I said I wasn't going to continue this conversation but I'm mom and get a bit pissed off over crap like this. Especially when sooo many people who are
1) Not parents
2) Don't work with children
3) Act like the solution to all problems with children is to beat them.
Pretend to have a solution or offer opinions that you have no basis of experience or knowledge.
corporal punishment has a time and place and obviously this wasn't one of them. What was needed in this case was to remove the child from others and place her in a room where she can't hurt herself or anyone else. THEN CALL THE PARENTS!
Now for my comments on the Jelly beans. Read this link.
http://www.keepwell.com/hyperactive.htm
I especially like this part....
"Group Three Fed a diet of sugared cereal, white bread products, jelly, Twinkies, soft drinks, milk shakes, canned fruit and water. They were nervous, skinny, had frenzied actions, discolorations on tails, chewed up their water bottle. Could not be held due to biting behavior. Their eyes were squinted. They were the smallest in size of the three groups. "
Now because of my experience having raised 2 children I know these things.
1. Between the ages of 4 - 8 is a magical time. The child grows the most and such things as food allergies, social disorders, behavour problems, etc can begin to manifest. (Why do these things suddenly appear at this period of time?..... I don't know maybe it has to do with the fact that prior to 4 they are too busy learning to not eat from a bottle, stop craping themself, figure out walking and talking)
2. You can not keep Jelly Beans out of the mouth of a child. If you bring them out, they are going to eat them. And I'm sure the teacher had every intention of letting the kids do exactly that. Otherwise it's pretty stupid to assume that when the counting exercise was over she would put them all back in a jar for the next time. I also don't care how much attention the teacher is paying, a 5 year old will find a way to sneak a jelly bean into her mouth.
3. A tempertantrum is not the end of the world and it does not sign the death sentence for child. What does is the adult's reaction to the situation. IE: The child can't control themself but the adults can. How you deal with this is going to determine how they view themself and how they interact with others.
My point in this.... When a 5 year old strikes out this severly you don't respond by doing the same. You try to figure out why so you can prevent it in the future. No liberal bleeding heart here... This is just common sense.
As for the teacher and other adults in the school being able to control the child. Well, she was all of 40 pounds and the last I check any adult could easily have picked this kid up. Then you take her to a room away from everyone else. I am certain... absolutely certain that there was at least 1 person strong enough to do that. (Unless you can tell me that the entire staff was handicapped, in wheel chairs and the kid had a loaded colt45.)
Even if she was kicking and throwing objects and yes, once in a while when you work with kids you take an object to the head, get hit, etc. What's next, do you call the cops lay assult charges because when changing an infants diaper it urinates in your face? (Anyone that has ever had a baby boy knows this happens)