This may be a misunderstanding, a case of bad reporting. The little girl wrote, "I touch Sophie because she touch me and I didn't like it because she was hugging me. I didn't like when she hugged me." I suspect Sophie didn't like the way she was hugged either. It kind of sounds like this little girl was mad at Sophie for hugging her and she grabbed Sophie and squeezed her in a malicious way. I'd like to know if Sophie was crying after the "hug." This may be a case where a little girl was just being affectionate and if so what happens is as crazy as everyone hear thinks it was. But, if this little girl forced to write an apology was trying to hurt the little girl named Sophie, there really wasn't anything improper about making her write a letter of apology. I wouldn't get all worked up over this one without having a better grasp of the facts.
"if so what happens"
should have read: "if so what happened"
"everyone hear"
Should have said "everyone here"
Man, I'm just Mr. Typo today.
Ooooh! Malicious hugging.
She might become known as: "The Boston Hugger".
You are correct. Good analysis. Healthy dose of skepticism.
If that was the case the school should have disciplined her for being to rough or hurting with another classmate, not for "hugging." It is too confusing to connect those two in the mind of a munchkin.
Most of these stories are only outrageous since the media wants them to sound outrageous. Sadly, the supermarket tabloid mentality has taken over.
I agree, good post.
All these posts, and so few voices of reason. My general rule of thumb is that if a story sounds ludicrous, then generally it is. TDK, you hit the nail on the head.
Speaking as a parent at this school, this is a ridiculuos story that boils down to some hotheaded parents unwilling to believe that that their daughter is somewhat of a bully. The so-called "hug" was the tail end of a shoving incident where she grabbed a child half her size and lifted her off the ground. There were several students invloved in the rough play, all were reported to the teacher, and all were asked to write notes about their behavior. These parents were the only ones of the five to think this wa a media-worthy event. Speak to any other parent at this school, and they will tell you that they are horrified that this family has brought so much bad press to our little school simply because they were unable to accept the fact that their daughter had been disciplined.
They probably do have no choice but to pull their daughter from the school now... if I were them, I wouldn't want to show my face.
Back in my day, if I bought a note like that home, my parents would take away a priveledge, or send me to my room. They definitely wouldn't have called CNN.