect child support from two St. Petersburg men who are the fathers of the children. The father of the 5-year-old has been arrested more than a dozen times since 1995, mostly on drug charges.

Records also show that around the time of her daughter's handcuffing, Akins was in the throes of an eviction proceeding with the owners of her St. Petersburg apartment. A note she wrote to the court indicates the problem involved subsidized rent payments from the St. Petersburg Housing Authority.

In a recent interview, Akins said the arrest prompted the state Department of Children and Families to investigate her. She said he passed a DCF review. "The focus should not be on her background; it should be on whether police acted appropriately when they handcuffed a 5-year-old child in kindergarten as if she were a criminal," said (Tricia) C.K. Hoffler, a partner with the law firm of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, which on Thursday became Akins' new legal representative.

The 37-lawyer firm based in Stuart, is led by Willie E. Gary, whose nickname "The Giant Killer" came from nine-figure judgments against such titans as Anheuser-Busch and Disney.

Hoffler said the firm is preparing to bring its considerable resources to bear on the case.

raeanna74 · 05-09-2005, 07:56 AM

What in the world CAN the mother sue for?? There were no damages EXCEPT to public property - which I don't hear of her offering to pay for BTW. The girl was not injured either. Is the mother gonna pay the school for the lost time, money, and damages that her out of control daughter who was supposedly raised right DAMAGED? I don't see it. How can she justify suing for millions of dollars.

"In addition to the 5-year-old girl, Akins has a son, 4, and another daughter, 3. Pinellas court records show she has been trying without success to collect child support from two St. Petersburg men who are the fathers of the children. The father of the 5-year-old has been arrested more than a dozen times since 1995, mostly on drug charges.

Records also show that around the time of her daughter's handcuffing, Akins was in the throes of an eviction proceeding with the owners of her St. Petersburg apartment. A note she wrote to the court indicates the problem involved subsidized rent payments from the St. Petersburg Housing Authority."

Oh ok, maybe she's just wanting to pay for her boyfriends drug habits and her multiple children by multiple fathers. (note:sarcasm)

I usually try hard not to be prejudice against people but this woman seems to be acting like street trash that think the world OWES them for all the hardship that they really bring on themselves. She needs to be serilized and her children given to responsible parents. I find this situation and subject disgusting. I really hope she looses on her lawsuit and that the school district and police fine her for the damages her daughter did to public property. Now THAT would be justice.

Cynthetiq · 05-09-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

On Tuesday, one of the show's reporters asked Akins what she learned from the case. "Listen to your kids because they are telling the truth," she said. "Because I sure listened to mine. And what she was telling me was the truth."

On Wednesday, Akins appeared with Jesse Jackson, who asked her, "What are you doing now about it, Inga?"
She responded: "Trying to get legal representation. And I ask for you to help."

On Thursday, Akins made several comments.
On her daughter: "She's a very active child. She loves to read and write."
On people who blame her: "I don't care what they say. It's not my fault. It's the School Board and the St. Pete Police Department's fault."
On whether the girl was raised correctly: "She was raised right. She was raised very well."
On those who say she's trying to make money from the case: "Get paid for what? I want justice."

like shooting fish in a barrel... too many things here from her not accepting any fault or responsibility for how her child acts...

hrandani · 05-09-2005, 11:24 AM

You know that's a pretty good example of not only what's wrong with our country but why I changed my mind about becoming a teacher.

shakran · 05-09-2005, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeanna74

What in the world CAN the mother sue for?? There were no damages EXCEPT to public property - which I don't hear of her offering to pay for BTW. The girl was not injured either. Is the mother gonna pay the school for the lost time, money, and damages that her out of control daughter who was supposedly raised right DAMAGED? I don't see it. How can she justify suing for millions of dollars.

False arrest.

The false arrest/imprisonment tort says false arrest is "An Unlawful Restraint Of A Person's Liberty Or Freedom Of Movement."

The kid wasn't doing anything to necessitate handcuffs. The handcuffs restrained her freedom of movement.

She can then heap emotional suffering on top of that (I dunno about you but if I were 5, I'd have the everlovin' CRAP scared out of me if three big uniformed cops came in and slapped cuffs on me)

So yeah, the lawsuit is justified. Completely.

And before you guys start yelling at me that I'm sympathising with the woman - - not even close. She's a pathetic excuse for a mother. Which is why this situation is even more unfortunate - - -they've given this reprobate a legitimate reason to sue, and a legitimate reason to insist that it's all the school's fault. What were they thinking?

