Five-year-old girl made to sign school 'suicide and homicide contract' after pointing crayon 'gun' at classmate
Elementary school pupil was given contract to sign saying she would not kill herself or anybody else
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A five-year-old girl in Alabama was made to sign a school contract saying she would not kill herself or anybody else after she pointed a crayon at another pupil, it has been reported.
The girl's mother claims staff at E R Dickson Elementary School, in Mobile, Alabama, gave her daughter a questionnaire on suicidal thoughts following an incident in class.
Rebecca, who asked reporters not to use her last name, told WPMI Local 15 News that the school said her daughter drew an object which "resembled a gun".
She said: "According to them she pointed a crayon at another student and said, 'pew pew.'"
She said her daughter was asked by the school whether she was depressed and given a Mobile County Public School Safety Contract to sign, which stated she would not kill herself or anybody else.
Rebecca said she had been waiting in the school's lobby at the time and was not asked for her consent.
State law in Alabama means minors cannot sign a contract.
Rebecca said: "There should be a different way to handle this situation. If this is protocol it needs to be looked at again."
She said the school's request that her daughter see a psychiatrist was also unnecessary.
The school was not available for comment when contacted by The Independent.
Mobile, in Alabama, was last year ranked the ninth most dangerous city in the US by Washington-based CQ Press.
The organisation said Detroit, in Michigan, had the highest crime rate in the country while Pine Bluff, in Arkansas, was second highest.
In tenth position was Jackson, Tennessee, while just above Mobile in eighth was Little Rock, in Arkansas.