School psychologists are not what is needed. They will just give your kids some pills that cause mood swings and suicidal/homicidal behavior.

What kids need is a belt.

ACTUALLY... it is against the law for School Psychologists to suggest ANY medication! So yes... they are definitely needed! Physical Punishment is not ALWAYS the answer! Thanks... try again!

I was spanked a child when I stepped out of line; not beat, spanked. I have two BAs and am working on my JD. My boyfriend used to get it with a belt when he stepped out of line; he's an engineer. Both of us always had it explained to us what we did wrong, we got a warning, and then we got spanked. It's called discipline, and we're now two productive members of society. Discipline doesn't hurt kids, lack of discipline does.

cmd05, I agree with you that school psychologists are needed. However, this boy had been examined by several doctors, and the tests pointed to him not having ANY psychological issues. To me, that points to a discipline problem at home, probably stemming from his parents' divorce. (I'm guessing they're divorced, given the fact that the kid and mom live in Colorado and dad lives in Wyoming.) Plenty of single parents, who have strong discipline at home, manage to have kids who, while upset about divorce, don't spiral out of control like this kid has.

Discipline doesn't need to come in the form of a spanking, but firm boundaries need to be established and enforced, which, if he doesn't have problems moving from "structured to non-structured to structured" activities at home, tells me he's not getting that. Hence, when he's confronted with adults who do insist on discipline, he acts out in improper ways.

The kid needs discipline, in some way, shape or form, belt, bare hand or time out; but the bottom line is, he needs it.

That child needs a belt on his behind. Psychologists are the reasons that this society is muck-up today. When you don't teach a child resistance to bad behavior or unacceptable behavior, when they become youth, teenagers, young adults, and middle aged adults they have no personal disciplines to resist destructive behaviors. A child has an internal voice from adults that reminds them what is good or bad. It's call a conscious. Just like learning a skill, ability, or subject it also has to be developed.

Why the psychologists missed this fact is beyond me. You can spot the difference between a child properly discipline growing up through life vs. a child that was placed in Time-out or allowed to do what ever, talk back and say what ever, or disdane authority 100 miles away.

It sounds like this kid needs intensive mental/emotional heath counseling and testing to determine the problem, and non-violent discipline to get him in control. That said, his behavior is violent and a problem in a classroom... teachers should not have to put up with this violence and threatening behavior...even from an eight year old. They are at the school to perform a job and teach children...not protect themselves from violence and threats. The mom says it is only a problem at school...then home school him (while still pursuing mental health treatment for him). If she isn't qualified or able to do so, then hire someone to school him at home...ultimately this child is her responsibility and she needs to keep others safe from him...she says he is not a problem for the babysitter...if true then maybe there is a home solution for the mean time.

I do not blame the police for responding in the way they felt best to de-esculate the violence and prevent the kid from harming someone (including himself). Sadly, we have seen that kids this young can commit horrible violence...even murder. The police have the responsibility to keep EVERYONE safe. The kid is the mom's responsibility to get proper help for...hope she meets that responsibility and keeps him at home until he can safely function in a school and with others.

It would be interesting to know if this boy rules his house and thus that is why IF he really doesn't throw the violent tantrums at home...no need to when everyone buckles under to what he wants. Is there a dad in the house? I do feel sorry for the mom, whatever the explanation for the behavior is, but I hope she is smart enough to get this kid the help he needs to get in control before he hurts or kills someone.

You betcha! Aidan said he does not remember what triggered his rage. “I don’t know,” he told Vieira. “It’s just the way my body goes.” In fact, it was not the first time that Aidan’s anger issues had led to a confrontation with police. Twice before, authorities had to be summoned to “talk him down” after outbursts in school, his mother said. It is part of a pattern, she said, that seems to appear only when Aidan is in school, and only at particular times.

yup sure does! when ever the little bone head isnt getting his little behind kissed, by the sounds of it. As i said before, it would appear to me the parents are long over due in the investment of a thick leather belt. the kid basically trashed the entire classroom, and continued after police arrived to the point they had to subdue him. PARENTS! if it isnt the parents, lock the kid up in a mental institution till they get him on a medication regiment. He obviously is a threat to the general public, wanting to kill people at the age of 8. sounds like a Mike Myers in the making, and i dont mean the comedian.

I agree that he needs help. But to be that young and disurbed that you threatan a life? That's serious, and If it were an adult, he would have been at LEAST sprayed, maybe tazed, and sent to JAIL, regardless of mental state. Maybe if he knows where to to draw the line he won't be so quick to go this far. Some fear is good! By all means, get him help. But stop hiding and protecting the future criminals of the world, and saying, oh he's upset, he has problems. We all do. He has NO medical diagnosis either, So he can just freak out and nothing happens? That's how you teach the young that they can get away with murder.

I saw the boy and his mother interviewed on tv. He said it was just the way he was, and didn't think he'd ever change. He also mentioned he he was getting medical care, as he had been injured....pretty easy to see where that was going. The mom just sat there with a smirk and let the boy be in control.
Sadly, it is doubtful anything will be done. The boy's special schooling will be paid for by the state in the special school setting - a "special needs" classification dictates that (although the real benefit is to whatever kids no longer need to be subjected to his outbursts).
Then, when the day comes that he ends up in jail - a man who really hurts someone, society will get to pay again, and again.

Mom with common sense...

I agree...it could be that the mom is the one who needs the most help...in the way of parenting classes and learning appropriate discipline and setting limits. If the kid is this out of control at eight years old...and there is actually not a medical diagnosis/chemical imbalance or something behind the behavior, we have to look at the parenting and why this kid thinks he can turn to rage and violence when he doesn't like "moving to structured activity"...in other words, being told what he has to do now. Sadly, at this point it is going to be a lot harder to get him in control than if he had been given adequate limits and discipline from the time he was a toddler...and during those very important pre-school years.

I know that I owe all I have good about me to corporal punishment and the awareness of consequence being unfair. I never got a whupping I didn't beg for. I had no special conditions either. Mom and Dad cared.

The problem is people confuse discipline with abuse and work to stop both.

Abuse is Dad coming home drunk and looking for proxies for his boss and that sort of thing. Getting a whailing for setting a fire is discipline.

Come on people were talking about a 3rd grader! You guys are telling me that cops that are supposed to be trained in disarming people couldnt get a stick away from an 8 year old? How pathetic are they?

I agree that the kid is acting out and needs discipline to show that his actions are wrong. But the Police are supposed to be responsible enough to enforce our laws. This is getting rediculous that they can spray/taze anyone that they want and nothing ever happens because its non-lethal. BS! Thats assult on an 8 year old that possibly has a mental issue.

What a brat, maybe they should have tazzed him also. More brats should be treated this way maybe we'd have fewer brats. This woman and her brat are just white trash.

This kid and his mother need some mental help NOW. This kid is destined for prison.

kedbob...

Although every situation is different, for the most part you really do not have to use physical discipline (violence) as discipline with children if you are doing a good job of parenting from the time they are born. There are times where a good, swift swat on the behind does wonders in bringing the little one to realize "no" means "no"(example...when a toddler who is too young to reason with keeps testing the parent by running into the street, etc....it is dangerous if a child this age does not stop when told no, and parenting includes keeping them safe). However, for the most part, by the time a child is in school, they should already have a healthy respect of parents and authority instilled into them, and disciplining in other ways is the best method. At some point, physical discipline is teaching them violence is OK and the way to solve or vent anger...and that is not a good lesson. Also, physical hitting/discipline is shaming a child and that is also not good. You can correct and discipline while still allowing the child their dignity, and it is much more healthy and effective...particularly when you have been using such good parenting methods all along. Just my opinion.

