12-Year-Old Grounded for Too Much Internet Use Gets Punishment Overturned in Cou

[themomblogs]

Can I just say... how scary is THIS!  That a court can get involved in this....


A Canadian court has overturned a father's punishment for his daughter after she refused to stay off the Internet, his attorney said Wednesday.

The girl, 12, took her father to Quebec Superior Court after he refused to allow her to go on a school trip for chatting on Web sites and then posting "inappropriate" pictures of herself online using a friend's computer, AFP reported.

The punishment was for the girl's "own protection," according to the father's attorney, Kim Beaudoin, who is appealing the ruling.

"She's a child," Beaudoin told AFP. "At her age, children test their limits and it's up to their parent to set boundaries. I started an appeal of the decision today to reestablish parental
authority, and to ensure that this case doesn't set a precedent."

Otherwise, she continued, "Parents are going to be walking on egg shells from now on."

According to court documents, the girl's Internet usage was the latest in a rash of disciplinary problems. But Justice Suzanne Tessier, who was presiding over the case, found the punishment too severe.

[Willow]

It's no wonder there are as many "problem kids" as there are.  Parents have been made to be afraid to discipline their children in any form.  What's next? Throwing a parent in jail for giving a toddler a time-out?

[msfizzles]

This is insane and so wrong, totally sending this child the wrong message about rules and following them.  And too severe?  Protecting your child and placing rules on them especially when it comes to the internet, can never be too severe!

Certainly hope I don't end up in jail for having my kids computer on a timer and making them obey the rules!  Good grief.

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

That's so incredibly scary!

By those insane standards, most of us are probably "guilty" of child abuse.

And I notice the judge is a woman. I wonder if she's a mother herself?

Too severe?  When he's trying to protect her from all kinds of internet predators?  Never!

[berriesweetest]

no way in you know what. I'd gladly end up in jail re establishing my parental authority.
stupid judge.

[Jo Ann]

this is crazy! whatever you do to discipline your kids can possibly be turned against you and be deemed as child abuse. what kind of people are we raising now considering we tolerate these kids' behavior? i am so alarmed!

[Audrey]

Do you have a link to the original story? This is just beyond my comprehension that a court can and would do this

[Nancy]

This is just another reason why kids today have no respect for themselves or those in charge. 

Nancy

[emsplace]

Here's my response: YOUR HONOR, what is your address? As I will be sending her belongings to you since you are taking my parental rights, perhaps she should live with you.

THANKFULLY I live in Texas, where I still have parental rights. HOLY MOLY

[emsplace]

AND... children do not have the RIGHT to go on a trip or the RIGHT to a flippin computer.
How about she'd get home to not one poster on her wall, five outfits, two pairs of shoes, a couple pairs of pjs, some conservative undergarments, not one stitch of makeup, not one piece of jewelry and little else in her room... not even a door, she can dress in the bathroom. Not a cell phone.... not a dang thing
She lives in her father's home. He is required ot provide food & shelter and reasonable clothing.
I'd teach her a lesson allright. Ohhhhhhh I'm so upset now. How disrespectful!