Actual letter sent to the superintendent of our school district.

[stopschoolpaddling]

A little history: On my first meeting with their principle after my 5 year old son told me that his teacher had a paddle and had brought it to "the carpet" to explain how it could be used on children who didn't behave. He begged me not to make him go back to school because he was scared of his teacher. The principal endorsed the teacher's actions and said and I quote, " if she doesn't get control of her classroom we won't get out test scores" and "I've already had to paddle one child from that class" (this was on the 7th day of the school year) and then finally, "I have better things to do with my time than to discuss this with you any further."
I then had a meeting with the superintendent who basically had nothing to say and confirmed that's how it's done in this area at which point I asked for my children to be released from his school district so I could enroll them in another. At first I was told I would have to wait until the school board met which was 3 weeks away but after some convincing it was granted immediately however, I received an email stating that if the board did not approve I would have to return my children to this school at that time. On the last day of school I asked to see the paddle that was shown to my child and tried to take a photo of it. The principal then told me I had betrayed her and would not allow it. At the same time I asked for them to provide me with their corporal punishment records. I never was allowed to photograph the paddle.

Mr. (Superintendent),
You have, no doubt, heard from Mrs.(Principal) by now regarding
my requests to be provided to me by your school district. Just so you
are absolutely clear about them, I am taking the time to request them
in writing.
First of all, I would like to view and photograph the very paddle
that was shown to my 5 year old son by his teacher at xxxx
Elementary.
I would have been satisfied to have a photo of the paddle I
viewed today because as Mrs.(principal) stated “it was exactly like the
other one”, but since Mrs.(principal) refused my photograph, I’m now
inclined to see the same one. Honestly, I have to tell you I was
shocked at her reaction to my photographic request, after all, during
my first conference with her she admitted that Mrs.(kindergarten teacher) came
into her office asking for a paddle and after explaining to her what she
intended to do with it, Mrs.(principal) whole
heartily gave it to her and fully endorsed those actions and she would
do so again. Indeed, during that same conference, Mrs.(principal)
clearly stated to me she had already used it to paddle a child in my
son’s kindergarten class. So if she has no problem showing it to a
group of kindergartens and using it on their bottoms, why on earth
would she be distressed over my photographing it. I suppose I missed
a photo opportunity, during the days when Mrs.(kindergarten teacher)left it on
her desk in full view of kindergartners as a reminder to behave. I
could have gotten a picture of my son standing next to it.
I have to tell you that I would have seen the right paddle but
would you believe it was still in the classroom three weeks after I
expressly requested to have it removed from the same room my son would
spend the day in. As a parent I don’t allow my children to even be in
the vicinity of a weapon. You should know that in this day and age if
you tried to board an airplane with a paddle in your hand they will
certainly inform you that they consider it a weapon as well and refuse
you. Mostly, however I was just completely mystified as to why it was
still in the kindergarten room when I thought I had come to the
agreement with Mrs. (kindergarten teacher) over a week ago, that it was no longer
to be kept there.
If you would be so kind as to inquire to Mrs.(principal), I’m was
more than a little confused today when she said I had betrayed her
because I didn’t tell her ahead of asking to see the paddle that I
intended to take a quick snapshot of it and of course, I didn’t when
she asked me not to. Honestly, as much as it is taken down and used
around there, I thought it would be about as big a deal as a snapshot
of a teacup, after all, when I came to even you with this issue of the
paddle you made it quite clear that you intended to do nothing about
it. Well, I certainly do apologize but as for betrayal, well that’s
going a bit far.
If anyone has the right to cry betrayal, I should think it would
be me. After my meeting just last week with Mrs. (kindergarten teacher)and Mrs.
(principal), I thought they understood my position on using fear and
intimidation by displaying the paddle and actually inflicting pain to
control the behavior of kindergarten children. I have to say that I
left that meeting quite hopeful that they would try to do better and
seek out some better alternatives only to learn a few days later that
yet another kindergarten child had been paddled and today I find out
the paddle is still in the classroom Now listen here, if she wants
to cry betrayal, I can talk about that all day..
First off, did I not entrust my children to your school only to
find they had been threatened with violence and subjected to
intimidation and fear? That is betrayal. Do you not claim that this
year, this school would teach compassion as it’s main theme? Now here
is the biggest betrayal of all, not just to me as a parent but to the
children. How can you claim to teach compassion when you won’t show
it? Let me remind you of the definition of the word compassion. It
is defined as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together
with a desire to alleviate it”. If your idea of alleviating distress
is beating a 5 year old child with a long wooden object, then I have
news for you, you will never teach compassion to anyone and you should
not disguise yourself as someone who can.
Now then, I will need to see your every record of corporal
punishment performed on a child in all your elementary schools for the
2007/2008 and up to date this year. I will need the age and/or grade
level of the child and the date it happened. If there is a child who
was the recipient of more than one paddling, you will need to indicate
that to me as well, for example, child X, grade 1, on such and such
dates. If there was more than one paddling in a day to the same child
you will need to show it. Example, child X, date, 2 times. You
should have it to me by Monday morning September 28th at the latest.

You want to play hardball with 5 year olds? Fine, now you can play
hardball with me. Let’s see who’s got the bigger paddle.

xxxxxxxxxx


P.S. In reference to your email stating if the board did not approve
my transfer, my children would have to return to xxx Elementary, it
will never happen and you are barking up the wrong tree if you think
it will.

P.S. Please forward this email to Mrs. Principal so she can read the
part about betrayal and inform her to inform Mrs. xxx (2nd grade
teacher) that my daughter left a red yo-yo in the locker, up one and
over from her regular locker and I will need to have it back.
Lastly, you may mail my children’s book order to the address you
have on file at your own expense since you have caused me considerable
aggravation and time.

Please respond after reading this communication, so I will know you
received it.



--
“if you are lost, wandering through a forest in the dark, unable
to see, unaware that a cliff is nearby, and you stumble off the cliff
and break your neck. That is a mistake.
But let’s say it’s broad daylight. You are meandering about in a
forest you’ve been told never to enter. There are No Trespassing
signs everywhere, but you think you can slip in and slip out and not
get caught. Now, again let’s say you fall off a cliff and break your
neck... that was not a mistake. It was a conscious choice.” (Quoted
from “The Noticer” by Andy Andrews)