RusCrimson · 05-09-2005, 05:48 PM

Certainly a lawsuit is not the answer. Unless it's the government suing the parents for doing such a lousy job.

meembo · 05-09-2005, 06:10 PM

She can sue for whatever she feels like at the moment -- but it's certain 99% of judges side with the discretion of the police. There is no case, except if you count the value of publicity.

raeanna74 · 05-10-2005, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

False arrest.

The false arrest/imprisonment tort says false arrest is "An Unlawful Restraint Of A Person's Liberty Or Freedom Of Movement."

Do you really think it was unlawful?? If someone is damaging public property they shouldn't be restrained?? I don't see this holding up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

The kid wasn't doing anything to necessitate handcuffs. The handcuffs restrained her freedom of movement.

They restrained her from damaging more property and leaving bruises on the teachers - trust me I've been given bruises by a 5 yr old so I know it can happen.
And before you say - well she was sitting down when they started to cuff her. That's ONLY because she knew she was doing wrong - SHE KNEW - so she had no excuse for what she'd done and she knew she deserved to be restrained. Why else would she have suddenly plopped into the chair the moment the cops came in?

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

She can then heap emotional suffering on top of that (I dunno about you but if I were 5, I'd have the everlovin' CRAP scared out of me if three big uniformed cops came in and slapped cuffs on me)

If she wants to go the "emotional suffering" route - how about the teachers sueing for work related stress caused by that child. Don't tell me their blood pressure wasn't up. When dealing with an out of control child - you get scared for them and scared that someone is gonna blame you for that kids behavior - I know. Emotional scarring - that kid is already emotionally a wreck if she thinks that behavior will get her what she wants. Being restrained = emotional damage. I want to laugh. That child was warned. If she hadn't been restrained it would have taught her that her actions were justified. That's emotional scarring in my book cause that girl is gonna think that anger and tantrums work. She has a chance LONG before the cops came in to change her behavior. The fact that she changed it the moment the cops came in does not matter because THAT'S too late. You can't hold back from handing out consequences when the child stops her actions because she's seen the consequences coming. That's poor discipline to do that.

I so hope that this gets thrown out.

Oh and BTW - I read another article - Apparently the mother is trying to pull the racist card. I saw no racism in that situation. NO one mentioned color. They only responded to behavior. Pulling the racist card in this situation should be taken as an insult to all races because it's giving that arguement a bad name. It's this kind of behavior that contributes to making people angry at other races - The minority person cries victim and claims the action was an attack of their race. Next time someone IS racially persecuted legitimately people don't believe it because someone else already cried wolf. She is hurting other blacks by trying to pull this crap. That really burns me.

raeanna74 · 05-10-2005, 07:21 AM

One more thing I must add.
When it comes to what amount the tort may be filed for I believe one can only claim between $2,500 and $25,000 PLUS damages (i.e. physical harm to body or property) when filing a tort against the government for false arrest. This woman is filing for WAY more than that and she has not actual physical damages to claim for.

Section 2672 Federal Tort Claims Act.

Cuatela · 05-10-2005, 08:05 AM

If the child had been raised to respect authority, this situation might have been avoided in the first place. I still place blame on the parents. 5-year-old children should not be that destructive, and this girl wouldn't if her parents were teaching her how to behave (both by instruction/discipline and example). The only exception would be a mentally handicapped child, which is not the case (or has not been determined or made known).

liquidlight · 05-10-2005, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

This kid was sitting at the table. She wasn't tearing up the room. She wasn't hitting anyone. She didnt' go nuts when she saw the cops. Not only that, but all the kids had been cleared out of the room. There were only adults, much larger and stronger than her, in the room. There is NO WAY those cops had a reasonable suspicion that she'd hurt them or anyone else in the room.

In your own argument for suspension you have cited many times the fact that this was not the first, and by your own logic most likely not the last time that this child is going to be a behavioral problem, so why in the world would there not be suspicion that she needs to be restrained?! If they didn't put the cuffs on her who's going to be the first one that she takes a swing at when she tries to run away? No, it wouldn't necessarily happen but this child has already proven herself to be completely unreasonable, and her size doesn't mean that she couldn't do some serious damage if applied appropriately. . . think about the last time your son accidentally hit you in the groin for example.

