Sticky taping kid's mouths

[Miss Chicken]

An Australian teacher is in trouble for allegedly taping children's mouths closed with sticky (adhesive) tape because they wouldn't stop talking. One Australian newspaper conducted a poll and so far 49% of people have approved of the teacher's actions (though that newspaper didn't state that they children concerned were only about 5 years old). So I have included a poll here to see what people think.

From my local paper

A KALGOORLIE primary school teacher has been stood down while police investigate claims she sticky-taped students' mouths shut.
The West Australian Department of Education has confirmed police are investigating allegations a teacher at O'Connor Primary School in Kalgoorlie used sticky tape on students.
Executive director of the department's professional standards and conduct unit, Paul O'Connor, said the school had sent letters home to parents advising them that the incident was being investigated.
"As the allegations are very concerning, the teacher involved has been removed from teaching while inquiries are under way," Mr O'Connor said in a statement on Friday.
A parent of a five-year-old son who was involved in the incident said the teacher allegedly threatened students, saying she would tape their mouths shut if they did not stop talking in class.

Rest of story here

 

[Nociod]

Voted Not for children of any age

There's other ways to deal with children that misbehaves. But did she actually do it, or just threaten to do it?

There's a difference, but of course, one shouldn't make threats that you're not willing to go through with, so either way, not a good idea.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I don't think it's a very big deal, but it's also not an appopriate teaching method imo.

 

[Miss Chicken]

But did she actually do it, or just threaten to do it?

According to one child she actually did it. He told his mother that if it came off she stuck another piece of tape over a child's mouth.

 

[windowsclifail]

Definitely Not for children of any age

Here in India, the kids already suffer a lot. This is certainly not a good way to educate.

 

[RJDiogenes]

No, that's ridiculous. And it could be dangerous if the kid has an allergy or some other sinus problem.

 

[Dale]

I think it's be OK if done by the parents. I am also OK with ritualized, non-damaging spanking and washing a child's mouth out with soap. I think we as a society shy away from these lessons and that there has been a cost in discipline and in the creation of "good citizens" who understand the crime/punishment paradigm clearly.

I don't, however, think teachers should be doing this sort of thing.

I clicked "other".

When I was a young kid we received a version of a "time out" that saw us standing against the chalkboard with our nose pressed in a drawn circle. For more serious offenses when I was older, at least while I lived in Iowa, there was ritualized paddling by either the principal (if the offense took place in the classroom) or by the coach if the offense (usually a uniform - i.e. no jockstrap - violation) happened during gym class.

 

[TerokNor]

I think it is not ok under any circumstances (also not by parents!). This sort of discipline does not lead to actually understanding, it leads to more violence, to feelings of humiliation etc.
Also there is no non-damaging spanking in my opinion. There are others ways to teach children what is right and wrong in a certain society. Like an enviroment with good role-models, where the child feels wanted and valued, with partizipation when it comes for thinking of rules in children groups, with staying in dialog and relationship with the child ...

TerokNor

 

[Finn]

It's distrubing some think it's okay. It's a form of negative punishment and does not lead to understanding. The teacher should have reinforced good behavior. Plus five year olds tend to be jittery and talkative. Many of them haven't learned or understand proper talking norms. They do not sit and stay quiet for long. The teacher should have planned around that trait.

 

[ByrdMan]

I had a teacher in grade school who did that. It really wasn't a big deal. Maybe not appropriate for 5 year olds (iirc, it was my 5th or 6th grade teacher), but this doesn't bend me out of shape too much.

 

[ares93]

definitely not. but i cant but note that the kid was:

 

[Shazam!]

I think it should totally be allowed; primarily for the LOLZ

 

[Yeoman Randi]

WTF? Not appropriate for anyone to do any such thing to a child. If i were the kids parent i would be raising such a stink it isn't funny. Someone doing that to my child???? No fucking way.

 

[1001001]

I think it's be OK if done by the parents. I am also OK with ritualized, non-damaging spanking and washing a child's mouth out with soap. I think we as a society shy away from these lessons and that there has been a cost in discipline and in the creation of "good citizens" who understand the crime/punishment paradigm clearly.

Good grief! Ritualized spanking? Washing a kid's mouth out with soap? What is this, 1952? The only lesson kids will learn is that adults are sadistic bastards.

As to the original post: any teacher tapes my kids' mouth shut, that will be her last day teaching.

I understand the frustration (my wife has taught 3rd grade for 15 years). Especially when the parents won't help or are in total denial. Still, that's an assault. No way would I tolerate that.

Also there is no non-damaging spanking in my opinion.

There are certainly kids who are spanked who grow up fine.

But I find it completely unnecessary. We have two children (15 and 8) and we've never spanked either one of them. There's no reason. Or as I tell parents I work with: If you have to spank your 5 year old, that means he's outsmarted you.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

We really needed a poll to determine that teachers taping kid's mouths shut was not okay?

 

[Nardpuncher]

The thing I find odd is that if the kid was misbehaving enough that you thought they'd need tape,,,that kid would be the kind that would just take the tape off anyway.

 

[Amaris]

Yeah, I voted "Not for children of any age".

 

[SPCTRE]

I think it should totally be allowed; primarily for the LOLZ

Yeah, in defense of the teacher, she only "DID IT FOR THE LULZ"

For more serious offenses when I was older, at least while I lived in Iowa, there was ritualized paddling by either the principal (if the offense took place in the classroom) or by the coach if the offense (usually a uniform - i.e. no jockstrap - violation) happened during gym class.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKDnviT0FIQ[/yt]

 

[Deckerd]

I only ever slapped mine two times when she was a child. Once when she ran out onto the road and once when she wrote on the furniture with an indelible felt tip pen. They were only brief slaps but I felt terrible. When she was about 15 she kicked me on the shin deliberately to see what would happen. I slapped her face so she decided not to do it again. For my part it was pure reaction because it was bloody sore.

 

[iguana_tonante]

We really needed a poll to determine that teachers taping kid's mouths shut was not okay?

This. I'm all for disciplining misbehaved kids: but there are better ways than corporal punishments or humiliations. I might understand an overstressed parent dishing out a spanking to a kid that won't stop throwing a tantrum. That's unfortunate, but it could happen. But cold and calculated humiliation? That's sick, and counter-productive.