2 comments

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  Genuine

  4 years ago

  Great post Mr. Greenberg thank you for reporting.
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  Greg Giles

  4 years ago

  From what I can see there was not a hint of racism and the "Man" was nowhere to be found. What we had here was a brat with a temper tantrum. In another time (not too long ago), this child would have been lovingly, but firmly, escorted out and admonished verbally and physically that they ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ACT THAT WAY, their feelings notwithstanding.
  
  
  
  Had I EVER acted up that long and been that destructive at school, the response from my mother and father would have been swift and sure (and appropriate to a 5 year old butt). I would then have been made to apologize to the teacher for my bad behavior. I was not, nor is Ja'eisha, the most important person in the world. Basic rules of decent behavior are more important, as are learning impulse control.
  
  
  
  Allow me to respond to Mr. Greenberg's questions in the above article:
  
  
  
  Why are there so few questions being asked about the role of the responsible adults who were present at the time of the incident? The adult's role was to calm if possible, and discipline if necessary, an unruly child. However, with the current litigious environment, I can fully understand a teacher not wanting to risk a lawsuit by "mistreating" a child. She couldn't spank her, she couldn't restrain her, the child would not calm down. She did the only thing she could.
  
  
  
  Why is there so little acknowledgment of the age- and race-related power imbalances? Teachers are by definition adults and students in elementary school are by definition children. That would account for the age disparity. I see race in this particular situation as irrelevant. Teachers are typically slightly liberal minded and usually kindly disposed toward children. This was a brat vs. teacher, not an oppressed minority vs. THE MAN (or WOMAN in this case).
  
  
  
  Why is it so little acknowledged that the only person who was ever in any genuine physical danger was Ja'eisha Scott? The physical risk to the child or adult was not the issue. I don't care one bit if all parties involved were absolutely protected from harm. The behavior was the acting out, not the damage she might inflict. She should not be allowed to act this way because such behavior is inherently wrong.
  
  
  
  Why have none of the reporters in the mainstream press bothered to seek expert opinions on the traumatic effects of such police behavior on small children? Simply put, the experts are very often wrong, PhD's notwithstanding. Any premise, no matter how well developed or academic sounding is flawed if you proceed from an incorrect starting point. If the teacher and parents had been inclined and/or permitted to teach this child that she is not the center of the universe, police involvement would not be required for typical child issues. Firm and loving discipline is always better than getting children to emote and get in touch with their feelings. See Dr. Spock's mea culpa.
  
  
  
  Why have none of the news reports discussed what prevention resources are, in fact, available for children in Pinellas County, Florida? The first line of defense was proper parenting. That, of course did not happen in this case.
  
  
  
  Why have none of the news reports acknowledged the lack of funding for mental health treatment for children in Florida? Separate issue. From my admittedly distant perspective, this particular child has a discipline problem, not a mental health problem.
  
  
  
  This mother should be admonished as well as the child. The black community should stop defending bad parents and destructive behavior. Stop finding lawyers to excuse bad parenting.
  
  
  
  Greg Giles
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