Child abuse in the classroom?

Question

I saw this happened at a preschool.

At the beginning of a reading activity, a preschool teacher offered a chance for the children to get water. After everyone's done; and when the activity is about to start, one child asks if he could go get some water. The child was told by the teacher that he could drink after the activity is over.

I was just wondering if this is considered child abuse? Is the teacher doing anything wrong?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Oh good grief, no that's not child abuse, that's teaching the child to listen and follow directions.    Teaching children to listen to directions, monitor themselves, and do things at appropriate times is just the opposite of child abuse.  Letting children so whatever they want, whenever, at the expense of others (waiting on this child to get water, holding up their activity even though they followed directions) would be wrong.

Answer 2

That is not considered child abuse- it is called a logical consequence. The child did not do what was offered to him and when it was time to move on to something else, he decided to get some attention by wanting to get a drink. Doing this is not considered abuse, it is showing children what can happen if they do not take advantage of their time. Just think about it, at night time if you let a child get a drink of water or go to the bathroom whenever they wanted instead of sleeping the child would never sleep at night. Children do need limits and boundries to help prepare them for life.

Answer 3

no, i don't think this should be considered child abuse! If she told the children to go get some water and that child decided not to she can't hold up the whole entire class because the child did not listen. Maybe this would teach the child to listen in class and do what they are told. Now if the child wasdying of thirst or she wouldn't let him get a drink at all for the rest of the day, maybe but if she told him to wait after the activity no it's not!

Answer 4

ats not abuse

Answer 5

No I don't think it's abusive.  I think the child was testing the situation.  He probably didn't want to sit and listen to the story, which is a reasonable, constructive activity, and the child needs to learn that there is a time and a place for everything, and this is now time for story.  We just had drinks.  Some children will test every day for a long time before they realize that this is part of our day!  Part of a pre-school teacher's job is to teach rules and routine to the children.

Answer 6

No, that's not abuse. You have to understand that even when drinking water should not denied to children, the teacher also have to keep some order in the classroom.

As I understand, she already gave to all the oppportunity to drink water before she start, she can't allow him to drink at the moment and she gives a clear answer of when he could do it, that was really good on the teacher. If she allow the child to interrump the activity, then all children will do it and they will not learn to respect when something is appropiate or not, and the activity will be a complete caos.

This was a good teaching experience for the children to learn to follow rules and the daily class schedule,and a preeschool activity is usually short, around 15-20 min. So nothing bad could happend to a child for wait to drink water that long.

Answer 7

I would not consider this abusive.  However, best practice would suggest that the program have a system set up in which children could access drinking water as needed.  It would not harm a child to wait for a brief period of time, but generally children should be able to drink when they're thirsty.

Answer 8

Child Abuse

Generally, the term abuse encompasses the most serious harms committed against children. An "abused child" is a child whose parent or other person legally responsible for his/her care inflicts upon the child serious physical injury, creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury, or commits an act of s*x abuse against the child. Not only can a person be abusive to a child if they perpetrate any of these actions against a child in their care, they can be guilty of abusing a child if they allow someone else to do these things to that child.

Child Abuse is defined in law at Section 412 of the Social Services Law and at Section 1012 of the Family Court Act.

Child Maltreatment

Maltreatment refers to the quality of care a child is receiving from those responsible for him/her. Maltreatment occurs when a parent or other person legally responsible for the care of a child harms a child, or places a child in imminent danger of harm by failing to exercise the minimum degree of care in providing the child with any of the following: food, clothing, shelter, education or medical care when financially able to do so. Maltreatment can also result from abandonment of a child or from not providing adequate supervision for the child. Further, a child may be maltreated if a parent engages in excessive use of drugs or alcohol such that it interferes with their ability to adequately supervise the child.

Neglect is defined in law at Section 1012 of the Family Court Act. Maltreatment is defined in law at Section 412 of the Social Services Law. Although the terms are not synonymous in the law, for the purposes of this website, the terms neglect and maltreatment are used interchangeably.

Answer 9

I feel the teacher should have let the child get water,and not have the chid wait.I do not know if this would be concsider child abuse but i feel the teacher was unfair.Kids have feelings to you can not ignore this either.I have taught kids of all ages for many years.I trated them all the same.Some are adults now,they still come by to see me and give me a hug and tell me thank,you for being fair.This is a reward that can not be messuared by any amount of money.I am not braging this is a true life story.If I were the parent i would check into it.i know there are rules to follow,but what did it hurt fir that chid to go get a drink of water.So yes if the child was thristy,the teacher could be bordering on child abuse.She needs to be talked to by her superiors.Hope I have answered any doubt you had.I did have a son who was abused by his pe teacher.I was not a happy camper and i took it to the school board.He is 9 has epalpsey and she gaged him to keep  him from talking,all the other kids were talking.i took him out of that school.So yes I feel she is wrong

Answer 10

This is absolutely not child abuse.  

There are a variety of reasons a teacher may decide to treat one child a certain way.  In this instance, it may have been about following directions, complying with instructions, teaching the child about timelines for activities, etc.  This teacher did nothing wrong.  Teaching a child about how routines go, how to follow directions, and when things are appropriate to do when is part of the learning process.  I work in a center for children with disabilities, and the rules (while generally the same for everyone) allow for flexibility for each child.  It takes some time getting to know the temperment of each child and the way that they best respond.  If you are not a constant person in the classroom, than you do not have the knowledge of the individual child that the teacher does.  A good preschool teacher will be willing and able to tell you why they did a certain thing, so ask if you are confused.

Answer 11

I think she is teaching the boy disipline which will help the kid when he grows :)...!

Answer 12

It's not abuse but it's stupid.

Answer 13

not abusing at all

Answer 14

Nopeee.

Be'cuhs the teacher offered the children to get a chance to drink water before the activity right?

If the child did not drink at that given time , then it ' s their fault and should wait be'cuhs there ' s something called discipline.

Second , if they did already drink , they shouldn ' t need to get a drink again unless they have some weird problem.

It wouldn ' t be fair to other kids.

Answer 15

I would not consider it abuse if she had just given everyone the opportunity to get a drink.

Answer 16

No mike that is not abuse, he was not being refused anything. He was being taught a valuable lesson, to wait his turn. If anything you are over reacting. Please let the teacher do her job.