If you watch the video again you'll notice that she doesn't freak out when the handcuffs go on, she freaks out when the officers move to put them on her, she was attempting to manipulate everyone into getting out of the consequences of her actions yet again, and I'm sorry, but given what she's already put everyone personally involved in that situation through I don't feel that she has the right to be allowed to do it again, leaving the only method of prevention as restraining her!

As for tying up your son, you're right, but you grounded him, therefore he was restrained, albeit in a different fashion. I would venture that you sent him to his room, and when you did it he obeyed because he understood the consequences. This girl had been asked to stop, told to stop, and then threatened with intervention, none of them had any effect until the officers actually came into the room. What would you have done if when you grounded your son he screamed no like this little girl, picked up the marker and went at the wall again?

It seems to me that a large part of your argument stems from the fact that she was sitting in the chair when the officers arrived, almost as if that means that she hadn't just completed a tirade. Personally, I'd love to be able to do whatever the hell I want and get away with it simply because I was sitting quietly in a chair when the police arrived, but for some reason I think I might be held a little more accountable than that.

Cuatela · 05-10-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liquidlight

It seems to me that a large part of your argument stems from the fact that she was sitting in the chair when the officers arrived, almost as if that means that she hadn't just completed a tirade. Personally, I'd love to be able to do whatever the hell I want and get away with it simply because I was sitting quietly in a chair when the police arrived, but for some reason I think I might be held a little more accountable than that.

I agree with that assessment. A lot of criminals are sitting at home watching TV or going about their "normal" lives when they're finally caught and arrested. If we treated them how Shakran wanted the child treated, there would probably be a lot more dead officers.

pattycakes · 05-10-2005, 03:02 PM

scare em while they are young.

With out being able to smack an out of control student ( maybe not smack but actually punish) there is nothign we can do.

if the teachers would had restrained her and she would have eneded up with a bruise from them holding her wrist, guess what parents would have sued

pattycakes · 05-10-2005, 03:19 PM

this is the mothers fault because she did not come when she was told to come

maleficent · 08-04-2005, 01:23 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/04/han....ap/index.html

Police: Handcuffing girl not a violation

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) -- Police officers committed an error of judgment when they handcuffed an unruly kindergartner at school in March but did not violate policy, the department's chief said Thursday.

Chief Chuck Harmon said the two officers who handcuffed the 5-year-old girl were reprimanded for minor errors in handling the situation, which gained worldwide attention when a videotape of the confrontation was released to broadcasters.

But Harmon said the officers were not punished for shackling the child, who had torn up a classroom and hit an assistant principal before the officers arrived.

Still, Harmon said, the officers should have done more investigation, explored ways to defuse the situation and allowed school officials to take the lead in handling it.

"This child needed some intervention, but I don't think it was by law enforcement," Harmon said, calling the handcuffing "premature."

The video of the March 14 confrontation prompted criticism of the police and school system, and charges of racism that brought the Rev. Jesse Jackson to town to meet with school officials. The girl is black, and the police officers are white.

Harmon said Thursday that the report found no evidence of racism by the officers.

A video camera captured images of the girl tearing papers off a bulletin board, climbing on a table and punching the assistant principal before police were called.

Then the tape shows the child appearing to calm down before officers approach, pin her arms behind her back and put on handcuffs as she screamed, "No!" and began to cry.

The girl was put in the back of a police car and had her feet restrained after she tried to kick out the window. She was released later without charges.

The girl's mother, Inga Akins, sold her story exclusively to a tabloid TV show, and her attorneys have notified the city that she plans to sue. A working phone number for Akins could not be located Thursday, and she could not be reached for comment. A call to her Stuart attorneys was not immediately returned.

Harmon said the incident prompted a policy change that will prohibit handcuffing children younger than 8 without a supervising officer being called to the scene. But officers need to retain the option of handcuffing children in "extreme situations," such as when a weapon is involved, he said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glad that the officers weren't punished...

Supple Cow · 08-04-2005, 01:28 PM

Error of judgment my ass. If I were in any doubt as to the appropriateness of the officers' actions (which I wasn't), I would be damn sure they did the right thing after hearing that the brat tried to kick the window out of the cruiser. Too bad they're changing the policy to prohibit cuffing her in the future. This will just encourage her mother even further down the wrong road and allow her to do even more damage, unrestrained.

maleficent · 08-04-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

The girl was put in the back of a police car and had her feet restrained after she tried to kick out the window. She was released later without charges.

I'd seriously question how mentally stable this girl was... She was in the back of a police car, not Manny the Molestor's car...

