Shocking news in this day in age- Teacher's Assistant cuts Aboriginal Boy's Hair

[L Gilbert]

It was an inane and thoughtless action done by the TA. Even if the kid had head lice, there are other ways of remedying the situation. Were I a judge I'd be looking for a fineable offense to charge the TA with: "Misdemeanor assault", "Mischief causing bodily harm", or something.
Scalping was an activity brought here. Aboriginals didn't pick it up till later. Looks like the TA is trying to relive the past.

 

[petros]

Quoting YukonJack Heard about this on radio.

Good chance a public service was performed. You know, preventing lice infestation.​

You have got to be the lowest peice of sh*t I have ever had the misfortune to read.

Most crackers are.

 

[JLM]

It was an inane and thoughtless action done by the TA. Even if the kid had head lice, there are other ways of remedying the situation. Were I a judge I'd be looking for a fineable offense to charge the TA with: "Misdemeanor assault", "Mischief causing bodily harm", or something.
Scalping was an activity brought here. Aboriginals didn't pick it up till later. Looks like the TA is trying to relive the past.

I think the whole incident was unfortunate and it's a fact of life we have thoughtless, uncaring people in our society and that's not going to change very much BUT HEY when you consider the tragedy of little Tori back in Ontario, this incident rates about 11/2 on a scale of 10. NOT TO MENTION that some good will probably evolve from THIS incident.

 

[L Gilbert]

I think the whole incident was unfortunate and it's a fact of life we have thoughtless, uncaring people in our society and that's not going to change very much BUT HEY when you consider the tragedy of little Tori back in Ontario, this incident rates about 11/2 on a scale of 10. NOT TO MENTION that some good will probably evolve from THIS incident.

Minor to us, perhaps. But to a budding shaman its a life-altering issue. The older ones just take this kind of crap in stride, but not the young ones. It's still a learning process, though. The kid'll have learned that not all white people are really cool or very bright.

 

[JLM]

Minor to us, perhaps. But to a budding shaman its a life-altering issue. The older ones just take this kind of crap in stride, but not the young ones. It's still a learning process, though. The kid'll have learned that not all white people are really cool or very bright.

You got that right and so has he.

 

[CDNBear]

Heard about this on radio.

Good chance a public service was performed. You know, preventing lice infestation.

Yer funny...

I am sure many people did, but chose not risking being called a racist or a "peice (?) of sh*t" by a couple of champion name-callers.

They beat me to it dammit!!!

Native?

Yep, or Aboriginal suits me just fine too.

ANYONE who was born here is a native.

True, anybody born here is a native Canadian. But then you have Natives, First Nations. Like the Iroquois or Six Nations. Yep, Nations long before the Europeans showed up and renamed the joint.

I refuse to allow a group of people hijack this word for their own selfish benefit.

I would even agree with you, if I didn't think you had an issue with us on completely differing grounds then the ones I hold my people too.

And just for curiousity, how many persons/people can be - by definition - FIRST?

Me, my kids, my wife and my peeps.

BTW; I'm sporting a Mohawk and so does my youngest, if anyone attempted to cut his hair, I'ld have to wait until he was done so SCB could have a go, then I get what's left...;-)

 

[L Gilbert]

Um, there were people wandering around bits of North Am from what is now northern France some 18,000 years ago. "First Nations" people are thought to have only been around for 12,000. There have been others, too.
Neat book called "The First Americans" by James Adovasio

 

[shadowshiv]

Couldn't this issue have been resolved by just having the boy either wear his hair in a ponytail or to use a headband to keep the bangs out of his face?:-?

 

[Cliffy]

Um, there were people wandering around bits of North Am from what is now northern France some 18,000 years ago. "First Nations" people are thought to have only been around for 12,000. There have been others, too.
Neat book called "The First Americans" by James Adovasio

Les,
Have you read 1491: New revelations of the Americas before Columbus? It puts occupation long before that even. Every time they dig a new hole they find older and older evidence. We have just scratched the surface of the pre-history of the Americas.

 

[bobnoorduyn]

True, anybody born here is a native Canadian. But then you have Natives, First Nations. Like the Iroquois or Six Nations. Yep, Nations long before the Europeans showed up and renamed the joint.

You gotta admit though Bear, many places have aboriginal names, like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, (get a Quebecer to admit to that :lol. Even Canada is a derivitive of the native lingo, though I've heard differing pronunciations and meanings of the word depending on the particular dialect. Many cities, towns, and other locales still bear (sorry) their original native names. Our rich and varying cultures are more intertwined than many are willing to acknowlege. Some see that as a bad thing and lash out.

 

[Cliffy]

Wow Bear! You showed amazing restraint. I thought for sure you would rip him a new one, but I guess you are leaving that up to SCB.

 

[TenPenny]

I don't understand why 'the Crown' would decide there were no grounds for charges - it sounds like a straightforward case of assault.

 

[VanIsle]

Good chance a public service was performed. You know, preventing lice infestation.​

Most crackers are.

