Can a Teacher grab a 5 yr old child by the arm?

Question

My son was grabbed by the arm, by his head teacher, he was crying and tried to break free, when he got away she grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward her again, can she be allowed to get away with it? every where i look it seems as though she is protected by the law and there is no provision for the childs safety

Answer 1

If your child is causing other children harm their is a proper way many teachers are thought to restarint a kid. Other wise I dont think you are suppposed to.

Answer 2

Teachers are allowed to touch students, to guide and help them (for example in sport, or to wipe away tears). They are allowed to grasp/restrain children if they are about to hurt themselves or another child. They are never allowed to strike a child.

Many teachers are so worried about having to protect themself against an allegation that they think they cannot ever touch a child. This culminated in a case where a child had an accident and the teacher did not intervene in time (because they didn't know you were allowed to grab a child bleeding in a swimming pool- they were foolish and cowed by their idea of the law); the teacher was prosecuted (for not intervening when in loco parentis) but after that steps have been made to clarify the law. Those teachers here who say no, are, I'm afraid, wrong.

If your child looked like they were going to hurt another child or themselves (ie get in a fight or run into something/off into the blue yonder in a blind tantrum) then holding on and keeping hold was right, even if they cried. If it was just random, it was wrong. I doubt it would be random though.

Parents are very highly protected by the law. This is why most teachers won't take school trips any more- parents will sue the TEACHER who chose the coach company if the coach crashes (not the driver). Cases of false allegations are up 50% on the last decade and careers are ruined even when it is found to be a lie or misunderstanding (I'm NOT talking about your kid here but older kids).

No teacher would dare overstep the mark in the current climate- you are much, much better protected by the law than the teacher.

Answer 3

As long as the action is reasonable they yes she can do it. I have to say I don't understand you reaction here - it sounds more like you are enabling your child - unless there was some harm caused by this teacher's action - and besides the crying there doesn't seem to be - you don't seem to have a leg to stand on. Legally a teacher is in the position of Loco-parentisus (sorry my spelling here might be off) which means when a child in in her/his care they are in the position of the parent. Are you allow to hold your child's arm even when they are crying and trying to break free - the answer is yes.

The issue is why was she restraining your child - if he was going to cause harm to another child - heck a stranger in the street could hold him if that was his planed action. There are many provisions for child safety - it just doesn't seem from what you are saying here that this teacher crossed any. Give more details.

With respects!!!

Answer 4

As far as Im aware she is in the wrong unless she did it for his or another childs safety. My parents are currently involving the police and an investigation is taking place in their foster childs school for a similar situation. I personally think that it is a little extream to be grabbing young kids by the arm if their just being a little naughty like all kids can be, I would definately raise it with the head teacher to find out why it was done. Good luck!

Answer 5

there is plenty of provision for child safety, notably the every child matters act that recently came in to force. teachers will not just randomly go around grabbing children. she must of had a good reason to do so. i suggest you make an appointment with the head teacher to discuss her actions and to give her side of the story. teachers do have the power to restrain if there is the possibility of harm occasioning to your child or to other children. i find it very hard to believe that she did this on a whim. i have three children myself and would be more than happy with what the teacher had done had it been my child it i'd questioned it and not just taken the word of a five year old who doesnt have the objectivity of an adult. this isnt a slur on your child, its fact. he'd of seen it as being grabbed while the teacher may well have valid reasons.

Answer 6

What you have to understand is that the laws that you are looking at are very necessary to the safety of students whenever a child loses control of their own behavior. Speaking from 8 years of urban education experience, I can tell you that it would be detrimental to the group of innocent students if a teacher was legally not allowed to physically restrain a student who was physically out of control. I do not know you, your son or your teacher but just be careful to not create a wall blocking positive communication between you and your son's teacher. No matter how your discipline styles may differ, it is vital that you build a partnership so that you son receives the best possible education. The last thing that you want him to do is confuse him by undermining his teacher's authority.

Answer 7

No she should not have grabbed his arm.

I don't know what the situation was but if he was misbehaving in some way, and she had to restrain him a teacher is supposed to firmly hold a child in place (without hurting the child) until they are calm, in this time the teacher should speak to the child in a calm but firm tone and tell them that they can return to what they were doing when they have calmed down and have apologised for their actions.

It sounded as though she may have hurt him, however I don't really know the situation. If your son was being restrained and she grabbed him in a rough mannor instead of holding him firmly, then that is wrong. However if she tried to restrain him in the correct way and he didn't like it he may have cried because of this and not because she grabbed him in a rough way, I say this as it is a possibility and the situation may have been misunderstood.

Answer 8

There is plenty of protection for children in law. In fact teachers are at a distinct disadvantage, they can be suspended on the malicious statement of a single child. I think you should find out more about this incident and find out why he was with the headteacher ( to the yanks that is the principle) what behaviour on his part meant he was sent there. Or are you after a bit of compensation for next years holiday

Answer 9

First of all you need to find out why he was grabbed. Was he fighting? Was he running in the hall? Was he walking into traffic?

There are times that kids do need to be touched by teachers.
They may need their hair combed before school pictures. They may need a shoulder hug when things are going badly.

Unfortunately there are parents that are looking for a free ride and a way to sue the school district. Find out the real reason this occurred before worrying about legal action.

Answer 10

You ever think that your child needs some 'effing discipline. It people like you that have screwed this country up, you bleeding heart liberal. You make me sick.

So, playing the child safety card - what utter crap! Oh! Think of the children.... I bet he'll grow up to be a mugger or worse because YOU led him to believe there were no consequences for bad behaviour. People like you and the do-gooder, social work brigade are a disgrace to society.

The REAL issue is "what to spend your compensation on?" Well...isn't it? ...or are you wanting to appear on Riki Lake, Jerry Spinger, Oprah or heaven forbid Dr. Phil....go on - complain some more baout abusive teachers & you might get your own TV special.

Answer 11

May. May a Teacher gran a 5 yr old child by the arm. Anyone "Can". And yes, by sending your child to a school you are putting him under their responsibility and honestly, people are tougher than that. Getting pulled by the arm isn't going to hurt anyone.