PUBLIC OPINION > It's Not OK to Handcuff Kids
SodaHead News
2012/04/20 13:00:00
The parents of 6-year-old Salecia Johnson were shocked to find out that their child had been handcuffed and hauled off to jail on Tuesday. According to The Associated Press, while at school she "threw a small shelf that struck the principal in the leg, and jumped on a paper shredder and tried to break a glass frame." At some point administrators called the cops, and when the officer couldn't calm her down he put her in cuffs and took her to the station. This story has "controversy" written all over it, so you know we asked the public.
Sure enough, the results are just shy of a split decision. Overall, the voters decided against it by a margin of 10%, but there was more than enough support to get a toasty debate going. The real issue seemed to be whether there were any other options available. Those who voted in favor of the cuffing assumed there must have been good cause; those who voted against it assumed it was an overreaction. Some blamed the parents for not teaching her to behave in the first place; others wondered what the school did to cause the tantrum. There were a lot of angles.
Teens Think It's Terrible
Voters closest in age to the girl were most likely to oppose the officer's use of handcuffs. Maybe it's a little scary to realize just how vulnerable they could be if they don't act right. If a 6-year-old can get the cuffs, they're certainly not immune. Plus, they probably remember what it was like to be six a little better.
Parents Weigh Their Options
You might think parents would be more defensive, but they were actually more supportive than most. Along with voters who don't want kids at all, parents were split down the middle. However, voters who want kids someday were much less supportive. They don't know what they're in for.
Liberals Don't Like It
Yes, of course there was a political element to this. It actually wasn't as pronounced as it could have been, but conservatives were two times as likely as liberals to condone the use of handcuffs in this instance. Right-leaning voters frequently pointed out that handcuffs are merely a restraint, and not physically damaging. At least they didn't tase her.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about handcuffing children. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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fluer 2012/04/20 17:00:46
+16As a teacher who has had students out of control I can only assume this child was really out there badly. In the last 8 years we have only had to call the police one time and in that case they did haul the kiddo off to jail I think in cuffs. I guess they could have put her in a jacket, but if you stop and consider that she had already shown the inclination to injure and then destroy property could they let her go until she calmed down and potentially risk injury to another student or more property damage? Kiddo needed to be stopped to protect the rest of her peers and the staff from her destructive behavior. Do I like to consider this no, but in the real world where no one from the school can lay a hand on her without facing the very real possibility of a lawsuit the options are limited. Kiddo needs help but she also needs to learn there are consequences to actions. Sad all the way around.
News flash, I have and will put my hands on kids of ALL colors when they are out of control, and will continue to do so, and never not once, have I ever seen, nor based my decsions to use restraint on an out of control individual based on the color of their skin!
If you're acting like a donkey, you will be dealt with accordingly, REGARDLESS of color.
Where you get your stats from, I'm not sure. But as a minority myself, I think we percieve things in this society way different than others, and sometimes those perceptions equal REALTY in the minds of most. Sad how we feed into that mentality, and in the meantime, our kids are malfunctioning BIG TIME!
And do me a favor, save the "duhhhhhh's"... It really lessen's the value of what it is you are trying so poorly to state.
That's right honey.. That big ole glass S.T.F.U was served cold...
and guess what?
We're still here..
No tragedy has befallen us. We aren't serail killers or criminals.
And our kids don't act a donkey, cuz they know better. ; )
You're right!
We should reward them..
Give them candy for acting like a donkey..Than "fake slap" them on the wrist, not a real slap, God forbid, and give them a pass back to class. And all will be well once again...
An unknown child having a complete melt down?
How long do you think it takes an emotionally and physically out of control kid to "calm down" when being restrained?
Have you ever heard of restraint-related positional asphyxia? Have you ever been restrained? Being restrained can be a traumatizing experience, especially for a little kid. Especially if that child is or has ever been assaulted/ sexually.