True and most people have picked up on his ridiculous accusation about head lice and lice was not even a consideration. She didn't cut his hair for that. She cut it because in her opinion, it was too long. She would have to really go to town where I live. All the kids are growing their hair long again.

 

[bobnoorduyn]

I don't understand why 'the Crown' would decide there were no grounds for charges - it sounds like a straightforward case of assault.

Nothing is straightforward once you enter the courtroom. First you have to consider if there was an "assault". Are there reliable witnesses? Was there the intent for harm? Was there harm? Harm also has to be tangible, such as injury. Hurt feelings, humiliation and embarassment don't constitute harm.

The bar is set quite high for criminal offenses, and rightly so, and it would be quite conceivable that a charge would be defended vigorously. What is the chance of a conviction? Hair does grow back, so is it in the best interest of justice to tie up the criminal courts for this matter when there are more pressing cases pending. Thunder Bay is a port city with its share of contaband, Mafiosi and other crime groups. These would be some of the things the Crown would have to consider before laying charges.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but the courts aren't meant to be touchy feely, nor do they act on the cheap, this is the reality. The Crown doesn't try cases on the off chance they might win it, they are in it to win it.

Even a civil case, where the bar is set lower, would be a tough one, again because harm has to be proven. I would think the only recourse at this time is to fire her butt and either suspend or revoke any professional tickets she may hold.

 

[wulfie68]

There seems to be a lot of hysteria related in this thread.

The TA was wrong to act in such a manner and should be fired: no argument there. I don't see any way that cutting the kid's hair can be deemed anything close to acceptable.

Shaving the TA bald? Come on, this is the 21st century, not the 17th. One does not remove a mistake by repeating it.

Criminal prosecutions? It may sound callous or uncaring to those empathizing with the kid but I think you have to let it go: there is enough grey in the law that its not worth tying up court time and resources to pursue this matter legally.

The one thing people seem to forget is that this incident will follow that TA around for the rest of her career. Whenever she is asked in interview what happened at that school, she fesses up or she is lying in the interview process, which is ground for dismissal any place I have ever heard of. This is something that is with her for good, in many ways beyond what would happen even if she did face criminal charges.

 

[TenPenny]

Nothing is straightforward once you enter the courtroom. First you have to consider if there was an "assault".

Did the TA cut the student's hair against his wishes?
That constitutes assault.

 

[bobnoorduyn]

Did the TA cut the student's hair against his wishes?
That constitutes assault.

In your opinion, it is the court's opinion that counts though. It seems as though the Crown either doesn't share your opnion or the likelihood of a conviction is slim.

 

[TenPenny]

In your opinion, it is the court's opinion that counts though. It seems as though the Crown either doesn't share your opnion or the likelihood of a conviction is slim.

The crown obviously feels that either they are incompetent, or that courts there are so prejudiced that it's pointless.

That would be a slam dunk conviction for assault here in NB, the crown attorneys would be fighting for the chance to have such an easy case.

Mind you, Ontario is a strange place - if you get punched in the face in gym class, and you hit back, you're the one charged with assault. Maybe it's something in the water up there.

 

[bobnoorduyn]

The crown obviously feels that either they are incompetent, or that courts there are so prejudiced that it's pointless.

That would be a slam dunk conviction for assault here in NB, the crown attorneys would be fighting for the chance to have such an easy case.

You have to remember that we only have one side of the argument, and limited at that. One would have to assume that the Crown has most of the facts, from both sides, and they're not giving them up. It could also be that the woman has suffered enough that a trial, with the possibility of a suspended or conditional sentence, if there were even a conviction, wouldn't serve the interests of fundamental justice.

I know everyone wants to see her tarred and fethered, but you have to remember that there are those who have done far worse and serve little no time.

Mind you, Ontario is a strange place - if you get punched in the face in gym class, and you hit back, you're the one charged with assault. Maybe it's something in the water up there.

Again, some of the facts may be missing, we get information filtered through the news sources. The truth is that if someone hits you, you cannot hit back unless it is to fend off a further assault or battery. Defending yourself against harm with the use of force, up to and including deadly force is justified under certain conditions, (you may have to spend lots of money convincing a judge though), hitting back in retribution is not. As well, justice is not a matter of guilt or innocence, but on who best presents their case, sux, but it is our system.

 

[SCB]

I would be furious if anyone touched my son, or cut his hair with out my permission (not to mention the school was informed of the reason he was growing it, it was for a traditional dance that he was participating in) ...where does this teacher get off thinking she is allowed to do anything to a child without parental consent ( the child is a minor..7 years old, under the legal age for ANY consent)... if she wanted to be a hair dresser, then she should go back to school...and get the hell away from teaching our children.

There is a lesson they teach our kids in school it goes like this " Keep your hands to yourself" !!


As an example:
Sikhs men do not/are not allowed to cut their hair either, and actually cover it; and some Orthodox Jews also grow hair locks. Imagine if a teacher's aid cut a Sikh child's hair?... or if a teacher's aid cut a Orthodox Jewish child's hair locks?...

Regardless she obviously was/is ignorant especially with this child and his family's religious & cultural background.