Tuesday, December 15, 2009

First-Grade Teacher Cuts Off Student's Braid

Milwaukee first grader Lamya Cammon was told by her teacher to stop playing with her hair. When she kept doing it, the teacher cut off the 7-year-old's braid.



The little girl told Milwaukee's News12 that the teacher, whose name was not revealed in the report, called her over to the desk, said that she was going to give her candy, then cut the braid and threw it in the trash while the entire class watched and laughed. Lamya went back to her desk in tears. She says that the teacher asked her, "'Now what you gonna go home and say to your momma?,'" to which she sensibly replied, "'That you cut off my hair,'" according to News12.
At the start of the news report, the anchor says that the story is also about, "the growing concern over teacher stress." Lamya's mother, Helen Cunningham, told News12 that the teacher apologized when confronted, and explained her actions by saying that she was "frustrated." A News12 reporter spoke to an expert who agreed that teacher stress was a problem.

Although the local school district would not comment on the specifics of the case, an apology was given.

The News12 report says that the District Attorney has decided not to press charges, but police did issue a $175 fine for Disorderly Conduct.

What would you do if this happened to your child?

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