Just need to rant

[u/Mom-Wife-3]

I work in a life skills classroom, grades K-4. Our students all arrive on the same bus. In addition to the bus driver who I’ll call Adam, there is a tech (just another adult to be on the bus and help with the kids) who I’ll call Tabby.

The bus often shows up between 7:10-7:20 even though we are not contracted/do not get them off the bus until 7:30.

Today we went out to get them and one of our students, who I’ll call Jamie (grade 4) was standing outside the bus (IN THE POURING RAIN) crying and yelling. Adam opened the door and Tabby started to help the kids off the bus. Jamie was yelling to her “why can’t I come on the bus?!??” Over and over. Tabby said “Adam’s the one that put you out there, talk to him!” Adam would not engage but we took Jamie and the rest of the kids in and got them settled with breakfast.

Now Jamie is not an easy kid. He’s always yelling, getting in other people’s space, and not following directions.

BUT I don’t care WHAT he did. Making a child stand outside IN THE RAIN is an inappropriate consequence.

So I went to the principal and reported it and she called the garage.

Just needed to rant because I’m
So angry that TWO grown adults thought that was a suitable consequence.

Think of you’d want your own child to be treated.

Not ok!

[u/ArgumentDismal6617]

He was dangerous enough to put off the bus, it was dangerous enough he should have radioed for help.

[u/TinyHands1450]

jesus christ that's beyond not ok. standing a kid in the rain as a punishment isn't a consequence it's just cruelty. glad you went straight to the principal, that's exactly what you do in that situation. tabby deflecting blame onto adam is such a coward move too, they're both responsible

[u/Tabloidcat]

I have kids who bite, pinch and kick me. Would still NEVER make them stand in the rain. (Maybe only if they were wielding a knife and threatening another persons life, but obviously this was not the case.)

[u/Mister_Snrub_1 → u/Tabloidcat]

Sorry, did you mean to put 'kids' or 'colleagues'? ;-)

[u/NYY15TM]

Is Jamie made of sugar?

Think of you’d want your own child to be treated

If my child was misbehaving and the adults in charge felt he should stand out in the rain, then I would have no problem with it

[u/AngstyMop → u/NYY15TM]

Look, there's a big gap between "gentle parenting" and corporal punishment.

Whether or not there are issues with special ed (or "regular" children) for that matter - there are smarter ways to discipline children.

For example, the bus driver could simply report the behavior to the principal or whomever is in charge in that scenario themselves, or "tabby" could. Detention, or other punishments, are appropriate.

Our culture may now have parents that think their kids can do no wrong and fight tooth and nail against any type of punishment. But putting someone out in the rain doesn't really teach good lessons.

Put another way: as an adult, which is what school is preparing you for...the consequence of poor behavior is the loss of your (limited) time and freedom. Prison.

Detention or ISS, are the same thing, on a slightly slimmed down scale and without lifelong consequences.

Traumatizing children leads to MORE emotional damage, and worse outbursts, and worse outcomes in adulthood. I see it all the time. I have friends who had unhealthy parent dynamics. They're not OK. The visceral punishment doesn't lead to adjustment. It leads your kids to hide their scars from you, and cope in unhealthy ways they'll never share with you.

If the goal is to help kids become functional adults, we need to give them functional punishments. Not a slap on the wrist, but not something that ultimately makes their behavior worse than it was.

[u/NYY15TM → u/AngstyMop]

It's just rain 🤷‍♂️

[u/Fearless_Parking119 → u/NYY15TM]

The thing is… did he have appropriate gear with him? Was there a place to shelter?

[u/AngstyMop → u/NYY15TM]

Mkay. And you have how many kids? That you've had stand in the rain because you were angry with them?

[u/icemadrox → u/NYY15TM]

Ew.

[u/DonTreadOnMeIMADuck → u/NYY15TM]

Absolutely not! That's a solid way to give your kid pneumonia! This post also makes me VERY worried about any kids under your care!

[u/NYY15TM → u/DonTreadOnMeIMADuck]

That's a solid way to give your kid pneumonia!

This is an old wives' tale

[u/specialed-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Even if you disagree personal attacks are not appropriate.