While what you said, makes "sense" in the minds of many, the reality is that it is never that easy in real life. Kids now adays lack disicpline, self-control and respect for themselves, let alone anyone else. And parents enable them to be that way, and if that officer had restrained her and she would hurt herself in the process, the officer would be brought up on charges, and the parents would be sueing the police dept and the school district. That's a fact. that's reality. Happens all the time.
Handcuffs really are the least harmful, least restrcitive way to control an out of control person, no matter how old they are.
Really though, the parents created this monster and they should be the ones in handcuffs.
The truth is kids are NOT being disciplined at home. and disciplne has nothing to do with corporal punishment. Kids are not being taught the 3 R's. Respect for self, Respect for others, and taking RESPONSIBILTY for our own actions. That is why kids act like donkeys. And let's say for the sake of arguement, that you are correct in your assumptions that this child lives in a messed up household. The fact is that many kids do now adays. Many of us have been there, done that. It's Unfortunate. However; that doesn't give them cart blanche to act that way. If people showed as much concern for the lives of children after they are born, they way they do before, maybe we won't have so many messed up kids. but the fact is that we (this society) does not. (just look and see how many kids are in foster care, and/or are runaways, lost and/or presumed dead -where's all the concern for them in those situations?)
No concern there. Definetly not enough, so that why we enable them and tolerate their BS because that's what bleeding hearts tell people to do , but the only thing we do by enabling kids to act like donkeys is turn them into disabled, enabled, pukes who end up unable, and unwilling to care for themselves>...
The truth is kids are NOT being disciplined at home. and disciplne has nothing to do with corporal punishment. Kids are not being taught the 3 R's. Respect for self, Respect for others, and taking RESPONSIBILTY for our own actions. That is why kids act like donkeys. And let's say for the sake of arguement, that you are correct in your assumptions that this child lives in a messed up household. The fact is that many kids do now adays. Many of us have been there, done that. It's Unfortunate. However; that doesn't give them cart blanche to act that way. If people showed as much concern for the lives of children after they are born, they way they do before, maybe we won't have so many messed up kids. but the fact is that we (this society) does not. (just look and see how many kids are in foster care, and/or are runaways, lost and/or presumed dead -where's all the concern for them in those situations?)
No concern there. Definetly not enough, so that why we enable them and tolerate their BS because that's what bleeding hearts tell people to do , but the only thing we do by enabling kids to act like donkeys is turn them into disabled, enabled, pukes who end up unable, and unwilling to care for themselves> Basically they either get killed or end up in jail, and/or they need to be "supported" by welfare, as they are "unable" to care for themselves, as big leeches on the ass of humanity, on tax-payers money.
We will all reap what we sow when it comes to the way kids are treated, or should I say, untreated.
Only speaking from experience, and what I see on a daily basis..Sadly. : (
Everyone has one, and they all STINK!
Bad things happen to good people all the time, but when the going gets tough the tough don't sit around blaming others. They move onward and upward, and don't expect everything to be handed to them cuz they think themselves so damn special. Perception and reality are two different things, but it doesn't stop people from thinking otherwise.
RESPONSIBITLY for one's own actions have nothing to do with blaming. this is something that most have difficulty understanding. Case and point.
That whole, "Everybody does it -so why shouldn't I " menatlity and way of doing things is the reason this country is producing the class of enabled and entitled citizens that has never been seen before. To the detriment of us all.
The only cure:
People need to give their brains more oxygen!
What's described abover is not a temper tantrum, it is destructive and dangerous behavior "she "threw a small shelf that struck the principal in the leg, and jumped on a paper shredder and tried to break a glass frame."
If you would have asked me this question 10 years ago I would have said NO way, no kids in cuffs. That was before a student in my 3rd grade class (his 3rd time) jumped up, knocking over desks with students in them and tried to beat me with a chair. Turns out, he was sent to my class because his last teacher was still in the hospital from 3 broken ribs and a fractured wrist from beaing beaten with a desk by this same student. Thank God, I had THEE security guards in my 3rd grade class.