Should I be alarmed that my child did this?

[Kay]

My son is 6 years old and in Kindergarten this year.  He told me last night that he got in to trouble at school for digging his finger nails in to the teachers hand when she was holding it.  The teacher phoned me first thing this morning to tell me the same.  I asked my son why he did it and he said he did not want her to hold his hand anymore.  She was holding his hand because he was not following directions and was playing around with a classmate in the line.  The teacher said she was not angry, she just took both boys by the hand to keep them safe and with her. My son was very remorseful for his behaviour and apologized to his teacher today.  He was given an after school detention and had to go visit the principal.  They are suggesting counseling also.  This is the first and only time he has done something like this and I am wondering if counseling is really necessary?  The teacher agreed that there was no pattern of this type of behaviour with him and that she had not wanted such a big deal to be made of it.  However, the Principal felt otherwise.  We also took away some privileges for a week as punishment. He did not dig in so hard that he left any kind of a mark on his teacher.  
Should we be alarmed by this behaviour?  Is counseling necessary?

Thanks is advance for you response,

Kay

[tom]

I agree entirely. I find it hard to belive a Principal would want to persue further punishment.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Kay,

Everyone seems to agree that this episode was an anomalous event and does not typify your son's usual performance. If he is otherwise developing fine, has friends, treats them well, cooperates in class, generally behaves well at home, etc., there's no indication that counseling is necessary. We all make mistakes, and your son is entitled to make a mistake and to learn from it.