Speaking of Bullies...

There is a HUGE difference between self defense & payback.

This wasn't even payback, though. This was far far worse.

The teacher lost her job over this.
I think that says it all.

that's beyond horrible. every kid in that class will be affected by that. the ones forced to hit their friend, the ones who learned hitting is ok, and that poor boy who was hit by all of the class and was too afraid to tell his parents.=( It doesnt even sound like he was a bully. From the report, the mom never recieved a complaint. Even if he was that is beyond crazy. I hope they both never get to teach again

Perhaps the teacher should stand up in front of the class and the parents of all the children who were forced to hit their classmate can slap her across the face :(
(and NO I'm not being serious, but it's good visual!)

The teacher was out of line.
What she did was corporal punishment by proxy.

No matter what you teach your child at home about dealing with bullies, it is NEVER okay for a teacher to have the students line up to hit another student! That is just wrong on so many levels!

I hope the teacher loses her job - she has no business being in charge of a classroom!

What a HORRIBLE teacher, probably not a parent herself.

I do believe that teacher should not be working with children, BUT In all sincerity, I want to know what you expect the teacher to do, say for example every time they walk down the hall, aiden pushs Jill, teacher pulls aiden aside, says we don't push, They line up again, walk down the hall, aiden pushes John, joh pushs back and nacy gets knocked down and gets a bloody nose, aiden and john get spoken too and separated, they line up again, aiden at one end, john at another, Aiden pushes frank, lilly tattles and frank starts shouting. frank gets told not to shout, aiden gets told not to push, and lilly is reminded that tattling is only if someone is in danger. They line up again, aiden has to hold the teachers hand, he doesn't like and complains that the teacher has it out for him. conferences are next week, mom doesn't come. teacher calls and leaves a message no one calls back, this continues, aiden loses recess and continues to push, aiden talks to the principal and contines to push. Is there something elsethat could happen?? I feel like when kids aren't raised to respect adults, then no matter how many talks there are it doesnt' do much good. My example is a typical child not even one with special needs. That makes it just that much harder.

So while what this teacher did is not ok, and while i don't advocate retaliation, I do question telling my kids to tell the teacher if they need help, because i'm not really sure what she can do about it.

we are so lucky in our country to have free eduacation for all, but sometimes i really wish my kids didn't ahve to be with the trouble makers. I'm just confused and upset about all fo this.

OMG, that is just horrible! That just makes me sick! How much do we want to bet that those kids will potentially be affected forever by what they witnessed and were basically forced to do against their will - and by a teacher no less, when they are supposed to be learning to trust teachers as authority figures. My daughter is starting kindergarten in the fall and I can't imagine her being made by a teacher to hit another child "in order to teach him a lesson." It's one thing when you have no other choice but to dofend yourself physically but the boy was not actually doing anything at the time to warrant kids hitting him back. At that age, what he had been doing can't even be construed as "bullying" anyway, they still need to be taught appropriate behavior with their classmates and friends. Not only should that teacher have been fired, she should be barred from ever teaching or working with children again!

Hitting back should be the absolute last resort. I wouldn't want anyone teaching my kids that it is reasonable or acceptable way to solve problems.

Not only was this highly inappropiate of the teacher, I would say as a fromer teacher than she/he does not belong in a classroom for she advoates violence as a way to deal witth bullies---which is a wrong and very bad message to send to little kids---4-5 years old. They won't forget that lesson, and some may react violently when dealing with a bully.

This person should NOT BE A TEACHER for she fails to teach and bases decions and lessons personally rather than objectively. She fails as a teacher for she failed to protect ALL OF HER STUDENTS!

I will also add that I hope the parents of the child who got hit repeatedly sue the teacher for provoking undue and irresponsible violence against their child! Also as a former teacher, I would always redirect the victim to stand tall and be nice to the bully in response, such as smiling at them and asking how their day is going. Bullies usually feel awful about themselve or have been unconsciously taught to bully through adult role models. Their goal is to make another as miserable as they feel inside, hence when a child/adult responds with kindness and an offering of friendship I have seen many bullies back off and then find another victim!