Strange Incident at School

Updated on May 01, 2009
A.K. asks from San Bernardino, CA
17 answers

I was working in my stepson's first grade class today when the prinicpal came in with a behavior note for the teacher about my stepson. It said that my stepson was rubbing a class mates head as "a way of showing they were friends" and the other student went home with a bald spot. I have questioned him and he insists that all he did was rub the other kids head a couple of times. I called the other student's mom to try to get to the bottom of what happened. She was just as baffled as I was. Her son's story is the same (that he just rubbed his head a couple of times). Obviously something more abrassive had to have happened to cause a hair loss. I don't doubt that my stepson could have been involved in something playful which may have caused this (ie: cutting with scissors, etc) but he is not viscious enough to rub his head for any prolonged period of time (especially not long enough to cause hair loss). I am baffled??

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

This does not even sound practical, in order for a child to rub a bald spot on another child, he would have had the scalpo rub for avery long time, also the scalp would be sore and irratated. What child is going to sit long enough for another child to rub his head bald. Honestly the hair will grow back, and I just don't think a child can do that. If the mom isn't mad, I would just let go for now and have their recess time or play time closly monitored for a few days. J. L.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

it's something called coincidence......

there is something else going on with the child, absolutely no way rubbing someone's head can cause a bald spot... I'd just leave it along and I dont' think you should make a big deal over this... I can almost guarantee it's a medical problem.. coincidence coincidence coincidence.......

Don't make it a problem, it really isn't

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J.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

It sounds like no one is terribly worried about this. If it is just a note that acknowledges that the action was playful and the other mom isn't throwing a fit, let it go. It is definitely baffling and probably there are some missing pieces to the story. That said, your stepson isn't in any real trouble, nor is the other parent making an issue of it, so there is no reason for you to bring in the calvary on this one. I would see if there is any way for the two of them to be better supervised for a while, just to be on the safe side. Good luck and have a good laugh over this one, it really is funny; can you imagine trying to be the teacher and write that note with a straight face? I couldn't... ;)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would go to the Principle and insist that your son's school record be ammended to reflect the tru incident. Call the other Mom and ask if she will go with you. Also, if they do not do it, I would threaten to make a huge announcement to every parent you see that your son is being lied about by the Principle and that the Principle is making up false stories about him. That should be enough to get him/her to make the changes. If not, I suggest you visit the school every day to pester the Principle into doing it. That would really piss me off if my kids was blaed for that. Mess with my kid and you mess with me!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi A., the child could have impetigo, or just a small area of balding that was covered up, it can come and go. If there is abrasion or scabbing it could be an injury. Sounds like a coincidence. the mom is OK and you will probably be good friends for getting to speak about it. the principal must have felt like they had to do something. Deb

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

could the kid of cut his own hair? maybe the mom asked, "why do you have a bald spot", and the kid said, "Jo rubbed my head". Kids are very vague unless they want to tell the story, and then they never get to the point. Why knows on this one. If it were my kid w/ the bald spot, i'd rub his head to see what happens. But, i wouldn't suggest you do that.

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J.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi A.:
I'm still cracking up here! Unbelievable! How did you keep a straight face when you read the complaint? There is no way,that your stepson is responsible for this kids (bald spot) I'm guessing this kid,is holding back the real facts to protect himself. The only possible way,that he could acquire a bald spot over night,would be from cutting it himself with a pair of scissors or shaving it with his dads trimmers.This kid obviously came up with this crazy story to hide what he did to himself. I think I'd let them leave it on his record! lol. What a riot! High school then college entrance " Awwww I see your a real trouble maker" "It says here you rubbed A classmates head BALD" "Are we going to have problems with you? lmao!!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Ditto what Jennifer said.
BOTH boys said the same thing about what happened. THus, you have confirmation of this, and the other boy's Mom is on the same page as you.

Get to the bottom of it.
THere must be another "reason" for the boys bald spot... and/or your son is getting blamed unreasonably or to cover something up.
It does not sound honest, on the part of the Principal...
something else must have happened.
I would, with the other boy's Mom, go and see the Principal and "dispute" what happened... because otherwise, it is goes in your son's file and school history.

What does the TEACHER say about this? Does SHE know anything about it?

This sounds fishy.

Best of luck,
Susan

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E.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Maybe you can ask your stepson to rub your legs, and you'll never need a razor again!

In all seriousness, though, the other kid could have alopecia (sp?)which hair just will fall out in small patches. It's usually harmless, but might mean the other child is under some kind stress. Eventually, the spot will grow back.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

How bald is it? Is it bald or cut/broken hair? Did someone get a hold of some nair or something?

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C.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

If the boy's mom and you are not concerned about this, who cares! I would worry if that little boy had an illness more than anything else.
And find out where the principal got his information. I think that is the key to this.

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B.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Maybe the other kid needs to see a Dr.? Hair falling out like that is a symptom of Alopecia, I have never heard of a little boy getting it though. There may be other medical conditions that would cause this, and he needs to have it checked out by someone with medical knowledge.

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B.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

If the kids mom was just as shocked as you, who complained to the principal about it? Sounds very strange to me. Did you ask the principal how this all came about? I agree with the other ladies that this just sounds WAY too strange to actually be true. I would keep an eye on the other kid though as there is more behind this or the kid wouldn't have lied about it. Hope your step son finds this comical because I think its just plain silly!!

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

If everyone says that this was a playful thing (and it was a playful thing, not a cover up?), my first instinct is that there's something medical going on:

- alopecia
- ringworm
- thallium poisoning (or other, but we had a thallium case at my sister's school recently)
- thyroid
- reaction to medication
- etc. etc. etc.

Of course, my 2nd reaction is a prank:

- nair
- glue
- etc.

::blushing:: Gawd...I hadn't thought about it in years, but something we would frequently do in the USMC, was put Nair in the conditioner bottle (men only!!! too cruel, to even contemplate for a girl). Low, and behold, our friend would slowly (or quickly!) start to lose their hair. It was something done in fun, the first person who "broke" and laughed would have to pay for the night out for everyone involved -of course including our bald friend- ... Other times we would write something in our friends hair while they slept. When & where we were doing it, it was fun and fairly harmless, since the boys are all nearly bald anyway (albeit testonery & prankish), but I've heard of other's doing it on accident, or to be mean. Certain other chemicals when applied to hair would also make it fall out. It's possible your son's friend has had one of these things happen to him also. Either at school or at home.

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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

jeez what if the little boy is ill? did anyone think of that? what if your stepson just rubbed his head and hair loss happened..could be stress..stress causes hair loss..i hope the little boy isn't stressed out at home or at school..if i were the principle i would be looking into that.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

What the? That would take an awful lot of rubbing.. I mean HOURS of intense rubbing to get hair to come out like that. I would question the principal...find out what proof he/she has and ask for some sort of documentation that the boys were met with both in confidence and together... get to the bottom of this.

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J.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just remind your son to keep his hands to himself and move on. These sorts of things have a way of taking on a life of their own. Good luck.

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