Principal accused of making student shock himself

An embattled Gwinnett County elementary school principal is under fire for ordering a student to shock himself with a pen he carried to school that emits a low current.

Esther Adames-Jimenez, principal of Beaver Ridge Elementary School, apparently wanted to teach the student a lesson.

So when the boy was summoned into her office to face discipline consequences for bringing the toy to class, Adames-Jimenez asked the student to turn the pen on himself, said Gwinnett school officials.

“Her actions reflect poor judgement,” said Sloan Roach, a spokesperson for Gwinnett County Public Schools. “It clearly violates our discipline procedures.”

Read the full story at ajc.com

She has had problems with the way she disciplined children in the past. I think there should be a one strike policy for teachers and faculty. If you do something questionable to a student you should be fired.

Comments: 13

jenn g. Mar 31, 2009, 4:09pm EDT

that is strange

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Michelle C (faithhopelove20) Mar 31, 2009, 4:09pm EDT

Umm - that's exactly what I would have done in her position. My older sister used to bite when she was little, and she would get kicked out of daycare for biting. My Mom finally bit her back and that stopped everything. It's easy for kids to inflict pain on others without them knowing what it feels like. If they knew what it felt like, they usually will stop.
So - I think that's perfectly fair. If the child brought it to school and is shocking other students with it, it seems right that they should get a taste of their own medicine so they understand why it's wrong.

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Michelle C (faithhopelove20) Mar 31, 2009, 4:11pm EDT

(let me clarify that my Mom did not bite my sister back HARD - and only after my sister took a chunk out of her. It was NOT child abuse. "Spare the rod, spoil the child")

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RJ H. Mar 31, 2009, 4:11pm EDT

Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about this.

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Heather L. Mar 31, 2009, 4:12pm EDT

Depends on who is defining questionable. Teachers almost can't do anything to discipline students anymore and many parents aren't disciplining their children either. Have you ever tried to teach a class of unruly students?

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Renee S. Mar 31, 2009, 4:13pm EDT

The kid needs to know what it feels like if he was doing it to other kids.

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Katie R. Mar 31, 2009, 4:33pm EDT

I agree with the principal ... He should know how it feels. I'm sure he was doing it to other unsuspecting kids, afterall.

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Christine G. Mar 31, 2009, 4:37pm EDT

This would be a difficult situation.

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Elizabeth B. Mar 31, 2009, 4:40pm EDT

I would probably do the same, as long as I know it will not hurt.....

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tammie p. Mar 31, 2009, 5:11pm EDT

thank you for sharing this

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Stacie N. Mar 31, 2009, 6:46pm EDT

I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I don't think physical discipline is always the best, but kids are super coddled these days. One strike rule across the board doesn't sound fair, but I can see it for some circumstances.

I probably would have shocked the kid myself if the kid had shocked me first!

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