Good point

What I don't get is if there is "nothing" wrong with him WHY he acts the way he does. Obviously there IS something wrong with him.

I have a child diagnosed with ADHD at age of 4. At that time most of his issues were at home, now that he is in school most of his issues are at school and very little at home, he has issues with transitioning too, HOWEVER, he has never been violent or threatening.

First this kid should be observed at home because this is pretty severe behavior to have in school just becasue of "transitioning issues" (threatening to kill the teachers with a weapon!). This type of violence isn't generally seen only in school it is likely acted out at home and with his baby sitter as well, the mom just doesn't want everyone to know she is scared of her 8 year old. Forget a school psychologist, this kid needs some serious psycho-therapy and likely medication too. He probably doesn't have issues at home because as soon as he starts to act up the care giver gives in to his every whim.

Second a school psychologist is NOT needed. After having my child's school psychologist, do an IQ test and and FBA, and etc, etc, She found that my child has an IQ in the mildly gifted range (perfectly able to undrstand what he is told) and that my way of disciplining was "to harsh and too extreme". 1st I'll tell u my form of punishment,... removal of any and all electronic devices (DS, TV, Video games,
computer...etc), EVERYTHING, when he was good in school for a full week he got one back, he would get something small like the tv back and then he would have issues at school again and it would get taken away. He lost his DS and his computer for a full 3 months, (he is 7). But 3 months after I began to use this punishment, low and behold, his behavior improved dramatically (without medication), he has now had a month and a half worth of good weeks. So according to the school psychologist, this is a harsh and
extreme punishment. Give me a break, I didnt hurt him or deprive him of anything of importance and guess what it worked and is still working! On top of it I have full support from his teacher who sees the improvement daily.The psychologists idea was to offer positive reinforcement and reward for every little good thing he did, maybe on occasion take something like his legos or favorite book away for a week...really? Is she nuts? Yes reward
your child for every good thing they do so it teaches them that bad behavior goes un-noticed and good behavior gets a reward everytime. NO, good behavior in my house is expected! It is not something that I should have to barter with a child over. The reward for good behavior is getting to keep all the many privileges you have in life. Kind of like in the real
world where if you are good, you get to maintain your civil rights and freedoms, if you arent you go to jail. Makes sense to me.

I dont hit my children, in 7 years my son may have gotten a spank on the bottom just 2x. It isnt always necessary, but I do believe that for some children it is more effective. Dont get me wrong, i am in no way saying that you should beat your child or even hit them with an inanimate object (belt), but a spank or 2 here and there (with and open hand), will not leave
any short term or long term scars.

This kid needs some serious help, and I think that although the school might have been able to handle the situation better, the police had every right to pepper spray a boy who is holding a weapon and making death threats, he had grown ass people locking themselves in a room fearing that he would do as he said. The mother doesnt seem to be fully honest, and maybe the school did try other means of "talking him down" and that is why they called the police. I just hope for this kids sake and for everyone else involved they can find out what is wrong with him now and prevent his from growing up to be some psychopath or a serial killer in the future.

I'm not saying the kid should have been pepper sprayed but maybe now he realizes there can be serious consequences for his actions. He may think twice before his body " just goes that way". Unfortunately with all the media attention this is getting, it'll probably make his behavior worse.

Dr. Spock had it all wrong! Kids need to be spanked when they misbehave. Notice I didn't say "abused". That's the problem with kids these days. Mom, you better straighten this kid out before he gets tazed next time.

Maybe we should be nice to kids give, them what they want, and remove the possibility of displeasure of any kind. Avoid any confrontation as well. Just what youth need; no limits and the ability to act the way they want then have it reinforced with doing something they like.

Spankings do not make bad children. There is a huge difference between discipline for an adolescent child and having an argument with your wife, or anyone for that matter (ref. danwill's statement).

Nobody knows the full details of the story. Just what the "my poor child" mother has to say on national TV (very biased), a child who got in trouble (lord knows he would never incriminate himself), and a law enforcement agency that will not comment because it is a minor. Judge about what the police did if need be, but try to refrain because you don't know.

There is a difference between beating and spanking your children. The lack of education of people is appalling.

And a little further it would be a good idea to learn about the word discipline too.

In 2007 a lawmaker in California was trying to pass new laws to make it illegal to spank your child.

http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-01-19/bay-area/17228530_1_corporal-punishment-abuse-law-professor

The police are responsible for the safety of "everyone" not just the 8 yr. old. It was much safer to pepper spray than it would have been to grab the 8 yr. old. Grabbing the 8 yr. old could have caused injury, which I am sure the parents would have been more than happy to sue the Police for those injuries. With Pepper Spray, the physical force is just about non-existent and a little water for the eyes took the sting out. I'll bet the 8 yr ole remembers the pepper spray for a long period of time.

Kimber - I agree. You would hope that he would realize there are consequences to his actions but from what I saw on TV this morning he feels he has done nothing wrong and his mother reinforces that. Police don't just pepper spray a child for the heck of it. It scares me to think where this is leading. The child should be removed from the home because he is obviously not being parented and he needs to be taught how to behave in society, something he's not learning at home.

What kids need is a belt.

and just smack the wife around , maybe punch her a few times to keep her in line, huh?

anthony sounds so typical

"yup, my daddy beat my mom and me, and I turned out just fine".

yeah, riiight.

What I don't get is if there is "nothing" wrong with him WHY he acts the way he does. Obviously there IS something wrong with him.

Spanking and beating are two entirely different things. And anthony does sound typical... typical of a generation that was taught to follow rules, and if they don't they will be punished. And yes, we did turn out fine and were not abused... but it does make me want to smack the little kids you see mouthing off to everyone and running wild because their parents don't believe in discipline.

Maybe he is just a spoiled little brat that has been allowed to act any way he wants without consequences

The police should be commended for using the least force possible to control the situation. Mom needs to get control of her brat before he becomes an even bigger issue. 2 times before the police were called? Mom, act like a damn PARENT!

I am glad the Police pepper sprayed him. The child learned a valuable lesson for once in his life. Destroy public property, brandish a weapon, intimidate your teachers, and don't fully cooperate with the Police could have bad consequences. In my time this would have been settled with a couple of swats at the principals office and several more when the young perp got home. We'll see this child again in the news when he grows up. At that time it will be for violent murder and shootout with the Police. I hope I am wrong about my prediction.

you have got to be kidding me! The kid throws temper tantrums to get what he wants. What is the big mystery here?

I think the brat learned a valuable lesson. Just because momma lets him run the show and rewards continuous disobedience, that sh!t does not fly in the real world. It was only a matter of time before he learned that lesson. For anyone thinking that law enforcement responded inappropriately... just be thankful that the brat did not have his little outburst at the age of 16+ while brandishing a knife or firearm... he may have missed his little interview with Meradith.

Kudos to the law enforcement and thier response to the situation.

