Is It OK to Handcuff a Child for Throwing a Tantrum?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/04/19 13:00:00

Related Topics: Weird News, salecia johnson, tantrum, School, Police, New York, parents, New York Times, Smart, Time, The New York Times, Georgia, Court, Principal

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634 votes
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	Yes	285 votes	45%
	No	349 votes	55%

If you think your kid is a handful, wait 'til you hear this one. Six-year-old Salecia Johnson threw such a colossal tantrum that Creekside Elementary School in Georgia called the police, and when they got there the police had such a hard time with her that they handcuffed her and took her downtown. Talk about a piece of work...

According to WMAZ, a local station, little Salecia knocked over a shelf, injuring the school principal, right before the police were called. Her parents were in disbelief. The girl was even charged with simple assault and damage to property, though The New York Times writes that she won't have to go to court because she's too young. Do you think it's OK to handcuff a 6-year-old for throwing a tantrum? Or is this news just ridiculous?

+22

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Nica24 2012/04/19 14:28:50

Yes

+16
I wouldn't say that was a tantrum. She was out of control, hopefully she learned her lesson out of it.

Of course the little girl has to be African America, where are thee Obama? Let's turn this into a racist thing again..
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Ambassador II 2012/04/20 02:25:13

Yes

+2
Fine with me. Tie the little freaks hands and "waterboard" him, give him the Dick Cheny dip in the shallow end of the pool. Let me know how it all workd out.

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boatnectar 2012/04/20 02:20:06
BwaHa to boatnectar 2012/04/20 03:17:13

yet...

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El Jefe to BwaHa 2012/04/20 03:25:29

Not even.

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Melba 2012/04/20 02:19:51

Yes

+4
Respect is something that is taught, she WAS NEVER TAUGHT respect. by her family. If the girl had of been receiving the type of training at she should have been getting, she would not of acted in such a disrespectful manor in the first place.
Yes she should have been taken in ,in handcuffs, the parents should be fined, for allowing their child to get this out of control in the first place. It is past time parents take responsibility for their children’s actions. She did not just begin this that day, you can be sure it goes on non stop at home .

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Saul Bo... to Melba 2012/04/20 10:53:26
Rusty Shackleford 2012/04/20 02:12:05

Yes

+4
Children need discipline.

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Treasure ♥ijm♥ 2012/04/20 02:10:03

No

+2
To me that is abuse!

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El Jefe to Treasur... 2012/04/20 03:24:58

+3
To me you are a moron.

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Treasur... to El Jefe 2012/04/20 13:29:49

Because I stated my opinion, I am a moron??? This is an opinion site. I respect others opinions and there is no need to call some names!

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Max7 2012/04/20 02:05:59

No

+2
Our society has gone to the dogs, who in their right mind would do this? Especially someone with an educational background, no doubt a individual who doesn't believe in spanking, but handcuffing is okay. Whoever did this should be physco-analyzed. Children at six-years of age take tantrums, and this kind of action in my opinion does not require handcuffs or calling the police. Teachers I thought were trained how to communicate with adolescents.

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El Jefe to Max7 2012/04/20 03:01:25

It sounds like she was past the point of being talked to. Handcuffs were the only way to restrain and calm her down.

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Max7 to El Jefe 2012/04/20 03:19:06 (edited)

+1
It was a litle boy I think, either or, I think that the teacher used bad judgment. I went back and looked at the picture, and it is a little girl.

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Dandydon 2012/04/20 02:05:31

Yes

+4
It is now,especially when they now learn,they can get away with it...

Probably wont be long before police will start having to taser them,for failure to comply..

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chrystal97 2012/04/20 02:00:26

Yes

+6
It's ok to detain, or handcuff anyone who is out of control and is a threat to themselves or others. This principal does not have to sit there and take this abuse, neither do the police officers. It's ok because they are so out of control. Knocked over a self injuring the principal counts as being out of control. I don't care how old they are.

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pellmelle 2012/04/20 01:58:19 (edited)

Yes

+4
If we don't do our jobs as parents, the criminal justice system will- I respect all viewpoints! I have a 8yr old who when is not in my presence is on her own agenda! Every since Pre-k she goes to school and cuts up, grades are outstanding she is ahead of her grade level, but her BEHAVIOR...OMG! Im embarrassed, some days she an angel other days her impulses take over. I have two others who do well in school E's for conduct and star students. I just give her either a combination of going old school on her or by knowledge from studying child psychologist & child rearing experts;etc. Here is my diagnosis -CPS- parents are afraid to whoop some ass! CPS made us some PUNK A$$ PARENTS (Bernie Mac) and they have came to my house 3x for some bull**** "inappropriate discipline" my child was not beaten, bruised, burnt, or what have you and her life is not in danger. The school called CPS and told them its not normal for me to have a daily conduct folder for a 3rd grader so that I can monitor her behavior. I tell you what they DISMISSED the stupid cases 3 times. The first time CPS came to my house my child was in Pre-K. I was in my psychology class taking a test & my phone was off when they were calling me to come pick her up because she had a fever. I was in TEARS when the CPS lady came ...

