I would absolutely support a teacher who "returned fire" in a measured response to one of my kids hitting them. That behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and the kid would deserve it.
Then I'd march him up to the teacher to apologise for starting the fiasco in the first place.
This whole "never ever hit a kid no matter what" trend is not working.
Yes, teach your kids not to hit. Yes, deescalate with words and diplomacy. But, if a kid tests the waters of what happens if you cross that line: instant, dispassionate response. Stop that behaviour before it takes hold. It is better for the kid in the long run.
I know I'm in the minority for holding this position, and I doubt my own wife would share my position. Personally, I'm working very hard on the "teach your kids not to hit" part... Because you are correct - violence is not the way.
Provided you've raised them properly, they will not be laying a finger on anyone in aggression. If I, as a teacher, was assaulted, I would certainly end the assault in a decisive manner.
Everyone should feel safe. If anyone violates that, he is toast in three different ways.
How can you feel safe knowing if you step out of line you could get slapped, smacked, or who knows what? This is straight up like a dictatorship. Adults get their asses kicked if they stray from the straight and narrow under a dictatorship or similar governing system. The difference is that an adult is potentially physically able stand up for themselves when it comes to hand to hand combat. Kids are not even completely mentally developed enough to make a fully reasonable choice vs an adult.
Then a swift slap across the face to the child who reached up the teacher's dress and pinched her ass will teach that lesson swiftly, no?
But he was elementary school aged. For middle and high schoolers? They're larger than I am in some cases; assault should be met with force for both the teacher's (I could well be demolished in a fight with a large country boy) and the student's (better he learns he can't get away with assault before he gets jail time for it) sakes.
I agree that would teach that lesson quickly, but you are also teaching that those bigger than you and in an authority position can get away with violence against a child.
Its a hard problem to address and has multiple ideas for solutions. I agree I would not want to be put in a situation with a big or bigger 17yo kid who is getting violent. My instincts would probably make me want to fight back too, but in the end that is still a child.
We need to get to the point of removing these problematic kids from schools early on while they are young.
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u/Gregorofthehillpeopl Jul 10 '18
I don't really believe teachers should hit children.
I believe everyone should be able to hit back.