A lot of you folks commenting that the cops were out of line need to brush up on your reading comprehension skills. This child, so sweet and innocent, threatened the lives of two teachers. He got pepper-sprayed. They should have tased him as well, thrown him to the floor and cuffed his ass. He should be taken to juvenile detention and incarcerated for a week. The other kids in there will beat his over-privledged ass and he will come out scared straight.

The cops should charge his mother with neglect for allowing him to act like this and letting him take no blame and for reinforcing bad behaviour by making him the victim.

This is why you spank your kids and teach them what pain and punishment is so they don't do it to others. Follow the Bible, don't spare the rod so it will drive the foolishness bound in his heart far away.

Of course the kid didn't have a father so this explains the lack of discipline. Seems like 95% of children without fathers end up being spoiled ungrateful brats who end up being thugs and criminals when they grow up.

To me, this sounds like Mommy is too busy sucking up and friends with the boy instead of makine him behave. Mom need to start being a parent and hopefully it's not to late for this boy. What else were the police suppose to do? Tackle the boy or how bout taze him....They did the best they could and the mom going to the news about this is rediculous and is just showing the boy that what he did was ok! AND A good butt whoopin from mom never hurt anyone who truly needed it. And it sounds like this boy never got it but needed it badly. This sitting in the corner, time out and what not is a load of crap! I raised my daughter with a firm hand and loving heart and to this day she says thank you. Now not everyone agrees but that's ok.....I know what worked for my grandparents, worked for my parents and worked for me. Thank you and God Bless.

Were police justified in pepper-spraying a violent 8 year-old at school? In my day, a tantrum of this magnitude would have resulted in a young man unable to sit down for a week!! While I'm not sure bringing back corporal punishment is the answer, allowing this brat to wreak havoc on his class isn't either!!

Not sure what could have been done differently (as a former MP, our solutions for out of control individuals usually involved overwhelming numbers of MP's blanketing the offender), but "Time Out" sure as hell wasn't working!!!

Of course the mom says that he doesn't have any problems at home. Every parent believes the monstrosity that they created is a perfect angel. I'm sure the mothers of serial killers say the same thing.

When will parents start accepting the fact that they created an abomination?

Who is in charge of that school? Are they so inept they have to call police when a second grader throws a tantrum? Are the police so incompetent they can't talk down or physically restrain a second grader? They couldn't wait for him to tire out? This child evidently has problems already, why did they feel the need to add to them?

If one of his parents had done this everyone would be screaming for their heads on a platter! I think his mother needs to stop defending her child and get him some help. If she doesn't he will be having more and more contact with police.

Has everyone lost their common sense?

Nope. Just you blondeness. Would you wait out an angry person with a stick who is actively trying to harm you? You do realize that the teachers are barred from touching a child in this situation, right? They would be fired immediately. The cops touch him and get sued. But, if the cops do nothing and wait it out, as you suggest, when someone gets hurt cause they are watching him, they get sued. Lose-lose for the cops.

As I mentioned above, the child needs his ass beat.

kinda interesting some of the comments. when i misbehaved, dad had a bad day, something was going wrong, along came a fist. to my face, head, whatever spot was open for a good manly hit, and it started when i was 2. We look at cry baby criminals, who have used the excuse, "my daddy beat me" and out came the liberal tree huggers, who saw even a mild crack across the rump as child abuse, coporal punisment. My kids got a crack on the rump when they had it coming, grounded, time outs, and so on, but i never had to beat them, not one time. Still they are not the best kids in the world, but they at least mind their elders, know right from wrong, and dont exspect handouts when they want some thing, they know they have to earn what they want.

again, this woman is a (i will say it) scab on the population of those who do try to raise a good kid(s). She knows her little rat was all at fault, now she wants her payday....good job sonny.... off to the next school that will tolerate you enough to enrol you, and more $$ the next time they try to tell you to do something you dont want to, like trashing school property, telling your teacher you want to kill them, and so on. personally, NBC must be hard up for some news to allow this POS mother and her little rat go on national news to boo hoo...

there is a difference between spanking a child and using a belt(or spoon or paddle, etc.) on a child, I am not opposed to spanking, but I am opposed to using weapons on a child. I also like melbel's ideas of taking all the toys away and giving them back one at a time as long as the child behaves.

it does sound like the mother just gives the kid whatever he wants and lets the kid do whatever he wants, which is lousy parenting. the quip about "transitions back to a structured environment" sounds like the kid just doesn't want to stop playing, he wants what he wants and mommy never tells him different.

but we don't have all the facts and details.

with a little luck, maybe the kid did actually learn that threatening people has negative consequences (like getting pepper-sprayed by the police), and maybe mommy will learn to tell her kid 'NO".

Belts, spoons, and paddles are weapons? Since when?

And spankings don't always have to hurt... smack a toddler's backside with a wooden spoon or a flyswatter... it isn't painful but the noise from the swatter hitting their diaper is a shock; they learn quickly what they are and are not allowed to do.

Rene...

Yes, Belts, spoons and paddles are weapons...they can leave welts, bruises, and lacerations and should never be used on a child...much less a toddler.

Why would anyone ever whip a child with a belt? In my opinion, that is abuse. The reason for using an object to strike the child would seem to be to inflict pain. A swift swat on the behind with an open hand does not cause physical harm and is meant to get their attention, and usually needs to be followed with removing the child from the situation...a time out to impress on them that they must obey the parent and/or stop what they are doing when they are told "no".

Using non-physical types of discipline is the best method, but it is harder. It takes consistency and following through with the punishment/discipline which is not always easy, and a lot of parents do not want to put the time and effort out to do that. It is harder, too, when the young child has different care givers throughout the day, as different expectations can be confusing to the child and consistency is harder to maintain.

First off, until you have suffered from rage (not just anger management but true rage) you have idea what you are talking about. No discipline is not gonna make this kid think about it the next time. That's the problem, you can't think. There are ways to control before it gets to the point that you totally lose control, but they have to be taught and practiced. I had a space when I was a child, and still do as an adult, where I could go and vent.

My parents were very strict disciplinarians and all the discipline in the world didn't help with these situations. Under no circumstances did two grown men have the right to pepper spray an 8 year old boy, stick or no stick. Had it been my son, I know where my new place to vent would be!

Belts, spoons and paddles are no more/less weapons than your hand. Don't fool yourself into believing your hand is so much better, it is the hand that yields this "weapon" after all. You can do just as much damage and more with your hand. I've read some accounts that psychologically it is better to use a "weapon" because the child doesn't associate the punishment with a part of you, it associates the punishment with the "weapon" instead of you.

The mother of this child is right about her kid needing a "special team," - try the special spanking team. If a child can be effectively disciplined without spankings, than that is wonderful. But in some instances, it is just what the doctor ordered. I'm sure I was, but for some reason, I never really remember actually being spanked, but I remember the threat of being spanked; sometimes that is enough!

I get that it is classified that way, but I disagree that the use of pepper spray is force anyway. Had they not used it, they might of had to resort to actual physical force. If it had been my kid; spray away!!!

