Teacher Abusing a Minor?

Question

Hi,
My son is 10 and is in elementary school, his teacher always centers him out and just today we had some snow for the first time this year and all the kids got to go sledding on the hill at the back of the school. The teacher told my son that because he didn't have boots or snowpants he had to stay at the school and read meanwhile the whole school got to go outside and have fun. Since this is the first day we have had snow i haven't seen a need to buy my son new boots or snowpants but he does have a warm winter coat, hat, scarf and mittens. Do you think his teacher was justified in making my son stay in while the whole school was out sledding?

abuse can be mental and physical and emotional

there is about 2 cm of snow on the ground

my son has all his warm clothes but it only started snowing at 10am today and his recess was at 10:40am he came home for lunch and notified me of this stuff and he advised me that there were other kids who did not have proper attire but were allowed outside. I understand the cold can be a ***** but its only -2 and with only 2cm of snow on the ground its hardly enough for him to get soaked.

Answer 1

No, I don't think it was justified because I highly doubt that in your son's entire school, he was the only one who didn't have snowpants or boots. In fact, the kids that did were probably in the minority because I couldn't see many parents forking out for such things year-after-year unless they saw it had snowed and these were needed. Plus, most schools will send children out to play in whatever they are wearing so long as they have the basics in a warm coat and gloves. It's not as if you live in Antarctica.

I would be careful how to approach this one though. You don't want to make this worse by targetting a teacher and, in turn, she focuses her wrath on your son. Make an appointment with her (take someone with you for support) and perhaps the headteacher to discuss how sad and lonely your son felt that day and that you didn't mind him going out to play. Also, that your son feels she picks on him for keeping him in that day. Don't get angry, just see what she says. But if you feel things are just getting worse, push for your son to be moved into a different class (although, if that isn't an option, he may well just have to endure it until the summer). Keep an eye on things and make sure that subtlely, she knows you're watching her.

Answer 2

It may not seem fair- but your son's school may have a policy for snowy days that means a child is required snow pants AND/OR boots to play in the snow. It might have been unfair to make him read- just let him play indoors would be what I'd have suggested. Figure out if his school has a policy on winter clothes and if other kids were allowed outdoors without snowpants and/or boots. If the problem with this teacher persists or gets worse schedule a meeting with the prinipal and make sure you have your facts straight if you are going to make a formal complaint.

Answer 3

If there were others that didn`t have boots and snowpants, then she singled him out. Since you feel he wasn`t treated fairly, it may be time to have her to have a conference with you and the principal. You on the other hand need to take responsiblity and buy your son the needed items to keep him warm so this will not happen again. This is hardly abuse, but it isn`t fair for him to have had to stay in.

Answer 4

Yes indeed. Teachers are much more accountable than previous generations.
If your child had slipped and injured himself due to incorrect footwear or got his clothes wet without the ability to change into driy clothes would you have been happy about it?

I doubt it ,and then the next step is to complain to the school about the teacher being silly enough to allow the child to proceed into the snow without the proper attire.

I bet if he had been home your first priority would have been :" get your boots and coat on before you go out in that snow...!

Remeber teachers have not only got your child to look after they have 30 + in many cases!

First day of snow or not! too much litigation against teachers has caused them to look after their own hide and to hell with taking the risk of runnig up against a parent hell bent on compensation and vengeance and too bad if some parents are "pissed" they placed their kid in the care of the school who, takes the kicks if anything goes wrong. So live with it and consider it care rather than abuse

Answer 5

Yes it is the schools responsibility to keep the kids safe he could have gotten frostbite outside without the proper clothing my daughters school has the same policy. It is your job to provide your child with outdoor gear my daughter leaves snow pants and boots at school just in case we get snow. I would be very angry with my daughters school if they did let her play outside without warm clothes on. What are you thinking he would have had to spend the rest of the day in wet cold pants and shoes.

Answer 6

Having viewed your profile, other questions, and some of your answers, I think that your question is bogus. If you do have a 10 year old son, you should have handled other school/teacher problems much bigger than this miniscule item. But hey, thanks for the 2 points. I stand behind the school in their decision NOT to let an ill-equipped child go out in weather like that.

Answer 7

OKAY.... maybe the teacher was a bit rough .... but ... but it is her job to take care of / teach your child for 8hours a day ... if she were to let the child go out side and he were to get sick you would be here *****!n about that too ... i dont agree w/ any of the publilc school systems though but the teacher was justified in what she did ...
if she would've verbally said that things that made the situation worse then you would really have a good reason to be here claiming abuse.

xoxo
emily

Answer 8

If the teacher had allowed your son to go out in the snow, and your son had suffered frostbite or developed pneumonia, you’d be wondering why the teacher allowed you son to go out in the snow when he didn’t have snow pants or boots. The teacher must choose the lesser risk to the child. I do not think the teacher singled your child out to make him suffer or to prevent him having fun.

19 JAN 07, 1739 hrs, GMT.

Answer 9

yes, because that is what is probably required for students to go out and play in the snow. Your son didn't have the proper attire, so he couldn't go. It's like complaining you can't get into a black tie resturant when you are wearing a T shirt.....

Answer 10

yes, his teacher was justified as long as he/she administered the same principles to the other children as well. Sledding is not a school activity and to allow the students to participate in it he/she had to make the best decision he/she could regarding the wellfare of the children. If your son had gotten ill because he/she allowed him to sled without snowpants & boots, he/she and the school could have been held liable.