If we don't do our jobs as parents, the criminal justice system will- I respect all viewpoints! I have a 8yr old who when is not in my presence is on her own agenda! Every since Pre-k she goes to school and cuts up, grades are outstanding she is ahead of her grade level, but her BEHAVIOR...OMG! Im embarrassed, some days she an angel other days her impulses take over. I have two others who do well in school E's for conduct and star students. I just give her either a combination of going old school on her or by knowledge from studying child psychologist & child rearing experts;etc. Here is my diagnosis -CPS- parents are afraid to whoop some ass! CPS made us some PUNK A$$ PARENTS (Bernie Mac) and they have came to my house 3x for some bull**** "inappropriate discipline" my child was not beaten, bruised, burnt, or what have you and her life is not in danger. The school called CPS and told them its not normal for me to have a daily conduct folder for a 3rd grader so that I can monitor her behavior. I tell you what they DISMISSED the stupid cases 3 times. The first time CPS came to my house my child was in Pre-K. I was in my psychology class taking a test & my phone was off when they were calling me to come pick her up because she had a fever. I was in TEARS when the CPS lady came to my house the next day, I thought they were going to take my kids!!! I was like there are some unfit mothers out here that you should be rounding up, I'm not one of them. I LOVE my babies and I will NOT fail them.
(more)

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SlaveWaterNymph 2012/04/20 01:54:43

Yes

+3
As i was reading parents didnt come and try to calm down the child. And even the principal was probably trying to calm her down, and she hurt him for being out of control. So i would say yes, to using handcuffs to calm her down, as she intended to hurt people. I think she needs counseling and to learn how to control her angry or else when she grows up and keep doing this, she will go to jail and such. Sigh

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shadow76 2012/04/20 01:44:32

No

+1
I would think you would call the parents first, I would be extremely POd if they did that to my kid.

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Faith ~... to shadow76 2012/04/20 03:15:43

+1
They did, the parents couldn't be reached

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shadow76 to Faith ~... 2012/04/20 08:29:33

They could have kept trying

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Faith ~... to shadow76 2012/04/20 13:51:12

I'm sure they did. But they also had a situation that needed to be handled.

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shadow76 to Faith ~... 2012/04/22 10:41:08

What about social services. clearly there are issues?

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Faith ~... to shadow76 2012/04/22 16:17:10

A temper tantrum and destruction of property is not a social services matter. There are obviously issues, and social services should probably investigate, but they would not be the ones to actually handle getting the kid under control.

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tony to shadow76 2012/04/21 01:49:02

My girlfriend is an inner city school teacher. Some parents get mad when she calls them and just stop answering cuz they don't want to be bothered. Could be this girls parents are called a lot.

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shadow76 to tony 2012/04/22 10:42:20

Possible, maybe this might actuall turn out for good who knows?

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the judgebigdogeagle 2012/04/20 01:32:03

No

+2
Hell No. Who called the police ? They should be the ones handcuffed.

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El Jefe to the jud... 2012/04/20 03:02:06

+1
Really?- and why is that?

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Faith ~... to the jud... 2012/04/20 03:16:29

The teachers. They couldn't touch the kid or calm her down, neither could the police. What is the alternative?

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The Logical Canadian 2012/04/20 01:27:05

No

+1
But only in America Eh?
I heard some kid shot another over the same thing

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Candi 2012/04/20 01:24:34

No

+4
But a good ol fashion butt whooping would have tamed the child

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Osaka 2012/04/20 01:19:18

No

+1
See the 44% in jail, LOL.

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fcombs 2012/04/20 01:14:14

No

+3
An adult should never even consider such an absurd notion as handcuffing a child. If the child is out of your control, call some kind of hot line - call somebody with a cooler head and better parenting skills. A six year old handcuffed by big burly policemen. Now really - how ridiculous is that?

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El Jefe to fcombs 2012/04/20 03:03:39

+3
A hot line really? She was throwing a tantrum, knocking down things and injuring people, there was no time to call a hot line,or reason with the child.

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fcombs to El Jefe 2012/04/21 18:57:31

Well, then the police should definitely bring on the billy club and the taser. Yep, that taser would calm her ass down. Come on, people, it's a little kid. She's not Damien from the Omen. She has no supernatural powers.

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Faith ~... to fcombs 2012/04/20 03:18:14

+2
The child was out of the teacher and principle's control, they called someone with a cooler head, the police. The police weren't able to calm the kid down either. What other option did they have? She was hurting people...

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fcombs to Faith ~... 2012/04/21 18:58:50 (edited)

+1
It would have helped a great deal if the authority to deal with unruly children had not been TAKEN AWAY from teachers and principals. I guess when you think about it like that they had no choice.

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Faith ~... to fcombs 2012/04/21 19:52:14

Exactly.

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gvc to fcombs 2012/04/20 03:53:25

+2
A hot line? Hahahahahahahaha I think when you call the police you are calling a HOT line.
Well, if nothing else you gave me a good laugh tonight.

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fcombs to gvc 2012/04/21 18:59:45

+1
It was tongue in cheek sarcasm. But I'm glad it made you laugh. Laughing is good for you.

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Fannie 2012/04/20 01:08:54

No

+1
It is not a good thing, next they will put 6 years old in solitary confinement.

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