My parents were very strict disciplinarians and all the discipline in the world didn't help with these situations.

bob the builder, some of these "very strict disclipinarians" can't parent worth a spit either, they just throw up a bunch of nonsensical rules, beat the kid when he doesn't follow them, and never explain the "why" of the rule. even the most basic expaination "it's not nice", or "you can get hurt", "you are hurting others", etc. . some of these "strict doisclipinarians" just makes the rules and s\ay "because I said so" (which is a really weak last resort, but sometimes it has to be the one when the kids 'whys' too much).

not saying it is necessarily true for your folks, maybe you simply have/had anger management issues (that sound mostly controlled)

Dan-I agree with your assessment. I know parents whose reasonings are "because I said so." There were times when that was my parents' reasonings as well. My dad is a retired Army Colonel, so often times his reasonings were "the military doesn't allow it." Many times though the reasonings were sound.

The discipline didn't cause my rage. As is the case with this kid, I was fine when I was in a very controlled and structured environment, but I when I was not there were control issues. I just don't think "discipline" in the punishment sense of the word, is the key to helping kid. He needs to learn self-discipline and when to get away from people when these episodes come on.

Think of it like epilepsy, difference being you can feel it building (at least I could). When the episode hits, you can't control it.

They should have pepper sprayed him, tazzed him then drop kick him all the way to the patrol car.

latexlatina We are not talking about an adult or even a teenager, this was an 8 yr. old second grader! As the mother of 4, I have learned that the adult has to take control of the situation when a child becomes violent and/or out of control.

I am sure the school called the police because they feared a lawsuit. If a police officer can't handle an 8 yr. old without pepper spray or tazers, then he/she needs to consider a new career.

If the child requires a "special team" to deal with her son... he doesn't belong in a public school where that rage of his won't harm anyone. He threatened to kill the teachers and wielded a WEAPON. He's already has an excuse for his behavior.. "that's just how my body works".

Her special little boy is a danger to his classmates... and she's in denial. "not an issue at home"... what does he simply get his own way so his behavior doesn't escalate? Everyone else has to tailor their actions around him?

Prisons are full of people who couldn't control their rage. Battered women shelters are full of victims of people who couldn't control their rage. Foster care is full of kids who had a parent that couldn't control their rage. What happens if he harms a classmate? Would she tell those parents that it's not her fault but the school's for not providing a "special team" on hand or will a nice lawsuit against her and her son be a wake -up call?

bob the builder, and your comments also show why we shouldn't be too quick to pass judgement on the mother or even the kid. as I stated before, nobody here has all of the details regarding this kid or his upbringing, and jumping to conclusions doesn't help a thing. we know what the appearance is, but that is not the same thing as knowing all the facts.

Just like a dog...they bite someone, put em down....

All of these people who say rage is uncontrolable are in denial...you are the kind of people that punch holes in walls and throw dishes when you get angry....you are the people that become serial killers........you are the bottom %15....the dumbest of the dumb....people always ask, "where is the missing link in evolution".....sadly, the answer is "walking among us"....neanderthals

TK-I will gladly go toe to toe with you anyday, on any iq test or whatever meaure of intelligence you want to use. Apparently, yours is fairly lacking. No one said it was uncontrollable, it is difficult to control. And almost no 8-year old out there has that kind of discipline. Hell, I was in my late teens or early twenties before I got a real good grasp on mine. Yes, as a teeneager I punched a few holes in walls. One time, I actually broke every bone in my hand and wrist because a concrete wall in my bedroom, but that is neither here nor there.

I don't throw dishes and I have never hit a woman in my life. I have a very well behaved 9 year old son, who I have only spanked once in his life. He was two and still wearing a diaper, and he got one open handed swat. Afterward, I think I cried harder than he did. And for your information, I have never killed anything another human being in my life. In fact, I have never killed anything I didn't eat later.

Sorry but you are way off, you and your ignorant, closed-minded, intolerable ilk, are the bottom 15%. Learn a little something of which you speak, then come back and see me.

I say drown the little rat now, you can't fix everybody, oh and bobthebuilder you should know better than to hit concrete walls you silly guy

I do now! HAHAHAHAHA

Tk- Are you saying that super-smart people or ever just smart people never lose their temper? That they never get angry enough to throw or break something?

He has already been "put in another school" before. He is the devil! No dad present...humm?

Agreed, but that doesnt give the cops the right to pepper spray a 3rd grader! I love how everyone wants to bash on the kid and his mom but its ok that the only way these cops could defuse the situation was by using spray. Come on! How hard is it to take the stick away from an 8 year old?

Clearly you have never witnessed a disturbed child in a true rage. It can take multiple MEN to hold one down; and this is a BIG kid, 8 or not.

LOL you have got to be kidding me! Multiple men to hold down and 8 year old? I have never heard such bull crap in my life.

Big kid huh, how much does he weigh? The average 8 year old is 4 feet tall and weighs about 60 lbs....

Also I have witnessed things like this before. My sister teaches menatlly handicapped and autisctic children. I also have 3 nephews: 6, 8, 10 and trust me I would have no problem taking something away from them they shouldnt have.

Did you even see him? He's 85 pounds, he's a moose! What about children with mental illnesses? Have you seen them? Have you witnessed a Bipolar child in the throes of a manic episode? Clearly you have no clue what you are talking about...why don't you read RN in Philly's posts and come back to me. I have no problem, myself, beating someone's ass but there are legal reasons authorities do what they do; that's to cause as little harm as possible. Trust me when I tell you, if my child were threatened by this child's behavior, the mother and I would be having a private discussion of our own. I have a disturbed child and he USED to be extremely violent, I've fixed that! :-)

So your saying they caused him less harm by spraying him with pepper spray than restraining him? Give me a break.

What about children with mental illnesses? Have you seen them? Have you witnessed a Bipolar child in the throes of a manic episode? Clearly you have no clue what you are talking about...

I thought I made it clear that I know about mentally unstable children. I see them all the time. MY SISTER TEACHES AUTISTIC CHILDREN. And you think bipolar kids act out in more violent ways? Really?

And trust me, I have seen more then enough of RN in Philly's posts.

60 lb dogs kill people. Granted they have teeth but this kid still had a weapon. While he may not have been able to actually kill them I can tell you from experience that a stick up side the head or gouged into the face by a child will do some serious damage.

the kid could have been seriously injured if the police had to wrestle him to the ground. the spray hurts but simply washes off. If they broke his arm she would be suing everyone in sight!

I agree, just cause he is 8 doesnt mean that his violence shouldnt be taken seriously. He is a big child and obviously is used to going on some outrageous violent meltdown to get his way, I think he is dangerous. The pepper spray that he got is the least of his problems, and when acting in such a manner, the police probably would have hurt him if they tried to restrain him.

What your sister does or does not do has no relevance, what do YOU do? There are extreme situations. I understand Autistic children can be extremely volatile, I am telling my opinion from my personal experience; which is clearly not YOUR personal experience.

Its not my personal experience when I witness these things with my own two eyes? I have been to her class many times, she also has autistic children that she tutors who are older that come to her house. How is her job where I have experienced being around these types of children not relevent to the situation? Where does your logic come from?

MelBel, yea I understand that he could do damage with the stick, if the cops stood there and let him use them as a pinata. Man you guys act like he is a pro at weilding a sword and no one is safe. Hes a kid swinging a stick.

Genah- Ya and how strong is a dog compared to an 8 year old? Im pretty sure a dog can move much faster and with much more force. They can also take alot more damage before they are forced to stop attacking. Nice comparison though.