Cynthetiq · 08-04-2005, 01:36 PM

wild... and today I just read this Aesop's Fable to my tablet PC for voice recognition training.

Quote:

The Thief and His Mother
A BOY stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again commended him. The Youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At last he was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in sorrow, whereupon the young man said, “I wish to say something to my Mother in her ear.” She came close to him, and he quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, “Ah! if you had beaten me when I first stole and brought to you that lesson-book, I should not have come to this, nor have been thus led to a disgraceful death.”

Gilda · 08-04-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Still, Harmon said, the officers should have done more investigation, explored ways to defuse the situation and allowed school officials to take the lead in handling it.

"This child needed some intervention, but I don't think it was by law enforcement," Harmon said, calling the handcuffing "premature."

The video of the March 14 confrontation prompted criticism of the police and school system, and charges of racism that brought the Rev. Jesse Jackson to town to meet with school officials. The girl is black, and the police officers are white.

The school officials bent over backwards to handle it in house without calling the police. What I see in those videos demands praise, not criticism.

If calling the police to handle a student who has been throwing a fit for an hour, damaged property, assaulted a school official, and been engaging in behavior that is dangerous to her isn't appropriate, and whose parents are unavailable, what does a student have to do before it is warranted?

I don't see any problem with either the way the school officials or the police behavied. Given that the girl tried to kick out the car windows, and had to be further restrained, the handcuffs don't seem the least bit excessive.

Gilda

Grasshopper Green · 08-04-2005, 02:08 PM

I just read this and wondered if this thread would pop up again. I have to agree with what everyone else said, and I'm glad that the officers weren't punished for what, in my opinion, was doing their job.

bad jane · 08-08-2005, 10:48 AM

i don't see what else could have been done by the school in this situation. could she have been expelled prior to this? perhaps, but that depends on the school district. it's not always as easy as a teacher saying the kid's a brat and they don't want to deal with them. this was a public school--that limits what can be done by a lot. and even if the girl had been sent to a school for problem kids (which aren't available everywhere anyway) what would they have done with her? it may be a public school for troubled kids, but it is still a public school and teachers there are bound by the same rules as other teachers in that district.

i don't know if the handcuffing was really warranted, but it served a point i suppose. i think putting her in the back of the car would have done just as well--and then if she goes crazy restrain her (as they needed to do apparently).

as for hugging a child and telling them they are loved--great advice for parents, total crap for teachers in public schools. a jury may find that preferable to a handcuffing--until sexual assault allegations start flying. and who is to say they wouldn't? does anyone honestly believe that there aren't parents out there who would lie and encourage their children to lie about adults being inappropriate with them if it meant they'd see a ton of money? and while they may be unfounded, those aren't harmless allegations that once proven untrue change the instant opinion people form when they hear them. michael jackson wasn't convicted--would you let your kid spend the night at his place?

leaving the child alone is absurd. remove supervision from a child who clearly is out of control??? no way. had that happened, i'd have sided with the mother 100%. that may work for a parent who sends their kid to their room--but not in a school setting. i've never been in a school that has spare empty rooms a child could be placed in--there are always desks, tables, supplies etc that could be destroyed or a child could be hurt on.

i think what the school did was appropriate. the police weren't inappropriate but i think their change in policy is a good thing.

analog · 08-08-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

I don't see any problem with either the way the school officials or the police behavied. Given that the girl tried to kick out the car windows, and had to be further restrained, the handcuffs don't seem the least bit excessive.

Yeah no shit, I didn't see that 'kicking out the window' part in any of the earlier reports. Unruly is unruly, no matter the age. Handcuffs are a method of restraint, and this girl clearly needed to be restrained.

You mean to tell me if i went on a crazy rampage and then simply sat quietly, they wouldn't still put handcuffs on me? Bullshit. Being handcuffed just means you're being an asshole, and you need to stop, or you're dangerous. That little girl was given an hour to be an asshole before police had to be called, and she didn't calm down the whole time until the very end, so screw her and her mom. It's possible she calmed down because she heard someone say they called the cops. It's amazing what a kid can know at 5.

dobster · 08-08-2005, 06:17 PM

I don't know if anybody has mentioned this - couldn't find it in a search.
If you've had a chance to watch the very end of the video the cop says "Do you remember me? I'm the one who told your mum to put handcuffs on you."

Now that sounds like an adult trying to enforce the straight forward notion of action equals consequence. He has previously made a threat and he knows full well that if a threat is not followed through the action will reoccur time and time again.

