OSAGE, IOWA – An Osage mom says she’s not happy with how her child was treated at school recently, when two educators allegedly “grabbed” her 6-year-old daughter by the arms and then a principal put her in a “hold” with her arms across her chest.
Denise Thompson of Osage wrote to NorthIowaToday.com last week about the incident. She claims that on January 27, her daughter was involved in an incident at Lincoln Elementary in Osage during class where teachers asked her to change behavior and her daughter, Kaylee, refused. Two teachers and the school principal allegedly became involved in the situation, as she describes:
“My 6 year old daughter got in trouble in school on 1/27/2016. According to the teacher and principal my daughter was fidgeting with her bracelet and the teachers had asked her to stop. She refused. So they asked her if she would give them the bracelet to hold on to and they’d give it back when school was out. She again said no because she doesn’t trust that they’ll give it back. So they called the principal down and he told her that she had two options either willingly go with him or they would “help” her leave the room. She refused. So the principal told her teacher to take the class for a walk. Then he and another teacher grabbed her by the upper arms and wrists and forced her out of the room into the hallway. Where my daughter then dropped down to the floor to try to get away from them. The principal then took her to the floor and restrained her with her arms held across her chest. I was not contacted until after all this happened. If they would have contacted me sooner I could have come to the school and avoided all of this. My daughter was so traumatized, embarrassed, and confused by this situation. They caused her to have an accident and then claimed that she never asked to go to the bathroom. Not to mention when I got home my oldest daughter told me that she seen the incident in the hallway before she even knew that I already knew about it. And I got a message from one of my daughter’s classmate’s parents asking if my daughter was ok. Her classmate told their parent that they thought they were going to break my daughters arms and that she didn’t do anything wrong. The classmate also told their mother that they are now afraid to go to school because of what happened to my daughter. I’m in the process of finding someone to take our case to sue. I don’t want this to happen to anyone elses kids.”
After Ms. Thompson reached out to NIT about this incident, NIT contacted Barb Schwamman, Superintendent of Osage Schools, via email, asking about the incident and including the narrative provided by Ms. Thompson:
“Some information was sent to our newsroom by a parent (Denise Thompson) of a child at your school. It is regarding a restraint of her daughter by school staff at Lincoln Elementary. She says the principal is Greg Adams and the two teachers that were involved were Mrs. Mohl and Mrs. Boge. We do always make a point to follow up with anything our readers send. I’d like to provide you with the information Ms. Thompson sent and of course ask you if you – or the employees involved – would offer a comment or possible explanation on it.”
Ms. Schwamman called NIT to acknowledge our questions. However, she could not comment on the incident.
Denise Thompson says her daughter has been back in school since the incident late last week but likely will not be going back. Her family will be seeking home school options instead. She said she will keep NIT informed as to any developments in this matter.
Osage mom unhappy with teachers’ restraint of daughter after she says principal and teacher "grabbed" 6-year-old and…
Posted by NorthIowaToday.com on Monday, February 1, 2016
I don’t think that most of you commenters know what a mess the Osage Schools have been. I took my kid out after bullying by STAFF members and my child is now enrolled elsewhere. It’s sad when nurses at Mercy 5E hear “Osage School District” and name the problem staff because of so many students from Osage! Unfortunately the damage was done and my child refuses to trust school authorities. These school “officials” have been in power with no one to regulate their behavior, it had been my hope that the new superintendant would take a damn good look at the staff in all of the schools here but it doesn’t look like she has.
Folks, no one has the right to bully, scare, or manhandle any child. It doesn’t matter if they are special needs, normal, or behaviorally challenged. They are trained and don’t follow training! Osage school officials have been offered free training AND REFUSED. They claim to stay up to date with trainings (mandatory) but will not accept any changes that may help in their dealings with the children they are PAID to help, not damage, with their techniques.
This is my opinion and go for the bashing, I stand by my words through experience. I would advice any newcomers to Osage to NOT enroll their children in this school system. Some teachers & staff here are absolutely awesome but the few don’t make up for the rest.
I would of beat my kids ass and made her apologize to everyone for being a brat
What a joke. The kid didn’t do what she was told and tried to get fight to get away. Now mom screams foul. No wonder the kid has poor behavior.
All should be careful in their comments as we do not know all the facts. Individual perceptions can be at opposite ends of the spectrum in cases such as these.
this is a parental issue stemming from HOME
Greg Adams is the problem. I have no doubt that the parent had no idea of the severity of the problem when she was called. For those of you who haven’t had a conversation with him his communication skills are terrible. He bullies teachers and spends the day in his office sending emails and avoiding kids.
Defiant behavior issues. Look up how to handle them. I doubt you let the child win because that gives her power over everyone. That is the problem with lack of discipline at home and in school and why we have all the problems in society that we do. Is the mother is exhibiting the same behavior? Discuss amongst yourselves.
When the mom was notified at 11:30 they didn’t tell her the whole situation. All they said was that they had an issue with the child and they set the appointment of 3:15a. That’s why she wasn’t there right away not that she just doesn’t care. She was furious that no one explained the severity of the situation when they called.
You are hearing one side of the story. Of course the mother is siding with her child-this happens all the time with our new corps of helicopter parents. Their children can do no wrong and if they are misbehaving, it is someone else’s fault. I would bet that very few, if any, of you have been a teacher and have no idea what it is like when a defiant child starts to disrupt class. If a teacher had to stop class every time a child acts up, and wait for the parent to arrive to either calm down or escalate the problem, then most of the day would be wasted. And kids see that and know they can do what they want without worrying about reprisals.
You would have thought one of the teachers would know how to communicate with a 6 year old child. This incident was handled horribly and unprofessionally. I have noticed over the years public servants sometimes seem to make a mountain out of a mole hill
So a six year old can’t follow simple directions of adults?
If this ever becomes a legal issue, Mom has just given testimony that is potentially damaging to her case. No doubt an incident took place and that there is sincere concern from mother. But for goodness sake keep away from the press. I guarantee that this interview will come back to haunt her.
what is wrong with you people, this is a 6 year old child, a baby. you don’t put your hands on a child
this is not the first student Greg adams has restrained. He was asked to leave a previous school for holding a child up against a wall.
WOW. Talk about leading the witness…..bizarre questions.
Sooo this is all over her fidgeting around with a bracelet??? I agree that she was naughty but getting her upset that she pisses herself? Screw a law suit, I would have gone into the school and grabbed the teachers and principal til they pissed or shit their pants! Absolutely uncalled for!!! They should have taking another approach and ignored the kid and called the mother 1st!
Why is this mother showing up after 3 pm when she knew about it after 11.. this story is BS!!
This discussion is entirely inappropriate. This child is a minor and has protections which guarantee her privacy and anonymity. Mommy should have reported this incident to law enforcement or she too will be potentially suspect of failure to report child abuse.
Nothing against NIT, but why would the mother contact NIT vs. the police if she thought something was handled inappropriately. If the little girl wasn’t embarrassed before this incident, I hope the video of her mother telling the world she had an accident doesn’t upset her even more. And…. I do hope the little girl is alright and she does go back to school.
So this child has the right to disrupt other students trying to learn? This mom should start teaching her daughter to obey the rules.