Small town pete, I have had an out of control child in my pre-K class (yes 4 year old). He threaten to chop off the head of a fellow student (a 4 yo girl) in detail, and he threw chairs across the room. This was not the first or second time, but the third. We called the parents in, who were trying to help their kid, and he was kicked out of school. Otherwise he was a sweet kid. I don't know if it had something to do with the hurricane (which I thinki it might have shaken him up) or if he had behavioral problems before.

This kid said he wanted to hurt the teaches , he need to have a mental evaluation, serial killer in the making or when he's older he'll attach another student or take a gun to school.

Nope, cops did just what they should have.

His mother is an idiot

SmallTownPete: I work with with children who have autism. Yes they can be volatile and act out, but they have nothing on a child in a true rage! When a child is allowed to get to that point, you can't talk them down, you can't baby them. If the police officers had tried to "control" the child without the pepper spray and they got injured guess what...not only would mommy be suing, but then the boy would be in a juvenile facility for assaulting an officer (which is where he should be anyway) and you would be complaining about that. I have also worked as a juvenile probation officer. I quit that job because there was a 8 year old boy from a good home who was in the system due to multiple death threats and rapes...yes I said rapes. He had beaten several little girls unconscious and stuck whatever he could find wherever he could put it. Two of the girls will never have children. One little girl has permanent brain damage from the beating he gave her. The last instance of this, when he got caught, a male teacher caught him. When the teacher tried to stop him, this "little boy" jumped on him, clawed his face, bit a chunk out of his cheek, and repeatedly stabbed the man with the pencil he had been using on the little girl. The teacher was in the hospital for 4 days because of this little 8 year old. Don't tell me that these officers were out of line. I'm glad they peppered sprayed the little menace and now he needs to be removed from his mother and given proper treatment. If there isn't anything psychologically wrong with him, then he is just an evil little child who needs to be locked away from society. Why should others be put in danger over the actions of one miscreant?

My husband and I are both EMTs and we have delt with out of control kids even that young that when the adreniline and dopamine get going they can have extreme streangth. I have had to tie ( or have the police hand and ankle cuff them ) to the cot to protect myself and the "patient" in the back of a cramped ambulace with mant things that could hurt someone. As soon as you get to the hospital it can take several adults to make sure he/she is restained and controled while transfering him from cot to bed. Extreme rage raises chemicals to unbelieveable levels transferring into a whole lot of energy!Just ask any ER Doctor!

Thanks Guess What because Small Town thinks that by watching Autistic children that he knows everything, difference is an Autistic child doesnt know what they are doing, they are unable to express themselves verbally (for the most part) so they express themselves physically and sometimes violently.

A persons physical power and ability to inflict harm on another has absolutely NOTHING to do with their size or age. I mean you have heard of the amazing feats that mothers have done in order to save her child, like lifting a 1-2 ton vehicle off of them (yea, thats 2000-4000 lbs). I dont care what Small Town has to say because his "experience" with special needs children does not make him an expert on a seemingly "normal" 8 year old boy with serious anger issues and violence tendencies. I have seen a "frail" 97lb women beat the living daylights out of a full grown man (double her weight), and he was fighting back (I physically SAW it happen), so this 8 year old being a danger to people, especially with his state of mind is NOT a hard thing to comprehend. Just someone else making an excuse for an evil little boy, Pete will u be they for him when he is 21, 16, 13, 10 and has killed someone? Because the path he is on will lead him to evil crimes.

guesswhat, damn sorry that you had to deal with that. I have not worked with autistic children but I have friends/family whose kids are austic and the kids are pretty strong.

As for the 8 year old acting up in this story, I don't understand why people think that these kids are not capable of doing the things they do. This is why when the news report about a 8/10/12 yo has killed someone, I tend to believe it because I know kids are capable of anything even rape and murder.

Smalltownpete, obviously a dog has more muscle than a child. Which is why I stated that a 60 lb dog could kill a while a 60 pound child probably couldn't kill with a stick but could still do serious damage.

First off when did I say I knew everything? The whole point of me saying I have been around mentally handicapped and autistic children was simply showing I have seen a child in a rage acting out. Thats it. What expert opinion did I give other than the fact that I think the cops could have handled this in a different way?

A persons physical power and ability to inflict harm on another has absolutely NOTHING to do with their size or age.

I find this statement very hard to believe. So you believe that the kid had superhuman strenth due to adreniline and dopamine rush? I mean where did it say that in the article, or is that just your expert opinion?

Dont get me wrong people, I dont think this is some cherry little boy. Im not defending what he did at all, and I dont think all the attention is going to help his situation, unless it gets him the help he needs. Im more focused on the fact that a group of ADULTS couldnt handle the situation any better.

2 cops and several teachers not another 8 yr old!! I have 3 boys a lot bigger than this one and I am small but I would have been in control not him. The mother should be ashamed not put on tv. This mother is allowing and promoting this behavior. She should have taken control a long time ago.

@ guesswhat1218

That's just sicking. A ill individual like that needs to be removed from society and their parents charged for neglect and incompetence. What right does anyone have to hurt others. It's no wonder we are the butt of jokes of the civilized world. We've become one big -- white trash / ghetto nation.

Had it been my child he did this to, he'd have bought himself a death sentence.

I would have taser the little fuker!

Pete would you feel differently if the boy had been holding a knife and waving it around, how bout a gun, or even some scissors. A weapon is a weapon, and obviously the teachers and whom ever else was there found his behavior to be off the charts, unsafe, and they were unable to do anything else to disarm him while keeping everyone safe. So many others have said it and I will say it again, there have been 8 year old who have murdered in cold blood and show no remorse. This kid shows no remorse for what he did he has no conscience, he doesnt care, his only excuse is "thats what my body does"....he deserved it and he needs help!

The kid is a problem child. I watched him talk on the news and he himself admitted that he can't control his violent behavior. This is a sign he needs to be put in some Special-Ed School for troubled kids.

If this is not taken seriously, he might end up killing another kid. I think the school needs to remove him from the premises and help the mother find him an appropriate school to attend.

He should have been given corporal punishment, told what he had done wrong, and then put into a strait-jacket until he learned to "control what his body does." I see a lot of these cases and most of the time it's because the parents look the other way or have spoiled them to death. Now autism is a different story for a different place.

He no doubt enjoyed the circus of police calls to his school - until this time, when it ended in pepper spray.

I totally agree! Bad behavior SHOULD have bad consequenses.. Now he's learned that he can act like a maniac, get away with it, and even get some undeserved attention.

Grandmother: I agree totally. Having them on TV tends to glamorize that kid's bad behavior. This sends the message to him that he can do wrong and be rewarded for it. Any one can see that the mother condones his uncouth behavior. Not once did she say that she disiplines him for it.

I 100 percent agree with you. Parents need to take respondsibiluty for their children. Kids can be dangerous at any age. The Police did their Job. MOTHER NEEDS TO WAKE UP!!!

It is the same crap, with the Today Show having some sort of fetish for attention seeking morons. A unruly kid, who has zero respect for anyone, yet the rest of the world is to blame. Like the school and Police. Yeah, that must be it (eye roll).

My parents would have been downright embarrassed and angry at me, if they had to deal with the police, let alone have ever excused such behavior. Totally unfathomable, is this 2011 take it to the media to get your 5 minutes of fame.

To all the 'we need better this and that or should have dealt with it better' idiocy. What exactly do you want them to do, when they are not permitted to handle the kid in any manner? Rather than just telling others 'they they should have handled it better', why don't you experts enter the field?