The child was warned previously that if she acted a certain way the consequences would be bad for her. Now she has seen what can happen of you don't play by the rules.

Yes she is only 5, and the handcuffs seem excessive from the outside, but the only tools available to a teacher are exclusion of the child from classroom activity and the involvement of the parents. It would appear that neither of these methods had worked in the past, so the police had been involved before.

It is well known that more damage can be done to a child through a lack of discipline than by the use of scary tactics. The reasoning power of children is not developed at that age to allow them to see the subtleties of right and wrong so fear can be a useful tool.

05-09-2005, 07:56 AM	#122 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	What in the world CAN the mother sue for?? There were no damages EXCEPT to public property - which I don't hear of her offering to pay for BTW. The girl was not injured either. Is the mother gonna pay the school for the lost time, money, and damages that her out of control daughter who was supposedly raised right DAMAGED? I don't see it. How can she justify suing for millions of dollars. "In addition to the 5-year-old girl, Akins has a son, 4, and another daughter, 3. Pinellas court records show she has been trying without success to collect child support from two St. Petersburg men who are the fathers of the children. The father of the 5-year-old has been arrested more than a dozen times since 1995, mostly on drug charges. Records also show that around the time of her daughter's handcuffing, Akins was in the throes of an eviction proceeding with the owners of her St. Petersburg apartment. A note she wrote to the court indicates the problem involved subsidized rent payments from the St. Petersburg Housing Authority." Oh ok, maybe she's just wanting to pay for her boyfriends drug habits and her multiple children by multiple fathers. (note:sarcasm) I usually try hard not to be prejudice against people but this woman seems to be acting like street trash that think the world OWES them for all the hardship that they really bring on themselves. She needs to be serilized and her children given to responsible parents. I find this situation and subject disgusting. I really hope she looses on her lawsuit and that the school district and police fine her for the damages her daughter did to public property. Now THAT would be justice. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

05-09-2005, 06:10 PM	#127 (permalink)
meembo Junkie Location: Connecticut	She can sue for whatever she feels like at the moment -- but it's certain 99% of judges side with the discretion of the police. There is no case, except if you count the value of publicity. __________________ less I say, smarter I am

05-10-2005, 07:21 AM	#129 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	One more thing I must add. When it comes to what amount the tort may be filed for I believe one can only claim between $2,500 and $25,000 PLUS damages (i.e. physical harm to body or property) when filing a tort against the government for false arrest. This woman is filing for WAY more than that and she has not actual physical damages to claim for. Section 2672 Federal Tort Claims Act. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma. Last edited by raeanna74; 05-10-2005 at 07:24 AM..

05-10-2005, 08:05 AM	#130 (permalink)
Cuatela Insane Location: NC, USA	If the child had been raised to respect authority, this situation might have been avoided in the first place. I still place blame on the parents. 5-year-old children should not be that destructive, and this girl wouldn't if her parents were teaching her how to behave (both by instruction/discipline and example). The only exception would be a mentally handicapped child, which is not the case (or has not been determined or made known). __________________ Any sarcasm was intentional.

08-04-2005, 01:23 PM	#135 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/04/han....ap/index.html Police: Handcuffing girl not a violation ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) -- Police officers committed an error of judgment when they handcuffed an unruly kindergartner at school in March but did not violate policy, the department's chief said Thursday. Chief Chuck Harmon said the two officers who handcuffed the 5-year-old girl were reprimanded for minor errors in handling the situation, which gained worldwide attention when a videotape of the confrontation was released to broadcasters. But Harmon said the officers were not punished for shackling the child, who had torn up a classroom and hit an assistant principal before the officers arrived. Still, Harmon said, the officers should have done more investigation, explored ways to defuse the situation and allowed school officials to take the lead in handling it. "This child needed some intervention, but I don't think it was by law enforcement," Harmon said, calling the handcuffing "premature." The video of the March 14 confrontation prompted criticism of the police and school system, and charges of racism that brought the Rev. Jesse Jackson to town to meet with school officials. The girl is black, and the police officers are white. Harmon said Thursday that the report found no evidence of racism by the officers. A video camera captured images of the girl tearing papers off a bulletin board, climbing on a table and punching the assistant principal before police were called. Then the tape shows the child appearing to calm down before officers approach, pin her arms behind her back and put on handcuffs as she screamed, "No!" and began to cry. The girl was put in the back of a police car and had her feet restrained after she tried to kick out the window. She was released later without charges. The girl's mother, Inga Akins, sold her story exclusively to a tabloid TV show, and her attorneys have notified the city that she plans to sue. A working phone number for Akins could not be located Thursday, and she could not be reached for comment. A call to her Stuart attorneys was not immediately returned. Harmon said the incident prompted a policy change that will prohibit handcuffing children younger than 8 without a supervising officer being called to the scene. But officers need to retain the option of handcuffing children in "extreme situations," such as when a weapon is involved, he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Glad that the officers weren't punished... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

