What is this world coming to?

[Penguin_Woman]

I just read this article:

Kindergarten Girl Handcuffed, Arrested At Fla. School


POSTED: 11:44 am EDT March 30, 2007
UPDATED: 1:08 pm EDT March 30, 2007


AVON PARK, Fla. -- Police arrested a 6-year-old Florida girl and even handcuffed her when she acted out in class. Police officers said Desre'e Watson, a kindergarten student at Avon Elementary School in Highlands County, had a violent run-in with a teacher on Thursday.

"I was scared," the little girl said.


Police claim the little girl got angry and began kicking and scratching. She even hit a teacher attempting to intervene in the disturbance.

However, the girl's mother doesn't believe the story.

"She never fell out. She is very respectful. If I tell her to do anything, she will do it," Lateshia Wilson said.

School officials said they were forced to call the local police department, who cuffed the child and put her in a police cruiser. The little girl's mother is angry and said her daughter is usually very respectful.



"I was very upset about that and I feel like they violated my baby's rights," Wilson said.


The chief of police said his officers did the right thing.

"When there is an outburst of violence, we have a duty to protect and make that school a safe environment for the students, staff and faculty. That's why, at this point, the person was arrested regardless what the age," said Chief Frank Mercurio, Avon Park Police Department.


The kindergartner was booked in the Highland County jail and was charged with a felony and two misdemeanors.


What do you all think? I for one am horrified! What ever happened to calling the parents, or sending her to the priniple's office? I think this is out of hand!

[Taryn]

Well, it really depends. What happened prior to her attacking?

Regardless, handcuffing a 6 year old? That's just silly

[pika]

ummm.......thats stupid but this is not the first case.......

[EC]

Take the little girl away in a police car is sad enough, cuff her? Something is wrong here. When I read the headline I thought she pulled a gun or a knife on someone, but kicking and scratching.. sad.

[Tuxie]

Yeah, this is just nuts. There seems to be a lot of this kind of stuff happening all around us. Just a disintegration of social behavior around us. What's to blame? That's a whole new thread!

[aussiecoffee007]

i think the virginia tech shooting is infinitely worse than this situation, i mean, that is pretty darn sad that we are using restraining weapons against 6 year old girls with temper tantrums, but... pre-meditatively killing 32 people, with so much to offer, for no reason at all that anyone can even dream of... its sick and horrible.

[Estaban]

Yeah, this is just nuts. There seems to be a lot of this kind of stuff happening all around us. Just a disintegration of social behavior around us. What's to blame? That's a whole new thread!

Indeed.

Whilst it's hard to imagine what a 6 year old could do to warrant such a drastic measure, it's equally hard to imagine a police offer going to such lengths if he/she didn't feel it was necessary.

In truth, we've something far more insidious to be angry about than the actions of a single person: the press. Despite being a supposedly neutral force in the media, and regardless of the neutrality of the article, that the article itself is inflammatory is enough.

Enough, that is, to sell itself and the publication it rides on the back of.

It basically serves an agenda. Whether that agenda is to sell news to the masses (either directly or by proxy of advertising revenue) or simply to tow one of any number of political party-lines, it certainly wasn't in the public interest.

Rest assured that the world or even just the country you live in would be largely the same had you not had the chance to register your opinion on the matter. With that in mind, I ask myself this: with any number of domestic and foreign issues far more worthy of our attention, why is it that we're all so fascinated by the little things? What does this one incident highlight, other than an isolated incident of heavy-handed policing or rubbish parenting?

Nothing, at least to my mind. Man, didn't think that'd end up being my second post, but I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff. Sorry :)

[Tuxie]

In truth, we've something far more insidious to be angry about than the actions of a single person: the press. Despite being a supposedly neutral force in the media, and regardless of the neutrality of the article, that the article itself is inflammatory is enough.

Enough, that is, to sell itself and the publication it rides on the back of.

Man, didn't think that'd end up being my second post, but I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff. Sorry :)
First of all, welcome to ATLF Estaban. We hope you find this place invigorating to your gray matter. Uhhh... and yeah, we hope you find this place helpful as well. :)

Good points, about the media and the press. Another thought along that line... is it that things are deteriorating in the world around us, or is it just because more 'events' like these are getting publicized more by the media (making this world seem worse than it really is)?

Just some odd thoughts of mine...

[Estaban]

First of all, welcome to ATLF Estaban. We hope you find this place invigorating to your gray matter. Uhhh... and yeah, we hope you find this place helpful as well. :)

Good points, about the media and the press. Another thought along that line... is it that things are deteriorating in the world around us, or is it just because more 'events' like these are getting publicized more by the media (making this world seem worse than it really is)?

Just some odd thoughts of mine...


That's more than a perfectly reasonable thing to ask yourself Tuxie - it's what we should all be asking ourselves. In truth, the answer eludes me right now, but that might have something to do with it being 6 o clock in the morning where I am. I'm exhausted :)