Iowa School Principal Delivers Birthday Spankings to Students

reply to post by Michelle129th

I don't see how a parent saying someone doesn't have a right to physically touch their child is somehow not being a good parent, if my child needs disciplining then I will be the one to do it, it is my responsibility to do that, not some tax payer funded moron who couldn't hold a job in the free market, If they could they would be teaching in a private school where pay is based upon performance. If you are ok with someone else doing your job as a parent send your child to a school that does have corporal punishment, maybe a catholic school. The children today are the way they are not because of lack of school discipline but lack of parental involvement.

I still think these are parents that are over reacting to something that a principal is using to help get to know the kids he's in charge of. Read this report in the Gazette.

Opinion mixed about Mount Vernon principal’s ‘birthday spankings’

Here's a quote from a poster on that same page.

All indications have been this “paddle” was nothing more than a hockey stick with a big foam pad wrapped around it. The “spankings” were nothing more than a tap on the bottom. There was no beating, no sexual connotations. It was done in full view of others. All this is, are the hysterical rantings of some helicopter parents who think their kids are being “abused” in some way when nothing could be further from the truth.

Here's another report on the incident.

Some concerned about elementary school’s ‘birthday spankings’

So this guy is being crucified when nothing was proven that he did this out of sexual pleasure? It's been an old birthday tradition that kids used to get a number of birthday taps based upon their new age. It was done to me years ago and I'm sure to many others that grew up during that time. Just because this guy was using an old birthday tradition to help familiarize himself with the students he sees in his hallways, is by no way a reason to ask for this guys head. This is why we have so many ridiculous law suits that are wasting tax payer's dollars.

Put this in the file of political correctness.

Originally posted by WeRpeons
So regardless of what the parent decides about how they wish their child to be treated, you are perfectly ok with just ignoring it because its all in good fun? And what about if they decide to start "teaching" children what water boarding is by doing it to them in the name of "education"? You are perfectly fine with the idea of a child who has been through such a traumatic event in their life that someone else touching then causes unnecessary stress, simply because some stranger wants to have a little fun?

This parent attempted to get this resolved through the "proper" channels, and his concerns were not even addressed until he went to the police, nothing need more be said.

reply to post by NuroSlam

I don't see how a parent saying someone doesn't have a right to physically touch their child is somehow not being a good parent

Are you even aware that a student who does something wrong in school like calling a teacher a fu##er or being disruptive in a classroom can't have his arm held and escorted to the office? The first thing that comes out of a kids mouth is, "if you touch me I'll sue you". If the student refuses to go, a police officer has to be called down to the room to escort him to the office. Sometimes it leads to the kid being hand-cuffed if he resists. Do you prefer this over a teacher taking him by the arm and escorting him to the office?

The topic of your thread is the reason the public school system frowns on teacher's laying hands on kids. Some innocent touching is taken out of content and can be used against teachers or administrators. Teachers are told never to give kids hugs for a job well done, never to reprimand a student in private, no pats on the shoulder etc... If a kid is walking home in a down pore, it's against school policy to give that student a ride home. So now because of a few court cases, your son or daughter is not receiving that motivational pat on the back or hug some students need.

not some tax payer funded moron who couldn't hold a job in the free market, If they could they would be teaching in a private school where pay is based upon performance.

This quote says it all about your intentions in this thread. Sounds like you have a problem with the teaching profession? Where did you get that private schools pay is based upon performance? My nephew worked at a private school as a Physics teacher and was always praised by the principal for his work in the classroom. He never received a penny more than anyone else with the same number of years teaching. (He left 3 years later and is now working in the public school system).

So teachers are all morons that can't hold a job in the free market? I take offense to that, because I'm a teacher and worked in the free market for 10 years before the 80's recession hit. I decided to go back to school and become a teacher. Don't brush all teacher with the same broad brush. There's a lot of good and bad in every profession.

There's absolutely no excuse to be spanking a kid in jest , or for punishment, without the parents permission.

If that was one of my kids he was "birthday" spanking , he better be ready for the consequences.

reply to post by NuroSlam


There are a lot of people that will try to con money out of the system. You nor I know exactly what kind of "trauma" these parents are claiming. School districts have their own set of attorneys, the last thing they want is a law suit. Just because they didn't receive the results they were looking for, could mean after everything was evaluated, the district attorneys felt the claim was frivolous and that no crime was committed.

The principal has stopped doing the birthday taps, yet these parents are still pushing for criminal charges? I really question the motivation of these parents.

reply to post by WeRpeons

The principal has stopped doing the birthday taps, yet these parents are still pushing for criminal charges? I really question the motivation of these parents.

Maybe they just want to send a loud and clear message that this type of behavior will NOT , nor should be tolerated.

Thats crazy. I live in linn county(Cedar Rapids)
I hadda go to a christian school growin up called Cedar Valley. Kids got spanked there every now n then under dire circumstances(not birthday taps) but not any recently that I can think of.
Then again, its been a lil while since I've been there so things coulda changed

Originally posted by gabby2011
reply to post by WeRpeons

 

The principal has stopped doing the birthday taps, yet these parents are still pushing for criminal charges? I really question the motivation of these parents.

Maybe they just want to send a loud and clear message that this type of behaviour will NOT , nor should be tolerated.

i think when a superintendent not only does nothing but condones it by lack of action it is a criminal action

how about this, you who provide "public" education, put your hands on my daughter, I will put a bullet between your eyes. do you get the point now?

"Birthday Spankings" should be unquestionably reserved only for adults in their own privacy.

reply to post by NuroSlam

i think when a superintendent not only does nothing but condones it by lack of action it is a criminal action

yep..I would totally have to agree with you on that statement...and I can't see how the courts could see it any other way as well.

Originally posted by WeRpeons
reply to post by NuroSlam

 

There are a lot of people that will try to con money out of the system. You nor I know exactly what kind of "trauma" these parents are claiming. School districts have their own set of attorneys, the last thing they want is a law suit. Just because they didn't receive the results they were looking for, could mean after everything was evaluated, the district attorneys felt the claim was frivolous and that no crime was committed.

Another example of the civil servant deciding they know better then the parent.

The principal has stopped doing the birthday taps, yet these parents are still pushing for criminal charges? I really question the motivation of these parents.

The principle only stopped after the police had been contacted, the fact is, the superintendent by "allowing" the lawyer to decided, showed total disregard for the rights and concerns of the parent. i will repeat myself, you physically "touch" my daughter in anyway except to prevent her from being harmed or harming another, and I'm going to blow your head off. Since people like you seem to think its ok. let me spell it out for you, It is plain and simple, it is an act of assault regardless of its actual damage.