05-09-2005, 11:24 AM	#124 (permalink)
hrandani Insane	You know that's a pretty good example of not only what's wrong with our country but why I changed my mind about becoming a teacher.

05-09-2005, 05:48 PM	#126 (permalink)
RusCrimson Tilted Location: Massachusetts	Certainly a lawsuit is not the answer. Unless it's the government suing the parents for doing such a lousy job.

08-04-2005, 01:28 PM	#136 (permalink)
Supple Cow Americow, the Beautiful Location: Washington, D.C.	Error of judgment my ass. If I were in any doubt as to the appropriateness of the officers' actions (which I wasn't), I would be damn sure they did the right thing after hearing that the brat tried to kick the window out of the cruiser. Too bad they're changing the policy to prohibit cuffing her in the future. This will just encourage her mother even further down the wrong road and allow her to do even more damage, unrestrained. __________________ "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." (Michael Jordan)

08-04-2005, 02:08 PM	#140 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	I just read this and wondered if this thread would pop up again. I have to agree with what everyone else said, and I'm glad that the officers weren't punished for what, in my opinion, was doing their job. __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

08-08-2005, 10:48 AM	#141 (permalink)
bad jane Insane	i don't see what else could have been done by the school in this situation. could she have been expelled prior to this? perhaps, but that depends on the school district. it's not always as easy as a teacher saying the kid's a brat and they don't want to deal with them. this was a public school--that limits what can be done by a lot. and even if the girl had been sent to a school for problem kids (which aren't available everywhere anyway) what would they have done with her? it may be a public school for troubled kids, but it is still a public school and teachers there are bound by the same rules as other teachers in that district. i don't know if the handcuffing was really warranted, but it served a point i suppose. i think putting her in the back of the car would have done just as well--and then if she goes crazy restrain her (as they needed to do apparently). as for hugging a child and telling them they are loved--great advice for parents, total crap for teachers in public schools. a jury may find that preferable to a handcuffing--until sexual assault allegations start flying. and who is to say they wouldn't? does anyone honestly believe that there aren't parents out there who would lie and encourage their children to lie about adults being inappropriate with them if it meant they'd see a ton of money? and while they may be unfounded, those aren't harmless allegations that once proven untrue change the instant opinion people form when they hear them. michael jackson wasn't convicted--would you let your kid spend the night at his place? leaving the child alone is absurd. remove supervision from a child who clearly is out of control??? no way. had that happened, i'd have sided with the mother 100%. that may work for a parent who sends their kid to their room--but not in a school setting. i've never been in a school that has spare empty rooms a child could be placed in--there are always desks, tables, supplies etc that could be destroyed or a child could be hurt on. i think what the school did was appropriate. the police weren't inappropriate but i think their change in policy is a good thing.

08-08-2005, 06:17 PM	#143 (permalink)
dobster Insane Location: South London, UK	I don't know if anybody has mentioned this - couldn't find it in a search. If you've had a chance to watch the very end of the video the cop says "Do you remember me? I'm the one who told your mum to put handcuffs on you." Now that sounds like an adult trying to enforce the straight forward notion of action equals consequence. He has previously made a threat and he knows full well that if a threat is not followed through the action will reoccur time and time again. The child was warned previously that if she acted a certain way the consequences would be bad for her. Now she has seen what can happen of you don't play by the rules. Yes she is only 5, and the handcuffs seem excessive from the outside, but the only tools available to a teacher are exclusion of the child from classroom activity and the involvement of the parents. It would appear that neither of these methods had worked in the past, so the police had been involved before. It is well known that more damage can be done to a child through a lack of discipline than by the use of scary tactics. The reasoning power of children is not developed at that age to allow them to see the subtleties of right and wrong so fear can be a useful tool. __________________ sig-na-ture 1. One's name as written by oneself. 2. The act of signing one's name. 3. A distinctive mark, characteristic, or sound indicating identity.