The thought of being trapped in a small dark room is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. According to an article published in the ‘On your side’ website, this terrifying situation is exactly what happened to a 5-year old boy. The boy, Tanner Cagle, was sent to the room by his teacher as a form of punishment but the teacher forgot about it and left the school while the boy was still inside the closet.
Tanner Cagle’s father, James Cagle started worrying about his son when Tanner failed to return home on the school bus. James and his wife then went to the Idaho school to search for their son and were shocked to find Tanner crying and terrified in the small dark room. Understandably, both parents were furious that their child had to go through such a terrifying ordeal as a result of a teacher’s forgetfulness.
The school’s reaction
When the On Your Side newsroom got in touch with the Caldwell School District, Assistant Superintendent Monica White expressed regret at the incident and assured that such incidents would not repeat itself. Assistant Superintendent also added that the room in question had a few tables and chairs. According to James Cagle, the school also stated that the door was unlocked and Tanner could have got out of the room by himself.
The father’s reaction
James Cage is demanding that the teacher who forgot to let his son out of the room to be punished. "If somebody called the police and said, 'hey there's a dad that locked his kid in a small room with no lights and he was in there so long and he was crying and he uriniated his pants,' I would be going to jail," Cagle said. "At the very least Child Protective Services would be taking my children. How is it any different for a school teacher?"
James Cage also provided some angry rebuttals at the school’s statements. In response to the school officials’ defence that Tanner could have left the room if he wanted to, James Cagle argues that, "He's 5-years-old. If he was put in that room, he's supposed to stay there. Then the teacher goes home." James Cagle also disputes the school’s claim about the layout of the room in question. "I actually went there this morning to see it myself," Cagle said. "There was one small table in a room that I could reach across and touch the walls on one side. It was like a jail cell."
Lesson learnt
This case illustrates the point that even teachers can make serious mistakes. Take note of what time your child comes home each day so that you will be quickly alerted if something goes wrong. If James were not aware that his child was missing the minute Tanner failed to come home on time, Tanner would be trapped in the room for that much longer.
It is also advisable to know who your child’s teachers were. Tanner would have got out of the dark room quicker if James had contacted the teacher directly when Tanner went missing.
Other source: 9news
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