St. Louis Charter Principal Put on Leave (Had Police Handcuff 5-year-old)

[Khephra]

ST. LOUIS -- The board of a St. Louis charter school on Wednesday placed a principal on leave after he had police handcuff a 5-year-old and drive him around the block in a squad car to curb his unruly behavior.

Principal Sam Morgan is on leave from Thurgood Marshall Academy pending an investigation into last month's incident, board attorney Wayne Harvey said.

Morgan declined to comment Wednesday, but last week said he had spent more time on the boy "than any kid in this building, trying to steer him straight."

He said he had police "put the handcuffs on one arm, put him in the back seat of their car and drive him around a little bit."


http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-handcuffed-child,0,4858231.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[OneBlueSky]

1. love works better than handcuffs . . . especially on 5-year-olds . . . n/t

.

[DulceDecorum]

2. One of these days

the cops are going to try that on a fetus.
Right after they taser a newborn for crying out loud.

What were they trying to do?

Make Tackleberry,
(the gunlover in Police Academy)
look like a girlie-man?

[ninkasi]

3. I guess the principal

didn't consider the fact that the 5 year old might have problems at home, and try to find out WHY he was acting out? That would have taken a bit of sensitivity, and acknowledge that children today are confronted with an enormous amount of stress, and live in an atmosphere of fear.

It just seems to be easier to be tough with them, even though at 5, they are still almost babies themselves. I raised 3 children of my own, 2 stepchildren, and 2 much younger brothers. I am now a great grandmother. I might be flattering myself to think that I speak with some authority on this subject. Oh...I forgot to add, when my own kids were in their teens, our home was where all the kids hung out.

In my experience dealing with young to teenage kids, I can assure you that this principal acted terribly. The boy in question will fear, and maybe even learn to hate, authority. This will not make him respect the police, or adults.

I wish this country would get a really big grip.The atmosphere of fear, fostered by neocons, must be unbearable for them. Would it hurt to try to find out why they are doing certain things? I guess it's just easier to insist on obedience, rather than confront the problem.

[TrustingDog]

10. what drugs is he on, what diet does he have?

what life does he have/
sorry, 5 year olds just don't do that.
apparently adult police do.

[saigon68]

4. Why not turn him over to Lynndie

She'll straighten his young ass out.

[shraby]

5. Why did the police agree to do it?

The ones who did should be suspended for a period of time too.

[colonel odis]

7. my thoughts exactly. since when do they take orders from a principal?

[0007]

9. Fuckin' A' - A dog collar, & chain and a good can of Alpo!

Lynndie would have the kid doing tricks.

[Swamp Rat]

6. When will this end?

Will they manufacture tiny handcuffs for babies and fetuses?

How ironic that the name of the school is Thurgood Marshall Academy! :crazy:

[xchrom]

8. the police agreed to this?!?!

there's much here to be alarmed about.

[rooboy]

11. Totally inappropriate - he should have used a taser. :) n/t