Son possibly charged with Teacher Abuse

[ducky]

What is the name of your state? Idaho statute 18-916

My son was recently at the local elementary school (he is 14, 8th grade) taking an ISAT placement test. He is home schooled and not a regular student there however he did go to this school previously. It was the end of the school day and the bell had rung to let classes out and he was on his way out but stopped at the top of the stairs and had his ipod out. A teacher approached him and said she "was hoping to get an ipod today". He said he didn't attend the school and was on his way out, she then grabbed the ipod out of his hand, he managed to get the ipod back but she and he both had hold of the earpods, he asked her to let go of the headphones, she would not and he said give me my f-ing headphones. She then grabbed his arm and started pushing him away from the stairs (also away from the office and the exit). He freaked out then and twirled away from her grasp and left the campus.

I agree that the best reaction for him to have had was a "yes, ma'am" and let me get his ipod later however I do not believe that the teacher had any right to lay hands on him. I find it particularly ridiculous that she would accost him when the bell had already rung to let school out for the day and he had identified himself as not being a student there. I have already been scouting appeals lawyers in idaho who have dealt with juvenile criminal / education law but am really at a loss of what to do.

I really fear for his future if there is a criminal conviction for him. He has also told me of several other students who have used profanity with teachers and gotten detention or suspension, never criminal charges pressed. This is the first of this type of situation for him.

 

[Ohiogal]

While at the school he has to follow the school's rules -- that means no ipods. Your son made a mistake. Now what the teacher did -- well we don't know. And truthfully neither do you as you were not there.

 

[Silverplum]

Teaching obedience and respect for authority is not in the home-school curricula, I take it?

 

[xylene]

Was your son charged with anything?

What were the cisrcumstances of the arrest?

Appeals lawyer?

???

 

[ducky]

Of course obedience and respect are part of the curricula (with distinction). He is most often obedient to me however he can also be mouthy. He has consequences when this happens however I do not manhandle him, ever. I hardly think that some stranger in a school who has absolutely no relationship with him has the right to manhandle him. I think it is bizarre that the school is criminalizing what is normal teenage acting out behavior. I am from Dallas and when I went to school they were hoping they could keep the gangs under control and the weapons out of school. This was just not something that would have ever merited this type of severe consequence.

I am a very law abiding person but I wouldn't describe myself as obedient when I do not agree with something. I frequently question authority, and at times I can be less than polite however I rarely use profanity with someone when I am upset. But I must in all honesty say that the f bomb is something that flows quite freely between my husband and myself and our friends. It is just simply another adjective I use, but I, as an adult, have the judgment to know when it is appropriate to speak freely and when it is not. My son is a child and he is still learning, it is a biological fact that his judgment is still developing.

Our society exhibits such a duality, on one hand you watch mtv, hbo the movies and there is virtually no censorship and then on the other some pretend that it never even happens and portray it as obscene. I find it absurd.

He has not been charged with anything at this point but that does not mean that he won't be. The principal has told me directly that he would like to see him prosecuted. A portion of the exchange was on video tape as there are two cameras in the hallway where this occurred. There was a blind spot in the view but you can clearly see him at the top of the stairs, I was only allowed to view a screen shot and the police officer told me that most of the exchange happened in the blind spot and the principal said that it was inconclusive.

I might also share that the principal is very unhappy with me. I withdrew my son earlier this year from school after he was questioned by the vice principal about whether he used drugs, if his parents used drugs and if we watched pornography. I called the vp that day and he didn't even mention these lines of questioning until I asked him directly. I subsequently sent several critical emails to the vp, the principal and the school administrator. To say they are not happy with me is a gross understatement.

 

[msiron]

vice principal about whether he used drugs, if his parents used drugs and if we watched pornography. I called the vp that day and he didn't even mention these lines of questioning until I asked him directly. I subsequently sent several critical emails to the vp, the principal and the school administrator.

They sound like a bunch of nosy perverted cupcakes. Keep you boy homeschooled. As the years come and school policies get more outrageous and teachers will find themselves out of there little cushy jobs************** as parents home school more and turn to the INTERNET. The Brick & Mortar tax dollar rip off will not prevail in the future.