Felony dismissed for N. Ky. teacher who allegedly beat his son over hopscotch

[Dark]

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_northern_kentucky/union/felony-dismissed-for-hopscotch-beater

The man accused of abusing his son because he did not play a game of hopscotch well has had felony charges dismissed Monday.

Deputies say Chris Robison of Union, Ky. beat his 5-year-old son when he failed to play hopscotch to his satisfaction.

Robison says the boy talked back and he believes in punishment, but that he does not abuse his son.

[mike r]

1. He had high hopes for the boy in the hopscotch olympics

Dang.

[Enrique]

2. the kid is the one who should be put away

for being so bad at hopscotch.

[FBaggins]

3. Not enough to go on here.

Can't tell from the story whether we have an abusive father or an over-zealous CPS worker and/or prosecutor.

[Rage for Order]

4. Here is some background to the story:

From 7/13:

http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_northern_kentucky/burlington/teacher-accused-of-beating-child-over-hopscotch-speaks-out

Robison said he did not abuse his son and is speaking out because he says there's a lot at stake including losing custody of his son and his 8-year-old daughter.

"The reason I'm speaking out is because when the initial story came out it painted me as some enraged beast beating my son into submission because he didn't do hopscotch right. Hopscotch had nothing to do with why he got disciplined," said Robison.

The 7th-grade social studies teacher at Camp Ernst Middle School in Burlington said he disciplined his son at his home in Azra Circle because he was acting out while he was teaching him how to hop on one foot.

"When he continued to resist wanting to do it, I finally said well lets go. I brought him in here and I used a belt," said Robison. "It's a wide black belt and I cracked him two times across his rear end and I know how to aim with a belt."

Investigators with Boone County Sheriff's Department were notified by the boy's mother. The couple is divorced.

Deputies said the boy had severe bruising on his backside.

[petronius]

6. Oh, well if it was "teaching him how to hop on one foot" that makes all the difference

No child should act out while learning an important life skill like that. :sarcasm:

The fact that the dad thinks this explanation somehow helps his case just adds to the troublingness of it all. I'm glad the police are taking it seriously, and I hope the school is too...

[FBaggins]

9. The reasonableness doesn't rest on what he was trying to teach.

It's reasonable to discipline a child who "acts out" or "talks back" to a parent. At that age it really doesn't matter what the substance of the dispute is... almost all 5-yr-old tasks are going to be childish ones. It isn't like he's going to rebel at mowing the lawn or waxing the car.

There's a wide range of opinions re: what discipline should look like at this (or any) age, and the government should only be involved between parent and child after meeting a VERY higher standard... but using a belt and leaving serious bruises... well... I'm pretty sure that would meet any reasonable person's standards.

[Rage for Order]

11. Using a belt is just as reasonable as using one's hand...

In the realm of corporate punishment. And while the deputies said there were bruises on the child's backside (i.e. his butt), some deputies have shown their willingness to embellish the truth in the past. I don't know if that was the case here, but the felony charges were dropped.

[FBaggins]

13. I'm willing to agree that a belt is not always over the line

but we're talking about a five-year-old here. Assuming that corporal punishment is acceptable (and many obviously don't agree that it is), the goal is surely to cause just enough pain for it to be a recognizable symbol that "you have crossed the line" but short of causing injury.

In a five year old that's already a very fine line and it's MUCH harder to see when you're hitting with a stick or belt.

[Rage for Order]

14. Yes, it's a very fine line

I have a daughter who is nearly 5 and I wouldn't use a belt on her. I've thought about a swift swat to the rear end once or twice, but I didn't do it.

I do remember being on the receiving end of a belt a few times when I was around 7-9 years old, but I have to admit I did deserve it, and looking back on it I don't feel that it was abusive in the manner in which it was done. In fact, the anticipation of the spanking was usually worse than the actual event.

[Rage for Order]

10. It looks like they took it seriously

The guy was arrested on July 13, the police and Child Protective Services investigate for about 6 weeks and then elected to drop the felony charges.

[tularetom]

5. "Beat" is an awfully inflammatory word

Some people define it as a swat on the ass with the palm of ones hand.

I don't call that "beating" a kid, although I also don't believe it has any positive effect on the kid's behavior.

Maybe it makes the parent feel better, I dunno.

Hard to tell from this story what actually went down.

[FBaggins]

7. May fit in this case (see Rage's comment above)

I suppose it's possible to "spank" with a belt without "beating", but I'd be terrified to take the chance (and never on a five-year old)

In this case it says that there was severe bruising. I'm pretty sure that this crosses any reasonable threshhold.

[tularetom]

8. Agreed, belts are waaay over the line

That's a beating by any definition. And in most cases it won't produce an obedient child, just a rebellious and resentful one.

And what kid could have any respect for a father who would deliberately bruise him. Over hopping on one foot for crissakes.

[FBaggins]

12. "what kid could have any respect for a father who would deliberately bruise him?"

Some father's mistakenly think that "respect" and "fear" are synonyms.