Teacher forces preschooler to relieve herself in front of other students

WBIR (NBC-10 Knoxville) ^ | 4/7/5 | Jennifer Geiger , Producer

[SmithL]

A Knox County teacher is back on the job after making a pre-school student relieve herself in a bucket in front of other students.

It happened in early March to a little girl at the Sam E. Hill Family Community Center.

Sheila Knight was put on leave while the school system looked into the allegations.

DCS also investigated and found no evidence of abuse.

Knight later admitted to the accusations, called it "a severe lapse in judgment," and got a strong written reprimand. School officials say that was the strongest punishment allowed at the time.

Knight, who has worked for Knox County Schools for almost 20 years, is back on the job.

The student is in another classroom.

[Littlejon]

Before our second son was born, we were having trouble potty training our first son, who was almost 3 at the time. Our pediatrician told us to take him outside and let him "squirt the dirt". He loved it and was potty trained in no time at all. Well, it worked so good on him, we did it for the second son as well. BAM! Worked like a champ for him, too,

Only problem was they wanted to go outside ALL THE TIME! Now, I don't know if our kids are natural exhibitionists or what, but they have no problem dropping trou and going when nature calls. We don't advocate it, but we don't freak out if the boys have to go and are somewhere that they can go. I have stopped on I-40 in bumper-to-bumper traffic to let my son go.

Speaking of which, our nursery/children's department at church has a ton of boys, most aged from pre-K to 2nd grade. Well, at a birthday party for one of the boys (at the kids house out in the country) about 5 boys (both of mine included) took off for the edge of the woods, dropped their pants and all 5 took a leak right there in front of everyone at the party. Everyone was laughing like crazy at that sight!

Now, I don't advocate making a kid take a leak in a bucket in a class, but I think there may be more to this story than we know. First, I can't imagine a teacher/daycare worker WANTING a kid to go in a bucket, much less one in their class. They would have to clean it up at some point and chances are, with kids that young, the bucket will get turned over.

[cinives]

I have a friend who homeschools and whose husband does not make enough to cover the bills - and they are very frugal. She does tutoring at home and makes a good amount of money, better per hour than her husband.

[squirt-gun]

Re # 7

[cinives]

dd = dear daughter, dh = dear husband, ds = dear son.

Shorthand. Sorry.

[SF Republican]

I never said it was a public school and in addition 100% went on to university. I know this because the school made a big deal out of it, they have done it 4 years in a row. Maybe you should pay attention to what is being written before you start not calling people liars.

[cinives]

no one ever said homeschoolers were perfect - it's just that the success rate is much better than the average :)

my theory is you keep them so busy they are too occupied and tired to misbehave. it's worked well so far.

[politicket]

Show me in the bible where it says 3 year olds should not be in school.

I just saw where I had written "Psalms" earlier", I meant to write "Proverbs".

Let's start here: (BTW, I'm not in this to try to win an argument, I'm simply asking that folks would pray about this).

Proverbs 4 Wisdom Is Supreme

1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,

4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, [a] get understanding.

8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.

21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Make level [b] paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

[SF Republican]

No matter what spin you put on it these children feel neglected and abandoned... Not to brag but that is exactly why I took 9 months off work (at which time the sacrifices were great) so I could be with my daughter from 3 months to being a one year old when we did place her in day care.

[politicket]

I know this because the school made a big deal out of it, they have done it 4 years in a row. Maybe you should pay attention to what is being written before you start not calling people liars.

I have been involved in the education debate for many, many years. If you don't mind, I would like to know the name of the school so that I can independently verify your statistics.

[SF Republican]

I apologize if I have offended you, I try too often to "win" arguments. Having said that, your proverbs provide wonderful words of wisdom, but I did not see where it said a three year old should not be in school with others.

[SF Republican]

Lycee Peruse, Ashbury St., San Francisco, Calif.

[Bella_Bru]

However, if folks are married then they can make ends meet on the husband's income. Sometimes that might mean the husband working two jobs, but that is part of his responsibility.

Maybe in Kentucky. Most people in California work two jobs just to survive, and both parents. Unless you advocate giving them welfare so mom can stay at home?

[rightwingmomX2]

that is soo true. right now when my 4 & 5 year old misbehave I threaten that I will send them to daycare. They run around the house saying "NOOOOOO MOMMY NOT DAYCARE"

[workerbee]

This chick would rue the day she was born if she'd done this to my child.

[politicket]

Maybe in Kentucky. Most people in California work two jobs just to survive, and both parents. Unless you advocate giving them welfare so mom can stay at home?

Then pack up the car and move to Kentucky. It is more important that children be raised in a family environment with one parent at home, then to be able to go to the beach each day.

[Corin Stormhands]

The kids at our preschool have the little potties located in the back of the room pretty much out in the open.

Same when my son was in preschool.

I think we don't know enough about this story. How old was the child? What were the circumstances?

I tend to think that the teacher probably thought this was a solution to a problem (not letting the child pee her pants) rather than something perverse. Thus, "lapse in judgment" makes sense to me.

[politicket]

Having said that, your proverbs provide wonderful words of wisdom, but I did not see where it said a three year old should not be in school with others.

The Proverbs give mention to children listened to, obeying, and gaining wisdom from their mothers and fathers, not some third party surrogate.

Again, I only ask that folks would give heed to the instructions given to us, as parents, from the book of Proverbs and pray about it.

[Bella_Bru]

ROFLMAO! Who goes to the beach everyday? Too funny.

Private schools are just fine. I plan on sending my kids, when I have them, to yeshiva. And there is such a thing as Jewish pre-school. We are actually into education.

[Bella_Bru]

And I'm sure you will find parents in Kentucky that cannot live on one parent's salary. Open up your wallet and give them welfare if you are so inclined. Just don't ask me to do so.