It's the growing number of stories like this, that make Waiting for Superman to be such a joke. Or does this come down to "bad teachers" too? Perhaps these superhuman teachers would deal with this more appropriately. Fair enough, but tell me this, when does a teacher get time to actually teach? Perhaps some believe that these adults should just sit there and take it, take the physical abuse.

At the end of the day, who does this kid think they are, to threaten adults like that? What's even more pathetic is these pathetic negligent and incompetent 2011 faux parents, who effectively excuse the behavior, look for someone else to blame, and feel that they are looking out for their child. Wake up, as you're the problem idiot.

I have great respect for these professionals who are forced to deal with the 2011 trash of our country. I would not enter that profession for $200K a year.

I totally agree! Just because he is 8 doesn't mean he can't harm anyone. If left to continue on this path without getting help, I shudder to think what he will be like as a teenager!

I shudder to think of the ones he is eventually going to hurt!!!!

I hope cops pepper spray your child the next chance they get. You make me sick.

I agree that the child is in need of either discipline or medical help. But that doesnt excuse the cops to pepper spray a 3rd grader. Kenmor, are you telling me your afraid of an 8 year old? Next time the neighbors kid tells you to give him your cookie, better not keep him waiting you big sissy. Cops are trained how to disarm a criminal with a gun, but cant disarm this kid with a stick?!

I would certainly understand if MY child were acting like a little psycho. It has come up before, not to this extent but extreme actions sometimes require an extreme response.

extreme actions sometimes require an extreme response.

Ya and more often its the simple response that would be most effective.

And sometimes it's not. If you don't know what DOES work, then you don't know what DOESN'T. Trial and error are the only ways to learn. I bet he will control his impulses better the next time his "body just goes that way".

Ya and If the teachers grabbed the stick and beat him with it I bet he would control his impulses better, but that doenst make it a proper punishment. You sound like the kind of person that agrees with torture in Gitmo. The ends justify the means no matter what those means are, as long as you get your results.

Small Town Dick....The teachers should have been allowed to beat him with the stick. That does not happen nowadays and this is the situation we have to deal with. Torture in Gitmo is against the law and is irrelevant to the article. However, when the government breaks the law the citizens have another bad example to exemplify.

LOL Im a dick because I dont think a child should be peppered sprayed? That there were other options that could have been used? Ya, im such a dick.

Dont get me wrong people, I dont think this is some cherry little boy. Im not defending what he did at all, and I dont think all the attention is going to help his situation, unless it gets him the help he needs. Im more focused on the fact that a group of ADULTS couldnt handle the situation any better.

SmallTownPete...what is your solution? What should the police have done? You mention that they are trained to get a gun away from criminals, yet spraying this complete animal of a child is wrong. REFRESHER COURSE...cops get the guns away from the criminals by shooting them in the torso. How should they have done it? The grab him and rough him up, they get sued. The teachers touch him, they get sued. So tell us, with all your SmallTownPete wisdom, how should it have gone down? You have nothing but negativity. Try to contribute positively. What is the solution?

And saying that someone condones Gitmo just because theat person thinks a kid needs a spanking? Come on...are you 12?

The teachers are not sissies for locking themselves in a room, it was the only way to keep safe without loosing their jobs. If they had touched the kid, even just to take the stick away they risk being sued and would very likely be fired and barred from ever teaching again. Career down the drain. Should they have just stood in the room and let the pint sized psycho wail on them??? Cops disarm criminals with pepper spray, rubber bullets, and real bullets in a non lethal place, they chose the least damaging. Would you have preferred that they also just stood around getting wailed on until he tired himself out?

first smart post all day.

if the teachers or trauma team as some people want even layed a finger on the brat we all know fat azz diabetic mom would call abuse and she would get an extra minute on the Today Show.

I also don't believe that this kid does not act up outside of school. This parent is in denial. and this is a second grader. Mom it is ok to start saying NO to this child now. Should of said it years ago it seems. And yes neither of them should of been rewarded with being on the Today Show. Now this kid has a bigger ego that needs to be brought down to earth with the rest of us. Sorry Mom your it!!!

This was a no win situation for the teachers and the police all because the mother fail in her job. I don’t see anything wrong with what was done, I would never have done anything like that because I was taught better as a child.

All you people saying that he should have been talked down need to spend a few minutes each day in the real work if at all possible.

Khakigirl, I used to substitute teach. One time as a kindergarten sub, I had to have a child suspended for a week. He went around pushing other children out of their seat. Punching others. Walking around the room, shouting. All attempts at discipline failed. I can say this without batting an eye, he was a monster. I am not saying that it was his fault or that he could control it, but he needed some major help.

Khakigirl...If a child doesn't know how to behave, we teach. The method used to teach is DISCIPLINE.

dis-i-pline (n): training to act in accordance with rules; punishment inflicted by way of correction and training (re: Dictionary.com)

And punishment does not have to mean anything physical (although I'm not against spanking but believe one should not be applied in anger, or with anything other than a bare open hand - IMHO).

RN in Philly I totally agree!

Khakigirl if you have never dealt with a child like that in a daycare or school setting you can not undertand I had a teacher get her arm and shoulder broke by a 4 year old and there was nothing we could do to "restrain" the child. The last I heard the teacher filed an assault charge on the child and her parents. That is when I went into vet. medicine and never looked back I have been bitten more by children than animals in the same amount of time and I will take a rabid dog any day.

Yep, it is always too much from the police, but they are the first one's you call when you or your child is in danger.

We had a girl that was similar to this in my younger boys second (second) grade class. He said something she didn't like and she STABBED him in the face with a pencil. Just missing his eye. She is still in public schools. NOTHING was done because she is a special needs child. Which means, her Mommy will throw a FIT if the school tries to do anything!! We changed schools.

P.S. If you want, give an eight year old boy a strong stick and ask him to hit you with it as much and as hard as he wants. Don't think any of you will do that. Don't need any policmen out on workers comp because they were hit across the knee with a stick. Sound ridiculous? Go try it!!! They sprayed him because they DIDN'T DARE use brute force. Then they would have really had everyone up in arms. In Texas you can get a $585 dollar citation for this kind of crap in class. I'm glad they sprayed his little, lying, spoiled, tantrumed A$$!!!

I used to act like this and trust me when I say corporal punishment works, it works but needless to say I had to get it about 3 times a day from kindagarten til the 2nd grade that is a lot of a**whooping and it got the job done. I am glad I recieved it otherwise I'd doing god knows what but as of now I am in college and still have a hell of a temper but it IS controllable. That boy is acting like that because he needs to be trained how to handle himself.Yeah he MAY have a mental disorder ,medicine is not the answer to everything especially to temper tantrums which is what that is. It is just on a bigger scale because he is bigger and most people get this under control very early.Not the case here it SEEMS.Goodwill to her cuz she will need it.

I agree peachykeen!

I agree that he shouldnt be getting attention for his behavior. I also agree that he needs help, whether it be discipline or medical help.

The thing we shouldnt be allowing is the police to pepper spray a 3rd grader. So now everytime a child acts out with the police around, this situation is giving them the green light to pepper spary them and thats wrong. I understand the arguement about physically restraining him, but with his actions that would be warranted. How is it ok to pepper spray him but not restrain him? Just becaue they dont actually touch him, doesnt mean hes not in just as much pain.

