File this under: When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong.
This story comes to you by way of Elegant Ignance -- meet seven year old Lamya Cammon. When she's nervous or bored, she plays with the beads at the end of her braids. And one day at school, her new teacher wasn't having it.
Since that original report, Essence.com caught up with Lamya's mother, Helen Cunningham for more details on the outrageous incident. Apparently this teacher didn't think she'd done anything wrong, because she was frustrated with the child's behavior, and because she didn't think Lamya's hair was actually her own natural hair.
Oh, so it's OK to just cut off a microbraid or an extension, to put a little girl in her place? Where they do that at?
Milwaukee Public Schools gave the teacher a $175 citation for disorderly conduct. I'm not one to advocate ignorance or violence, but if that had been my little girl, I may have caused some disorderly conduct myself. Having done a little teaching, I know it can be incredibly frustrating trying to reach a student who is disengaged or not paying close enough attention. But seriously, there had to be a better way to get this seven-year-old to behave, that didn't end with a pair of scissors and tears.
What do you think the teacher should have done? And what would you have done, if you were Lamya's mother?
Comments: (53)
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By: Naija on 12/18/2009 5:06PM
I believe the teacher needs to be fired. She had no business placing her hands on the child, let alone some scissors in the first place. And, it is very irrelevant whether or not the child’s hair was a weave or not. I’m going to keep this nice, but kudos to the mother for not escalating this to a level of violence because it’s situations like these when it’s easy to smack the hell out of someone. We are talking about a seven year old child, in a classroom. I have had the pleasure to teach K-12 and not all children are angels. Especially, the ones that bring guns and weapons to school. HOWEVER, that does not warrant a teacher (whom I presume is an ADULT), disciplining a child in the matter which was done here.
I’m going to stop here but will pick this conversation up on my blog where the conversation won’t be as censored.
Sorry, a fine of $175 is a slap on the wrist. The teacher is in the wrong business and clearly needs to be terminated.
Author Naija
blog.brownerotic.com
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By: weezee on 12/18/2009 7:01PM
I would just like to say, that after following this story and the posts on BV, I appreciate the manner in which you stated your point. With all the posters commenting with threats of violence and racial slurs, it's good to finally read something of intelligence.
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By: Piagrande on 12/21/2009 9:57PM
It's plain and simple. I would charge her with a full scale assault and child abuse. Then go after her job. The child did nothing wrong. It was stated that when she got nervous or bored, she would fool with her hair. How about the white kids always messing with their hair. If this was a punishment for twisting, pulling, blowing hair, etc. most would be bald.
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By: RastaMamma on 12/19/2009 10:07AM
I agree with the above...it is very easy to go into a fit of rage (even tho it's not our child), it is hard enough for our children to be children, but with that said, to me this teacher just clearly demonstrated how "not" to handle a frustrating situation, our children are in school to learn not just book knowledge, but also how to handle friends, social life, and yes...Confrontation! This teacher just demonstrated how to take what one could call a weapon and use it to harm another, she may not have harmed her physically, but emotionaly is sometimes far more worse. If this child is faced with a conflict in school, will she have the right to demonstrate the same actions that she was taught by her teacher? No, she would be be expelled out of school and maybe far more worse (criminal charges). As a mother of an 8 y.o that wears braids to school, I would be horrified to allow my child to even enter the same room as that teacher, I would also feel that if the school did not terminate her, they are condoning her behavior.....WHAT! How could the school have let this teacher enter that school again. This time one braid, next time a whole lock of hair. What if that child would have moved as a natural defense move and she cut into her skin somewhere? The horrendous possibilities that could have happened and the awful lessons it has taught this young child. I can assure you that no matter race, religion etc....if you ask any parent if it is ok to discipline their child by using a weapon to cut off part of their identity they would all agree the same Hell NO!
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By: Rita on 12/20/2009 1:32AM
My concern as well is if this child jerked away and the teacher would have poked her in the face or eye. There could have been so many ways to deal with this like sending the child to the back of the room, to the office, or calling her parents on the spot. Instead she chose an outrageous way to deal with this sitiuation. The teacher she should be filing unemployment....
If the child annoyingly kept tapping her foot would the teacher break her legs?
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By: jim goosby on 12/19/2009 1:12PM
Theanswerman reporting. Ah ... yes. Child abusers
defending the teacher. Unbelievable! I bet they all
would be up in arms if it was their child.
Conventional wisdom says that the teacher - stressed out or not - is at least guilty of battery
on a child. Hands off!!! Nuff said!
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By: Barbara on 12/19/2009 2:38PM
When I first heard this story, as I parent I was and still am outraged, I am even more outraged that the teacher is still teaching and has not been suspended much less fired. Much less teaching in the same school with the child, who should be able to feel safe when going to school.
This teacher clearly is not able to handle her emotions, much less a class room of young children. God forbid she is put into a class room with teens or junior high or high-schooler. One of our children would more than likely be facing criminal charges and the teacher in question black or white would get a slap on the risk.
With more and more schools adopting the "no tolerance policy" this same policy should carry over to the teachers.
I am concerned that this child will need serious counciling if the school adminstrator, the city etc allows our children and families to believe one can come at you with a pair of scissors and inflict not only physical and mental harm and then ask us to support them during election time. Peole need to stand in line to vote these people out of office.
The district attorneys office has clearly gotten this one wrong, they need to send a clear message.
The parents needs to file a civil suite against the teacher, city, and the school district. For physical and mental abuse.
WE NEED TO START STANDING FOR SOMETHING OR WE WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING.
UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL!
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By: Mrs. Holmes on 12/19/2009 10:47PM
IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TOWARDS THIS CHILD AND HER MOTHER. TO GIVE THIS TEACHER A $175 FINE FOR ASSUALTING A CHILD. NOT ONLY DID AN ASSAULT TAKE PLACE BUT SHE EMBRASSED THIS CHILD IN FRONT OF HER PEERS. IF THIS HAPPENED TO MY CHILD CHILD I WOULD BE FILING A REPORT ON A ASSAULT. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR A TEACHER NOR ANYONE WORKING WITH CHILDREN. THIS TEACHER SHOULD LOSE HER JOB.
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By: Gigi on 12/19/2009 5:17PM
Is the teacher white and if yes than she needs get educated herself. Beads in young black girls are part of our culture as buzz cut or shave heads are to white supremacist. She does not have a clue what she did to that child's psychological behavior and how this will impact her life later on. If she is not a white teacher then she is crazy and she does not need to be teaching in any school.
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By: A Concerned PARENT on 12/19/2009 8:28PM
From an intelligent persons viewpoint, yes I would wait on the authorities to take action. Then I would sue the teacher personally. And with the school system only fining her 175.00 and she still gets to teach? OHTTN!!! Thats when the rage would step in. In all honesty, I would be at her class shaving her bald!!! What effect will that have on that child now and in the future? When does the madness stop? When will we stop tolerating this kind on BS??!!
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