I caught this story on HLN and was confused before I was outraged. I thought teachers and aides for special needs kids had a particular training. That, and I always assumed if a student was out of control he was removed from class.

They do catpaw~ but in my experience it all comes down to the teacher. The best teachers we had,behaved as the teachers at the Centennial School at Lehigh University did.

We had two other teachers who did not adhere to the same principals( and in all fairness did not have the same administrative support) and those aids...well one teased my son in my presence one time. In another classroom my son came home with a fat bloody lip( attacked by a mobile student) and,even though he had money for lunch was denied food all day (B-fast at 5:30a.m. not home until 4:30p.m.) on the "word" of aide. She received no rebuke for her behavior. That is when I began to refuse to send him to school and sought home schooling for him. Perhaps it is too much to ask he be kept safe and fed.

If it had been I that exhibited that behavior~ he would have been out of my custody.

Unfortunately yes, all teachers and all training are not the same. A lot depends on the school one goes to, the credential program they pass through, and the school and department at which they are employed. There are not many advanced techniques being employed here in Bakersfield for two reasons: not enough discretionary funding for Spec. Ed. departments, and an Old Gaurd mentality among department heads, principals, and Board Members. Also against reform are state education laws regarding Spec. Ed.  

All very true jlocke ,in my experience.

Reading the GAO account~ it is past time for a National standard for care and reporting abuse. That only 6 states even require the reporting is a disgrace.

Actually Sage, I'm really surprised that there isn't a national standard for care of special needs kids in schools.  This needs to be attended to immediately.

O/T  I think there needs to be national standards for the care of the elderly, too. 

There are just too many abuses in this country of those that depend on us most.  I just don't get it.

I was stunned myself~  mostly because we had the luck to have beyond excellent teachers,except for two notable exceptions.

Those that are the most vulnerable deserve better~ that includes the aged,the special needs community and those with mental health issues.

Volunteering my time with mentally disabled children, I always thought we (the volunteers) were much more loving & caring of the special needs children.  What a horrible, despicable person/people that would harm a mentally or physically challenged child.  I have such fond memories of those days that I spent with these kids, special is a word I use in terms of endearment.    

Thanks LoveVintage! I know I am writing the congressman mentioned in the CNN article,and my Representatives today to advocate for national standards. After the mess in Texas and this damming report it is way past time for the nation to be responsible.

I am not the least bit surprised by this news based on what I have witnessed in the last seven years, which is precisely why my son does not attend a public school. Contrary to what one might think, many of these special education teachers are NOT trained as they should be.

When we first moved into this school district I was shown several classrooms that the administration was considering for my son. One of the teachers was brand-new, working on an emergency credential, and had ZERO experience working with children with autism. I thought she looked vaguely familiar, then it hit me: Desert Counseling Clinic. Ring a bell? If the D.A.'s office hadn't screwed up she'd be in prison, not tucked away in a trailer on the edge of campus "teaching" special needs kids. That the district had no issue with her ethics or credibility absolutely blew me away. Yeah, I'm leaving my kid with someone who embezzled money from the disadvantaged and disabled. Right.

I also witnessed children being yelled at and inappropriately restrained in the many other classrooms I observed over the years in three different school districts.  And that was with me there in plain sight. I shudder to think what happens when these people are alone with the kids.

Here's an interesting link somewhat related to your post, Sage. I think I've shared it before.

www.caica.org/RESTRAINTS%20Death%20List.htm

That last link I provided is from an old bookmark I've had for a couple of years, but this is the homepage of that site. They seem to be following this situation closely.

www.caica.org/index.htm

Also, Sage, I'm sorry for dumping my rant on your blog! I'm happy that you had such great experiences with Kelsey. 

I have witnessed some decent teachers who are truly trying to do their best but are overwhelmed and not appropriately trained. Okay, I'm stopping now ... I could go on for hours about this subject !!

Vanity~ "dump" away that is precisely why I posted this.

"Tucked away" on a corner somewhere~ after "inclusion",yes? For some children,inclusion is great. For the children like mine and I suspect many autistic children~ it is simple being "tucked away". The greatest asset this community had was Blair combined with MOVE~ a safe,well run school with a head administrator,staff that culled the rotten and grew the best in themselves as teachers. The severely dis-abled community lost when "inclusion" came along,for the most part.

We had nightmare teachers too Vanity and some down right psychotic aides. I really believe .like in any organization, if the right methods and support are not flowing from administration,even the very best teachers give up. I have seen it happen.

A ride to "school" and a few pieces of "special equipment" is the least of a special needs parents worries.

My last bit of advice to any parent out there~be a "troublesome" parent!