If you follow UI regularly, then you know I’m typically the first one to come to the aid and defense of the teachers. I feel like they have a tough, thankless job where everyone in the community and nation blames them for the all the ills of the educational system and the children. However, this case is different. This teacher clearly lost her damn mind.
5 year old Akeelah Joseph was given a time out for bad behavior in her classroom. The time out wasn’t executed as you might expect by sitting the child in the back of the room, near the teachers desk or sent to the Principal’s office. Akeelah was made to sit in the closet alone and the door was locked.
Kristin Ohsfeldt is the offending teacher at A.B. Hill Elementary School in Memphis, Tenn. Apparently, Kristin got ill at some point during the day and went home leaving 5 year old Akeelah locked in the closet. Eventually, she was discovered by the substitute teacher over an hour later.
As a parent, this woman is lucky she didn’t lock my child in the closet. I don’t care what the behavior is. You don’t do that to a child at school. There would have been some furniture moving to say the least. Since it was a woman, then my wife would have been moving the furniture, but it would have happened. This is insane. If you cannot handle 5 year olds in class and need to lock them in the closet, then you don’t need to be teaching. Period.
We are talking about 5 year old children that love school, but actions like this will easily make them not feel this way and put them on the path to continue to be problems in the future. How damaged could this child turn out as a result of this behavior? I’m disgusted!
Even worse, Kristin Ohsfeldt is only being suspended and not fired as of today. She will not be paid during her suspension, but the case is under review by the School Board. Additional action may be taken, but she should be removed from her job.
There should be a review of all the teachers and disciplinary procedures in this school because apparently locking children in closets is a routine practice. This wasn’t an isolated incident. It only became news because the teacher forgot to tell someone the child was locked in the closet and she had to stay their after school. MADNESS!
What are your thoughts on locking children in closets by teachers?
A childcare provider or teacher should have more education and professionalism than this. There also should have been an aide for assistance, you take time out with the child and give them something interesting to do, or even a snack. If the child is consistently out of line you make arrangements with the parents and administration for better options. You don’t lock any child in a closet.