My sons teacher wants to put a leash on him?

Question

my 6 year old son's class was going on a field trip. my son tends to wander out of the classroom when he gets bored (i work down the hall, he tries to come see me).

he would never wander away in a strange place, but his teacher insisted that he be put in a harness with a leash for their field trip.

i refused to let him go if that was her only option. she said him and one or two other boys would have a leash.

another co-worker told me to bring it up with our boss. but i'm wondering if i should just drop it. any suggestions?

Answer 1

A LEASH ONG that is soooo stupid

Answer 2

no, that would also make the field trip not be as fun for him.. just talk with your son and tell him he needs to behave, and INSIST your son not be on a leash. possibly, you are his dad could take the day off and chaperone for the field trip, that way he probably wouldnt run with one of you there and you could also make sure that a leash is not used on him that way

Answer 3

no she shouldnt have even suggested it. i would definately bring it up with ur boss

Answer 4

A leash is absolutely out of the question and shame on her for calling herself an "educator".  You don't state if your son has any special needs.  If he does, you should see the principal or special ed director about providing him with a one on one ed tech for the trip.  Another option -  is it possible for you to take the day off to chaperon?  Either way,  leasing a six year old is humiliating for the child.  It doesn't matter if it is one or three children.   The others will make fun of them and this will only cause more problems down the line.  I would absolutely insist that your son go on the trip, UNLEASHED and that the school provide appropriate chaperon es of the number of students going.  Now, I'd like to have her teaching license to burn.

Answer 5

I personally think that his teacher doesn't have the right to put things on your son. Maybe you could be a chaperon on th trip and go along with them. Or tell your son that if he behaves well he will get a prize (ice cream/ Few extra minutes for bed time)

Answer 6

Why don't you volunteer to help chaperone?

Answer 7

I feel her pain if you are not at all concerned about your son 'wandering out of the class room when he is bored'

very unacceptable even if it is just to see you.

field trips can be stress ful and add to it a couple of wanderers and its a disaster for the teacher resposible for him, and it doesnt sound like you are helping her.

Answer 8

can't you go on the class trip?  if no, there should be enough chaperone's going to ensure kids don't "wander" off???   if she needs to leash a couple of the kids, then they are VERY ill prepared for a field trip.   We take the entire 1st grade class (4 whole classes) into NYC to the museum of natural history and dont need to leash anyone!  we just bring enough teachers and parent volunteers to keep track of the children.    I would question the schools accountability  - sounds like they are putting this teacher in a tough spot and she's improvising the best she can.

Answer 9

A field trip is for the children to enjoy and learn something, so if your son is not the only boy that needs the attention then the teacher does not need a leash; but 100% attention on all the kids so that they all enjoy the trip.  I can understand that she need attention for the other kids too; well that is why she is the Teacher(should by now know how to managed the kids).  I wouldn't encourage the leash and I wouldn't drop him off the trip either.  Talk to your child in the best way that he can understand and also talk to the boss as well about the best way to handle this.  Whatever happen to advertising for parents to volunteer so that all the children can be managed by 2-3 people at the same time.

Answer 10

unless your son is mentally challenged, I don't think he needs to be on a leash! Isn't that what chaperones are for?

Answer 11

Bring it to the principle. That is just insane!!! Those leashes are not meant for kids of that age for one, and she has no right suggesting something of that nature.

Answer 12

I would talk to her supervisor... that's c**p!  She is totally out of line.  If her super won't listen, bring it up to the school board. What an outrage!  Who does she think she is?

Answer 13

i say h**l no what the h**l they gone put a leash on him for dogs

run wild on leashes too

Answer 14

If he wanders off then she is 100% justified. Would you rather him be in her control or wind up lost?

Teach him better and it wont be a problem. You cant be mad at her for being worried about his safety....im shocked you arent worried about it.

Ok obviously all these people answering would be the FIRST to pick a fight when their kids went missing...but dont want the precautions taken to prevent it. A teachers JOB is to TEACH not babysit kids that wonder off. PERIOD

Answer 15

I think you should talk to the school principal. Leashes can be used for dogs and other animals, but not for children.

