A New Low. Four Year Old Handcuffed and Shackled at School.

We've seen seven year olds handcuffed, and eight year olds tased.  Now, perhaps trying for a world record, Nathan Greene Primary School and a County Sheriff in Virgina managed to handcuff and then leg-shackle a four year old.

A four-year-old Virginia boy with attention deficit disorder was handcuffed and shackled, then taken away in a squad car after his teacher and principal were unable to calm him down...

It's not even like the mother wasn't called; they just hauled the boy off to a police station regardless...

"When you call a parent to get their child, when they get to the school, you expect the child to be there," she said, "especially when you arrive in a timely manner."

Instead, she was greeted by the principal, who informed her that her shackled 4-year-old had been transported to the sheriff's office.

It's another stark manifestation of the "cult of compliance." The belief that all - no matter how young, old, affirm, deaf, or mentally or physically disabled, must obey authority instantly - or else. Consider the insane statement by Jeffery Follmer, head of Cleveland's Police Union, while being questioned about the use of force against Tamir Rice, the twelve year old gunned down less than two seconds after the police rolled up.

Follmer dismissed Melber's questions about excessive force and wrapped up the debate with a message to Americans.

"How about this: Listen to police officers' commands. Listen to what we tell you, and just stop," he said. "I think that eliminates a lot of problems."

"I think the nation needs to realize that when we tell you to do something, do it," he added.

What of the four year old Wood boy?  Besides being suspended indefinitely, of course...

According to child psychologist Jeffrey Fracher, the use of shackles on a child that young could have a long-term effect on his psychological well-being.

"I can't imagine any scenario where it would be appropriate to handcuff a child that young... What we know about childhood development and psychological development suggests that could be also be highly traumatizing to a child."

The boy's mother says that is exactly what has happened. Her son, who was suspended indefinitely after the incident, suffers from nightmares as a result of his first brush law enforcement.