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Teacher Allegedly Ties 5-Year-Old to Chair in Front of Class
Filed under: In The News
A teacher in Australia is facing charges for tying a student to a chair in front of his classmates. Credit: Getty Images
Tying children to chairs. It always seems like such a good idea at the time.
Before you succumb to temptation, however, consider the story coming out of Australia about a 5-year-old boy who, you might say, was "bound" to get his teacher in trouble.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports a teacher 60 miles northeast of Perth (on the west coast of Australia) faces criminal charges for tying a student to a chair in front of his classmates on April 19.
The teacher reportedly has been suspended with pay pending an investigation.
Sharyn O'Neill, director-general of Perth's Department Education and Training, tells the Herald the allegation is serious and will be treated "as a matter of urgency."
"There's no excuse to tie children to a chair, there is no occasion in which that is an OK way to deal with a behavioral issue," she tells the newspaper. "The teacher involved in this allegation, I understand, isn't a new teacher and has some years of experience.
"Regardless of experience ... it is simply not acceptable to tie a student to a chair," she adds. "Good common sense tells us you don't tie children to a chair."
The Herald reports the incident was reported by an assistant teacher. O'Neill tells the newspaper the child had been "difficult" on the day he was tied up.
"My understanding is the child had been not attending to their work, not getting down to what they had been asked to do and in some frustration the teacher has allegedly tied the child to the chair," she says.
The child was not injured, she adds.
O'Neill denies teachers lack training to handle misbehaving students.
"We have 25,000 teachers who look after students day in and day out and for the most part they do that with expertise and professionalism," she tells the Herald. "We've got this situation, we've had one previously and I think both situations are unacceptable, we don't condone it and we're moving swiftly to make sure that they're both dealt with."
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 6)
4-26-2011 @ 6:50PM
kdb4of9 said...Oh boo hoo, I'm sure this little monster has a parent or parents who think he can do know wrong, in fact this whole generation thinks their kid can do know wrong and they will regret raising their child with out discipline especially when their child is an adult who thinks mommy, daddy and the whole world owe them. If you ask me schools need bring discipline back because kids are not getting it at home , Why should all the other kids in that class have to suffer because of one misbehaving little BRAT.
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4-26-2011 @ 5:45PM
doda said...Should have used a cattle prod on the little doof to get his attention.
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4-26-2011 @ 6:07PM
michelle said...When I was in 3rd grade my teacher tied a boy to his desk using his belt because he wouldn't sit still. She didn't give the rest of us a chance to gawk or make fun and he learned by the end of the day how to behave and stay in his seat, nor did he suffer any mental anguish. He was still rambunctious, but knew when it was time to settle down. For anyone who thinks this was wrong, I have a better solution for you: If your child acts up in class, you get to spend the rest of the school year sitting with him/her all through school so you can prove what an angel you are raising.
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4-26-2011 @ 11:29PM
Carolee said...After working in special education for 10 years may I say-no one is concerned about the other children (20 or more if regular classroom) who were unable to learn while one child held the teacher hostage with his behavior. Lets not forget teachers pay raises and tenure are going to be judged on results not degrees or longevity.
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4-26-2011 @ 6:16PM
brooks said...give the teacher a metal
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4-26-2011 @ 6:19PM
Diogenese said...My son was Hyper-Active (they didn't know what that was back then...(1950's) so yes, he experienced the ruler, expelled 3 days from kindergarten, shut up in a dark closet for not eating his lunch (doctor had sent a note to school explaining he was on medication and would not be hungry), not allowed to go on school trips, mouth scotch-taped shut, etc. Finally changed from Catholic school to Public school and they discovered his I.Q. was near genius. He was simply bored to death, not challenged and as long as he was kept busy, he was no problem. He had the ability to actually take the class away from the teacher and teach the students himself. At age 7, won the Dance Master's at the Statler in L.A., with his tap dancing ability. Invited to become a Mouseketeer. Decided "NO" on that one. He also graduated college (Univ. of NE) with a double major, made the Dean's List, while being a single parent of two little girls, ages 4 years and 14 months old, in just two years. He had meanwhile served 4 years in the Navy as a corpsman with commendations from his CO and Delta Airlines. Yes, he did require very strict discipline, a 2x4 over the head, so to speak, just to get his attention. He is a very generous, kind, loving, helpful person to this day and he's 62.