Answer 16

you say you son won't wander but he has a history of it. At 6 he should know better than to leave the class. This teacher has to watch around 25 kids. She needs to know where the wanderers are at all times. A "leash" (it is not a great name for it) is a great option to know your child will come back from the field trip in one piece

Answer 17

Do they have a lack of adults to assist with the field trip? I mean what are we talking about here? Unless the teacher is planning on taking them by herself I think it's ridiculous.  If the teacher doesn't have volunteers to help she shouldn't attempt to take them on a field trip.  I don't think  legally she can restrain the kids anyway, so tell her she's out of line.

Answer 18

I've heard of leashes used on toddlers, but NOT a six-year-old!  That is crazy.  He'll get teased endlessly by the other kids.  I can't believe other parents are allowing this.  I'd go to the principal and make a big fuss.

Answer 19

A leash. Like omg. Who puts a leash on a person? well anyway i would make the biggest fuss i can about it without getting sued or going to jail.no one will ever put a leash on me.

Answer 20

I would not allow the teacher to do so. At 6 years-old he is old enough to know not to wander off. Talk to your son and tell him that he needs to listen to his teacher and not wander off. Tell him that you will visit him during the day when you can but he cannot leave his classroom (Unless he is sick and REALLY needs you.) Are there no chaperones going on this trip? I thought there was a required amount of them that had to go. Why can't the chaperones help the teacher watch the kids?

Actually, I DO know kids older than this that have had to have these used on them, but they are Autistic and don't know any better than to wander off.

Answer 21

You can always go on the field trip too and then she wouldn't have to worry about your son.

Answer 22

I would not allow my child to be degraded like that in front of his peers.  I'm sorry... his teacher may have "safety" on her mind, but if she cannot handle the children on her own then she needs to have someone come along and assist her.  

Maybe you could offer to chaperone?  Otherwise, I would not let my son go.  Talk to the Principal, too.  This sounds like a horrible idea.

Answer 23

That's ridiculous!

Personally I can't stand the sight of those "leashes" Even the ones that look like a teddy bear back pack!

She should just make him her helper or ask one of the other chaperons to keep him at their side. Every teacher has a kid that's easily distracted or a wander. No big deal.

She obviously has no patience and needs to find another job!

Talk to the Principal!

Answer 24

There should be some other solution - buddies or he holds a teacher or helpers hand the whole time. I would not want my son to be on a leash during a field trip. I would bring it up with your boss, but have some alternative solutions available to keep your son safe and leash-free.

Answer 25

This is a child not a pet.  Obviously this teacher does not want to do her job and supervise the child.  I would report this not only to the principal but also to child welfare!

Answer 26

A leash? I wouldn't just drop it! Make the biggest fuss you can.

Answer 27

Okay, say you win this one ~ your precious little bundle of joy doesn't have to wear the leash. He goes on the field trip with his class. The teacher has 30 kids to manage, and one freak on a leash (not your precious little bundle of joy ~ the other one, the little monster who can't control himself and has to be leashed like a dog. That one.)

Then YOUR precious little bundle of joy, the golden child without a leash, wanders off and gets run over by a garbage truck.

Well now, good golly what a tragedy. So who are you gonna blame? I'd bet the farm that you'd be hiring a lawyer to sue somebody before the body got cold, and you'd never think of blaming yourself.

If you can't train him to not wander off, and he shows a propensity for wandering, then the teacher is completely justified in exerting special controls over him. She's just looking out for his best interests, not trying to make some sort of statement about your son or YOU ... which is really what this is all about, isn't it?

So pick quickly, which is more precious to you;

your son or your ego?

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

Answer 28

That's ridiculous.  She has no right to leash any kid at all.  

I find the practice barbaric honestly.

If she doesn't have enough parental help to keep up with that many hyperactive 6 year olds, she shouldn't take them on a field trip.

Answer 29

well first off 6 year olds normally have buddies or b in groups with chaperones.

and there is always one person holding hands with the chaperone.

that would be a better option or having a really responsible girl or boy for 6 yr old hold his hand as they are there. and they are six they shouldnt get bored on a field trip. talk to the boss.