There are so many aspects to this situation that there is no easy answer at any level. I looked at the video and the interaction between the officer and the boy student but did not read any information about what behaviors were being displayed by the two children previously that necessitated the intervention of the resource officer that was involved.
As Red Top has said, special education teachers, (which I was for 32 years) are trained in restraint procedures that if done correctly do not physically harm the child. I had an hour of training. I felt like it was something that had to be practiced a lot before being used without physical harm to a student. Since I did not feel like I was trained enough to do it, I vowed I would never do it. So, I thought, what would I do if this would happen? I had arranged with a colleague next door that if I had a situation like this, I had made up packets for the students to do and left them with my colleague to minimize the disruption to her classroom. I would send the other students out of the room to her room, call the office for the principal to come down to the classroom (we had a code phrase so if others were in the office the privacy of the students were protected, but it relayed the message that another adult was needed immediately) and the other adult could be the assistant principal, the counselor, the nurse, the psychologist, the social worker === any ancillary personnel in the building at that time. Parents should have been called to come to the school immediately in case they were needed to help in the deescalation of the situation.
I do not agree with the ACLU that the student's ADHD is the justification for inappropriate behavior. I have had many, many students with ADHD. ADHD does not equal behavior problems. It could be these particular children had multiple causation for their behavior. If that was the case, there should have been a behavior plan written and understood by ALL people who had contact with these students. The plan should have had levels of intervention and the steps of intervention should be followed unless, of course, if a child is in danger of being harmed. Students cannot be in a special education classroom just because they have ADHD. If the ADHD is at such a level that it adversely affects the educational performance of the student these students may qualify for special education and related services based on "Other Health Impairment". If the educational performance of the student is not affected as determined by results of assessment by the psychologist, social worker, teacher, and any other persons with pertinent information, at a meeting in which the parents are present, a 504 Plan can be completed without the student being labeled as special education. However, a student with significant emotional/behavior disorders may qualify and have a secondary qualification of "Other Health Impairment".
I feel for so many people, and not necessarily in the order of importance. Each situation is just as important as any other. I feel for the resource officer as it is very apparent he has not been trained what to do in a situation like this and should have not been there without such training. I feel for the other students whose educational setting was disrupted and who may have witnessed this. I feel for the teacher who may have had repeated behavior problems from these students. I feel for the parents who sometimes are at a loss themselves of how to help their child. But, most of all, I feel for the child who may have multiple causation for his actions. That is why coping mechanisms need to be implemented for children even before coming to school. Actions and the consequences and/or choices (at the appropriate age level) need to be a part of the child's daily life.
A lawsuit will bring attention to this case, but will it really solve anything other than lining the pockets of attorneys? Maybe that money coud be better spent on training, intervention techniques, and education BEFORE such a situation happens.
Sorry this is so long.
“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” St.Teresa of Calcutta
Blogs & Forums