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4-26-2011 @ 6:26PM
NRMLUNIT said...Everyone knows you don't tie children to their chairs with rope. Use duct tape
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4-26-2011 @ 6:28PM
Brandy said...This is a parenting site...Mr. Joe. You sad little man. By your hateful message and misspelled words you can definitely tell your Mom did a bang up job with you!!! I have two (2) sons...not five (5) on top of all your other issues you also are unable to read correctly. Your what the lack of proper schooling is turning out !! Sad yet entertaining at the same time...go spew your hatefulness where it is wanted...not where people are educated and are capable of having an opinion. LOL
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4-26-2011 @ 6:55PM
Larie Anne said...Although I do not approve of Joe's language and I wish he could have been more civil with his answer to Brandy, I believe he is generally "on the money." My mom was once a teacher and she was very popular with her students (she has shown me all the cards and letters she received over the years). I say all this because in spite of her success, I know she left the teaching profession over frustration with the educational process. She once told me that if a teacher asks for staff assistance with a disruptive student, this means the teacher is unable to control her students. Therefore, from the adminstration's perspective, it had better be a last, last ditch resort before the teacher reaches out for help. Reaching out for help is generally regarded as an admission of weakness and/or lack of skill in handling unruly students. Never mind that the teacher is trying her best to do her job in conducting the lesson. I don't think anyone really wants to see a child get tied to a chair (even though some have stated that it actually taught them an important lesson), but like Holly said, teachers who *really* want to teach are "hamstringed." How ironic. I remember reading once that an education is supposed to be a privilege. BTW, Brandy, instead of "Your what the lack of proper schooling is turning out," I believe you meant to write, "You're what the lack of proper schooling is turning out." No one's perfect, but my rambunctious little brother always knew to mind his teachers or else face the music when he got home. The administration needs to stand behind teachers and not judge their abilities based on who asks for the most assistance. Just let them do their jobs. When they request assistance with teaching their lessons, then there's a problem.
4-26-2011 @ 8:21PM
OTTO said...and how many men banged you before you squeezed out your two brats?
4-27-2011 @ 9:04PM
Cherbentley said...Pipe down, Otto......your intelligence is showing!
4-27-2011 @ 10:29AM
larry said...Not a big deal. My Third Grade Teacher would do this as well as pulling hair, putting in coat closet among other punishments for misbehaving.
It was effective in controlling bad behavior and is funny in retrospect. No harm no foul.
Perhaps parents exerting control at home would help prevent such required actions.
Stop coddeling our kids.
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4-26-2011 @ 10:40PM
Jennifer said...I remember Mrs. Welch. She tied me to a chair. My transgression: I was reading ahead! At least she didn't do what she did to another little boy: she tied him to a chair and gagged him. I remember that I was terribly upset. I was afraid to tell my parents because I didn't want to get in trouble at home too. I was bored. I had come from another school where I worked at my own pace. I had already finished our textbook as well as several years ahead. After weeks of punishment, Mrs. Welch had me tested. I was reading on an 8th grade level. No wonder I was bored and restless.
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4-26-2011 @ 6:38PM
Hairy Dog said...I was also tied to my chair in first grade (probably deserved it). It really hurt me!! I graduated in the top 10% of my high school and college classes. Went on to earn four graduate degrees and successful career in telecommunications.
While I would not want my child tied to a chair, kids can be brats in class. Making a big deal out of this is typical modern "PC" correctness.
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4-26-2011 @ 6:53PM
Pati said...crying out loud...what a bunch of babies here...i had a teacher put dish soap in my mouth at recess....for yelling outside...geez...had to hold a dictionary agaist the wall with my forehead for 20 min....got the paddle board numerous times...IM OK !!!! LOL
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4-26-2011 @ 6:56PM
laughin said...what a great idea
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4-26-2011 @ 7:07PM
Denise said...There are not any details in this story. How can anyone judge? But, if it did happen, for whatever reason the teacher thought it was appropriate, it sure as hell was not a good decision.
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4-26-2011 @ 7:13PM
Brandy said...Lauri Anne,
Good catch on my misspell. I also stated that teachers as well are being abused. I feel for them. But at 5 years old...restraint by tying him to a chair seems a little excessive! I would not want that done to my son and I would hope most parents would feel the same. Teachers are under paid and there is no respect for them either. I feared and respected my teachers. Those days are long gone. But if teachers are allowed to start using these types of tactics, it will only do more harm.
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4-26-2011 @ 7:19PM
LarieAnne0504 said...After commenting as I just did, I want to make a disclaimer because I know some schools are different and *do* encourage teachers to reach out at any time they need assistance with unruly students. I'm just saying that there appears to have been a breakdown in that process in the school where the boy was tied to his chair and I believe that school is not the only one with a breakdown in the process. I agree with Brandy when she wrote, "Reform is definitely in need. But tying a child to a chair...not acceptable." It's just that a teacher tying a child to a chair, as irresponsible as it makes the teacher appear to be, seems to be a symptom of a far greater problem going on at that school. I would like to know why the teacher chose to tie him in the chair instead of reaching out for help (or some other option). If it is common knowledge that the teacher had resources at her disposal that are encouraged and not frowned upon, then I would like to know why she didn't take advantage of them.
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4-26-2011 @ 7:26PM
kim said...so what is the big deal? i got spanked in kindergarten and 1st grade. did it kill me? nope but it did make me behave and i got it again when i got home. i was taught to respect my teachers, kids today are not taught to respect anyone or anything including themselves which is why we have the problems we have today with kids. sit them in a chair in the corner in the front of the room and for every minute they keep misbehaving, add another minute, and start this out young.and at home.
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