So his rights are more important than other people involved? He would have hurt someone if given the chance, he said he wanted to sharpen it. His action caused a reaction and if more people would have learned this at 8, then we probably wouldn't have the criminal problem we have now.

At SmallTownPete, the police could have restrained him physically. They chose not to, using pepper spray as an equally effective but safer option.

This child has already proven that he shows no respect for authority in the form of verbal talking to's or threats. Open your eyes! An eight year old who has had the police called on him 3 times??? This time do you think they showed up and sprayed him w/out a word? He told them to f*** off. He deserved everything he got. He's lucky he didn't get more. And it's past time that he learned that doing what he did may result in a painful consequence. He's lucky he's not in jail. Which brings me to another question. WHY ISN'T THIS KID LOCKED UP???? Terroristic threats, destruction of property, etc usually means juvenile detention.

Criminal problem we have now?!?!? LOL really? Didnt you tell me not to comment on things I dont have experience in torrid? So now your a ciminalogists, or in the correction field? You know whats causing our criminal population to grow?

KDoc- wow dude, I hope the cops pepper spray your kids because they feel its a safer alternative than actually taking them into custody. So your suggesting that the cure for his behavior is to pepper spray him everytime he acts up. Punishment on the spot here on out, its for your and everyone elses protection. From now on you get tazed for speeding or any other crime you committ, each time you break the law you get 5 extra tazes. 5 for first offense 10 for then next and then 15 and on and on.

Pete,

You keep going on about ho awful it was to pepper spray this obviously, un-remorseful, violent child, yet do you see any lasting effects of said pepper spray? If the teachers or police had tried to physically restrain him he could very likely have ended up with broken bones or worse. He obviously wasn't going to go without a fight and had already thrown furniture that most 8 year olds could not move without effort (not sure if you have ever moved a tv cart, but they are substantial and he threw one). Also, as a mother if my child had exhibited this kind of behavior your damn right I would expect the police to use any means necessary to SAFELY remove him from the situation, and in my opinion this was SAFE. That being said I am a parent that takes responsibility for my child's actions, and based on your comments you don't seem like you would be.

FYI, I speak in the hypothetical as my child behaves himself or he knows there will be consequences that I will follow through on. Good solid parenting is obviously needed in this case, but if and until that happens this mother has left it in the hands of the authorities to "deal" with her son.

Some law enforcement and corrections officers began to challenge training policies requiring that they be sprayed in the face with OC to learn its effects. Concern about pain and potential adverse effects led those involved to ask, "We don't need to get shot to know what a bullet does, so why do we have to be sprayed to know what OC does?"(28) A challenge to mandatory exposure in North Carolina took the form of a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the NC Department of Corrections, arguing that pepper mace training is "dangerous," extremely painful, and a violation of the right to due process.

Serious adverse health effects, even death, have followed the use of OC sprays. These sprays should be regarded as poisons or weapons and kept away from children and teenagers.(17) The risks of OC spray use by adults for self defense has not been studied, and its effectiveness as a crime deterrent is unknown.

Hot peppers and sauces have been agents of child abuse(7) and OC spray has been used in a juvenile detention center for corporal punishment and psychological control.

Maybe you should do some reading on pepper spray Kim. I know in this case the child is fine, but that might not happen next time.

What if the headline instead read:

"Cops pepper spray 8 year old, resulting in his death." Then what would you all be saying?

You can't even spell "opportunity" and you want to help this kid. OK....

Hmmm! Well GregJ at least I'm actually doing something constructive to try and improve this childs future. So what are you doing to improve this childs future?

You have a good day now!

He's not your son, what is our motivation for wanting to help, NAMBLA.

Larry - the child doesn't need to be 'detoxed', as the home page for New Hope Health professes the cure for everything.

This child needs behavior modification, serious interventions, and parents who are NOT in denial about their child.

Larry, thank you for stepping up to the plate to help this child. There is obvious something being missed in the diagnosis. Perhaps he needs structure at all times, including home. I hope you are able to contact the station, and they can forward your offer to help this young child. For if he does this behavior now, what is going to happen at the age of 13,14,....if he doesn't get the help he needs. I also think the family needs intervention too. Dad needs to get involved with helping this child.

This is only a second grader. Both the Mom and child needs guidance to help him make it to third grade.

So totally agree RN in Philly !!!

Sounds like a spoiled brat to me. Of course he doesn't have the same behavior problems at home since mom most likely gives in to the spoiled brat all the time, thus there's no need for violent temper tantrums. Hats off to the responding policeman who pepper sprayed him. He might have new respect for authority now and might save other people from being hurt by him otherwise.

I totally agree, yet the reason why I don't watch the Today Show and the other morning shows. This story makes me sick to my stomach. Now this boy will think that he can do what he wants and get rewarded by the Media. Well, ok that may be true. The media sucks the life right out of you. No morals no standards just get the story!!! Sickening!

That's an appropriate reference...NOT! There are lots of "home truths" in the bible that no longer apply in our society. I guess If you beatest him enough, he WILL die.

@BPQW, did you just use a NOT joke? Welcome to 2002, where we don't use that anymore.

Although I am notoriously against all things religious, I agree this kid needs a good, old fashioned ass beating. Take away the toys. If he screams, spank him. For every action, there has to be an equal, opposite reaction. If there isn't, things get off-kilter.

He is in a school for children with discipline issues. He has also been transfered to another school, same type.

so she can stop his kill threats?! if the mom knew how to control her own child, he wouldn't be acting like that in class in the first place

Yes, the child needs discipline I don't think pepper spray should be the method!

Yeah, that sounds good, hide in a closet while the little terrorist-I mean little boy wields a sharp stick, verbally abuses you, trashes the room, etc. Maybe even give him enough time to figure out how to start a fire and burn the place down!

How about someone marching in, telling the little psychopath to put the stick down, and when he doesn't, use a baton to disarm, and arrest him. I just sayin, maybe deterrance is the answer?

Dana-2913501

Yes, the child needs discipline I don't think pepper spray should be the method!

You are right, they should've tased his bad ass.

PLEASE! If your child went to that school, or he threatened YOU, would that still be ok?

I wouldnt let MY children in the same classroom with him! If the school didnt move my child out I would home school them or move them to another school. The other kids in this childs class deserve better how can you learn your Math, Reading, and History with a kid like that there? If he doesnt know what "triggered" his anger outbreak then who is to say another 8 year old isnt going to get beat with a stick by him?

No, they did not, but they did the right thing to subdue him. He may be 8 years old but he has the potential to become a mass killer in the future with this kind of rage. He should be treated by a psychologyst/psychiatrist. And, for those who think an 8 year old cannot harm somebody, think again and search the news, you will find 8-10 year old killing their parent etc.

WWDD? What would Dana do? Please tell us, reason with him, attempt to understand him, offer rewards for better behavior? what is your fantastic intervention? Remember to put yourself in the teachers spot, locked away from the little monster that verbalizes he wants to kill you!

I'm sorry but are you people wimps, or what! It's a an 8 year old with a stick!!!!!! No, I don't think they should've psycho analyzed him, just tackled him and took away the little stick!!! Yes, his mother needs to discipline him and take away the violent toys but no ones lives were in danger!

Don't you think if the police would have pounded him, it would be more of a deterrant for the future?

