Mom Slams School for Handcuffing 9-Year-old Asthmatic Son

In this file photo, a dangerous perp is apprehended by police.

When Brownsville mom Ivory Williams was summoned to her son's school last week, she found the 9-year-old boy handcuffed, crying, and having an asthma attack. The Department of Education says the student, Jaheim Williams, was restrained after a cafeteria fight because he posed a threat to others, and that he was handcuffed for just twenty minutes. But Jaheim's mother claims that when administrators finally acknowledged that Jaheim needed medical attention, officers from the 73rd precinct brought him to the hospital—with the cuffs still on.

And after two hours, they finally removed the cuffs from the 70-pound third grader, according to Williams. To be fair, the plucky young lad does seem to be a bit of handful; his mom acknowledges he's been suspended for fighting at school eight times. But insists he's never been arrested before! Well, there's a first time for everything. Mother and son will report to school for a hearing tomorrow, but Jaheim tells the Daily News, "I don't ever want to go back to that school. They made me feel like a bad person." And cue lawsuit... and settlement... aaaand scene.

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By John Del Signore in News on May 13, 2010 8:55 AM

Comments [rss]

akuryo

If someone is suspended 8 times for fighting maybe they need some more intensive intervention including mocing to another environment. I worked with some very strong agressive children including 8 year olds but if people are trained in safe restraint techniques handcuffs should never be necsssary.

Give the kid a fresh start in a new school with some school based and home based behavioral support and watch the difference it will make.

rachelblue

A few years back, there was a similar situation involving a kindergartener. At the time, I thought it seemed ridiculous to handcuff a child. Now I'm in my third year teaching second grade, and I've seen enough outrageously violent behavior from students at my school to make me reconsider my opinion. I still wouldn't condone the use of handcuffs, but a kid who's been suspended eight times for violent behavior and he's in the third grade? It sounds like everyone in the situation -- the boy, the mom, the teachers, the administrators, etc. -- is in over their heads.

inoyourider

"Oooohhh it's SO terrible.

But pay me some money and everything will be okay again."

Maybe if the mother had any parenting skills or sense this wouldn't have happened.

She should sue herself.

Or the city should sue her for wasting our time.

Petey

Typical. Its not the kids fault that he's a problem, its the school? Right?

Maybe the brat should start getting used to those handcuffs. Once he's 16 (or maybe earlier), he'll be wearing them more often.

really!?!?

Is it just me that thinks it is sad that in the mom had to swear that her 9 year old had never been arrested? it should be a given, but sadly it isn't.

handcuffs sound ridiculous, but with the piece of information that he has been suspended 8 times for violent behavior, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that they were absolutely unnecessary. On the other hand, ignoring the kid when he needed medical attention is criminal, especially considering one puff on his inhaler would have probably saved this family 1,000's in medical bills from this ambulance ride and emergency room visit.

Also, why hasn't this kid been expelled if by 3rd grade he has been suspended 8 times for violent behavior? Do they think that this situation is going to rectify itself, or are they just waiting until this kid seriously hurts someone?

bashmentgirl

Absolutely awful. I guess the NYPD is preparing 9-year old Jaheim for his first stop and frisk in a few years.

Mr. Shankly

Sister Mary Elephant and her ruler approve of this post.

militza

well if it starts at home then yes there is a problem. it seems kids nowadays don't have any fear of authority.

when my brother and I were growing up all my parents had to do was shoot us a stern look and we straightened up.

used_up_shoe

"Zero tolerance" is garbage. One of the big bonuses of sentience is the ability to think and react, not just instinctually respond to a swath of similar situations in the same way.

detective jarvis

probably the only intelligent comment made on this so far

Politburo

+100

hotstepper

who's your daddy Jaheim?

common_tater

Talk about nanny state. There's no excuse for taking even the worst behaving 70 lb., 9-year-old to the hospital in handcuffs. All the whining in the world -- about how his behavior sucks, about who will sue whom, about how this predicts a Rikers future for this child -- does not excuse adults from behaving like power tripping adolescents. If the officers could prove that the boy was a threat to himself, okay, but otherwise, mom's got every right to sue. And she'll do it because about 40 lawyers have already crawled over themselves to present their business cards to her.

Soft restraints, yes. Handcuffs, absolutely not.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

try living in the real world and see if you think that.

YOU. HAVE. NO. IDEA. what teaching thirty nine year old kids who have ADD and come from broken homes, with alcholic parents is like.

Until you do, please, silencio.

detective jarvis

why did u start speaking spanish at the end?

Spudster

Can someone please get this child and his family some support and/or therapeutic services? The child clearly has larger problems that handcuffs and suspensions will not solve.

schadenfreudian mensch

That's call socialism and quite frankly that's not allowed in this capitalistic country. Go take that back to your Nordic lazy country. /sarcasm off/