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Lamya Cammon, 7, was sitting quietly in her first grade class, absentmindedly twirling her braids. The little girl's teacher, whose name is being withheld, grew tired of seeing Cammon play with her dozen or so braids, so she called Lamya to the front of the classroom.
The first-graders watched in disbelief as their teacher took out a large pair of scissors and cut off one of Lamya's braids. Amid the snickers of her students, the Milwaukee teacher threw the braid in the garbage, sent the crying youngster back to her seat, then said, "Now what you gonna go home and tell your momma?"
Lamya claims that she was not twirling her hair loudly nor was she being disruptive. When the child told her mother, Helen Cunningham, found out what happened, she immediately went to the school to confront the teacher.
Cunningham tried to discuss the issue with the teacher, but she was merely told that the act was done out of frustration. The teacher's response was not good enough for Cunningham, who thinks the teacher should be fired. She also reported the incident to the school district and local police. "Why would we want someone like that teaching our kids? We trust that once we send our kids to school, that they'll be safe," says the angry mom.
The Milwaukee Public School District has apologized and placed Lamya in a different classroom. Although the teacher remains, the Milwaukee Public School District is going through a disciplinary process. Cunningham also reported the incident to Milwaukee police, who issued the teacher a $175 disorderly conduct summons.
Comments: (112)
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By: weezee on 12/16/2009 9:07AM
That wacked-out teacher went way overboard in how she handled the situation, but I completely understand why she was annoyed. If you watch the complete interview on the news, the reporter asked the girl to show him how she was playing with her hair. She wasn't twirling the braid around her finger or anything. She had both hands behind her head and was shaking the beads around. That click-clack-click-clack is really annoying. Imagine being her classmate while trying to listen to what the teacher was saying. It's no different than someone who keeps cracking their gum while chewing it. She might not have been doing it on purpose, but if she has a tendency to play with her hair, her mother shouldn't be putting all those beads in it.
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By: Cookie on 12/16/2009 9:32AM
My initial response would be to whip her ass, unfortunately I would probably get arrested for it. The only way to respond legally is to sue the school and everyone else who is responsible for employing this fake ass teacher. It's obvious this teacher has some mental issues and is not suited for her chosen profession. I feel sorry for that poor little girl, I hope she is not traumitized.
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By: You are kidding me!!! on 12/16/2009 10:04AM
This teacher is obviously insane! She is lucky that the Mom is not as nutty as she is because a less civilized Mom would have given that teacher a new haircut, too. I am amazed that 113 people voted to excuse the teachers behavior because she was "frustrated". Im sure the Mom is now frustrated. So does does this give her a license to do whatever she feels that she needs to do out of "frustration"? We have a SICK world. God, your will be done!!!
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By: W. Stephens on 12/16/2009 10:11AM
I am in total shock that this teacher acted with such inconsideration for the child. I don't care if she was frustrated! She had no right to take it upon herself and cut this little girl's hair. I wonder what would be her thoughts and actions if someone cut her daughter's hair! This mother has every right to be fuming mad! I can't imagine if this was my daughter who is ten years old, this teacher would be facing a lawsuit and it wouldn't be about the money it would be the principle. Who does she think she is!
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By: S. Renee on 12/17/2009 4:39PM
This teacher is insane. Even if the child continued to twirl her braid in defiance, teachers are taught many different ways to handle a child's misbehavior. I'm positive that cutting someone's hair is NOT on the list. She needs to have her identity revealed and she needs to be fired. I don't care how bad a child acts, a teacher should never behave in that manner. What's more how is she leading by example if she's acting like a 1st-grader herself?
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By: weezee on 12/16/2009 10:49AM
It's the teacher's fault that this happened. Not the school or the entire school district. Don't sue them for large amounts of money. That's taking funds away from everyone's education. Back when I was her age (a long time ago) the exact same thing used to happen all the time. The little girls would come to school with beads in their hair and every 5 seconds it was shake, shake, shake, click, click, click, and beads would be flying off their heads in all different directions. Picturing it now is funny, but I remember it being very irritating then. Not fair to the other students who are trying to concentrate in class. The teachers used to get so angry after telling the girls over and over again to stop it. Of course no one ever got a braid cut off.
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By: Gerald on 12/16/2009 11:24AM
Kick that teachers Assssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
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By: mouthwideopeninFL on 12/16/2009 11:21AM
My heart is racing and I cannot breathe, as the mother of a Black little girl. I have been described as being "anal" about my child's hair being neat & clean. We have to be concerned about our children being treated fairly in other people's care, NEVER would I imagine that I would need to be concerned about someone reacting in this way, especially when this baby was not being disruptive. My test would be that I did not "forget" that I am a Christian, that to pursue this legally and remember the impact of my reaction on my child. I just knew at the end of this story, the result would have been a stronger reaction from the district.
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By: ADMR on 12/16/2009 11:41AM
175 Disorderly Conduct Summons...SMH AND the ANGER in all Professions is Incredible...
Remember this PEOPLE..." I should Have a Face Like That!!!!!!!!!!" Who said That???
Thanks 4 Watching 1(75) indeed!
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By: SB09 on 12/16/2009 12:12PM
The girl's mother carried herself in a very professional manner, even though the teacher did not. The teacher needs to be fired!!! I am so upset that she can still work around kids!!! Whats going to happen next when she gets upset? The principal needs to be fired as well for allowing her to work there. I have no doubt that this teacher is not black because if she was, her face would be all over tv.
I am proud of the little girl's mother, because if this was my mother and this had happened to me as a child, all hell would have broke loose. My mother and father would have shut the school down.
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