Ummm, the teachers didn't have body armor, face shield, tactical vests, etc. An 8 year old can harm you expecting it or not. Something had to be done to difuse the situation. I don't think it was excessive.

All this new age child psychology leads to a whole new era of undisaplined children. The all know nobody can lay a hand on them, otherwise they can scream abuse and they'd be the star.

Actually, they got all of the children and teachers out of the room, so it wasn't possible for anyone but the cops to be hurt by the stick!

weak response, what it they did not. what if hewas just a little faster and turned his rage on a fellow student before that part of the intervention.

Actually if you read the artice, there were no other students in the room to begin with. He was only working with two other teachers, by themselves... I understand that children can get out of control, but seriously you can not tell me that the police couldn't get the stick away from an 8 year old without pepper spraying him. Lets think about how big 8 year olds are... unless he's abnormally large for his age. Police are trained in situations where they need to get a weapon away from a perp (even if it is just a stick). And for those of you that don't know pepper spray can be extremely harmful for children. Pepper spray causes upper body spasms which force a person to bend forward and uncontrollable coughing making it difficult to breathe or speak for between 3 to 15 minutes. I know that when I cough and can't breath and for a child this becomes a serious issue. The lack of oxygen to the brain can cause brain damage and a loss of brain cells. This can also cause the child to stop breathing and in rare cases cause death.

I understand the child needs some form of disicpline. I am a firm believer that physical force should be used as a last resort. The mother should get therapy or take classes that will help her to become more assertive and help her to handle difficult situations. The child is not going to start behaving immediately. Things like this take time and she will need to realize this. As a last resort after a longer period of time then maybe physical force should be used in extreme circumstances. Now during this time my suggestion would be to remove the boy from school to start home schooling. But then again maybe this is not possible because if the mother is a single parent then she needs to work to support herself and her son. She could possible hire a private turor to work with him in a comfortable environment such as his home. It said in the article that he got along with other people fine out side of school. He played sports and had a babysitter, that he got along with. It was just the transition from serious time, to play time, pack to serious that caused him the greatest amout of distress and caused the outburst. Maybe having the child complete all of his work first with play time being the incentive for after, then the child will be less likely to have an outburst of rage. There have been lots of studies that prove that negative reinforcement does not help. That is why I believe that this would be a better approach.

Another problem that has not been addressed is that maybe there is some sort of abuse going on at home. This could cause the child to have erratic behavior with others who are trying to help him. He could be scared to say anything to anyone and that would be why he says he doesn't remember why he got so mad or why he felt that way. He could be hiding from his mother or he could be scared of his mother. This is just another possible explaination for the childs behavior. I dont think that it should be immediately assumed that the child is just a bad seed. I think other possibilities should be explored before passing a critical judgement of this 8 year old boy.

Besides Dana, Who do you think would have been yelling the loudest if they tried to disarm him? I am sure his mother would have been crying about someone laying hands on her baby.

ssmith-why should his schedule be adapted to his tantrums rather than teaching him about rules? The real world deosn't work that way. I can't tell my boss that I don't feel like working today and expect that they will adjust deadlines, work hours etc., or even to keep my job. This child needs to be taught that the world does not revolve around him.

ssmith, that kind of thinking is why we have children like this. Were you ever spanked?

I agree he should be homeschooled, then the police wouldn't ever have to be called again and the mother would have to discipline him.

Exactly! where is dad?

Duckhntr12:

“He’s a normal 8-year-old child at home with us, when he goes got see his dad in Wyoming, when he’s at soccer, swimming, [with the] baby sitter, he’s fine,” she told Vieira. “We don’t have these issues.”

Dip@!$%#! It's people like you who put this country in the dark ages. Maybe there was a reason I don't know about that justified some deperate action (not pepper spray), but people like you make me sick! You probably abuse your children, don't you? I have bipolar disorder and no amount of discipline fixed me, it was my medication that was the savior, and maybe his mother couldn't afford it. Ever thought of that Texan?

Hey Sane Guy: sorry but you do not sound so sane right now...

Sorry SaneGuy...the answer here is for the child to learn how to control himself, as you did. If that takes some punishment (NOT abuse), then so be it.

As it is, the kid had a meltdown at school, threatened the lives of two teachers, disobeyed police orders, gets peppersprayed.....AND a trip to New York??!? All his 'mother' has to say is everyone else is to blame?

Sorry....the kids has been examined, displays to others that he knows how to behave in many different situations - except school. Seems to me that there is nothing wrong with this kid that some 'education' can't fix.

The first thing he needs to know is that there are consequences for his actions...from his mother. Seems to me that she has neglected to instill that in him, although it seems that he does know the concept, as he behaves himself elsewhere.

Obviously, your mother was able to teach you, right?

Sane Guy-

I cannot believe the ignorance of people in this country. Along with this epidemic of childhood mental illness, we have an epidemic of straight-up ignorant adults.

My 7 year old son is suffering just like this boy. We have spent tens of thousands of dollars to get him help and to understand how to make his life meaningful and bearable for both us AND him. It cost me my job at one point. And we are STILL chasing our tails because there just isn't enough known about the human brain to understand why a child of well-above average intelligence simply cannot gain emotional control of himself. The drug cocktail the doctors put him on last week is beginning to cause hallucinations and rage. It KILLS me that I have to see him suffer like this, and that adults are so harsh to him and our family.

And to think only 50 years ago the answer was to lock them up in a padded room for the rest of their lives or give them a lobotomy! Science has come a long way in such a short time, but not nearly far enough, and the problem is growing, affecting more families every day.

I wish people would take just 5 seconds to think about the unbelievably harsh words and hate that is coming out of their mouths and hearts. People have no clue. NO CLUE!!!

find the answer, but don't expect the community to put up with threatening, bad behavoir. We all have our own problems so don't excuss a child who puts others at risk. How can the other 8 year ols learn in that environment?

Why should teachers come to school to have uncontrolled, horrible little tikes make their day impossible plus make everyone at the school unhappy or to feel threatened.

check your child and teach them to fit in not be mental and put undue fear on others because they are not taught or medicaded or whever it needs.

@Very Sad Mother - first let me say my heart goes out to you. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to understand and deal with your son's mental illness.

The mother in this story is NOT. She seems to be in a very deep pool of denial about the seriousness of her son's situation. His denial I understand - most 8 year olds will respond in the same way when confronted with their actions (notice I said "most"...not all). Mother refuses to even acknowledge that her son has a problem (other than the problems he's having with everyone else on the planet).

Y'know....the bottom line is, for myself, I am a mother too...and your concerns for your child stop at the tip of MY child's nose. I would be the most vocal of all parents if your son was a violent child and you insisted that he be in a public school. I advocate for MY child's education and safety, and your rights (in my eyes) carry no more weight than my own. Unfortunately, your child has a right to be in that public school until he does something really bad (how screwed up is that....in my eyes, just as screwed up as YOU for insisting that your child even BE there).

Sorry. I have empathy for your situation, but if your child has violent and uncontrollable outbursts, and you do nothing to control him except point fingers at the rest of the world, then yes, he should be in a "padded room" and you should probably be there with him.

Unbelievable how you have to take a test to drive, but any old uterus with no brain can procreate. If you think I'm a bit harsh, oh well. There's more things that you and I will disagree on (I think the cops did a wonderful job, given what they were dealing with).