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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKansas City school punishes blind boy by replacing cane with pool noodle
A Kansas City school punished a boy who was misusing his cane by taking it away, and replacing with a swimming pool noodle. The American Council of the Blind says such punishment is wrong.
The decision to punish a blind child by replacing his mobility cane with a swimming pool noodle is an extra nasty step, says a director at the American Council of the Blind.
Dakota Nafzinger, age eight, is a student at Gracemor Elementary School in Kansas City. He was born without eyes, and relies on his white mobility cane for personal freedom and the ability to move freely about his environment, according to FOX 4 in Kansas City.
North Kansas City Schools spokeswoman Michelle Cronk told the media that Dakota hit somebody with his cane while riding the bus and his punishment was to have his cane taken away and replaced with a foam pool noodle.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2014/1217/Kansas-City-school-punishes-blind-boy-by-replacing-cane-with-pool-noodle
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)I agree...that person is lacking any type of reasoning ability...and compassion, for that matter.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)Raine1967
(11,589 posts)The kind of adult that grew up believing in the kind of values the previous administrations gave us.
OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)alphafemale
(18,497 posts)As if the kid was not already stigmatized enough.
Rex
(65,616 posts)WTF are the adults at? Sounds like the school system is run by 8 year old bullies!
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)RKP5637
(67,107 posts)evlbstrd
(11,205 posts)But that would require reading the article.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)evlbstrd
(11,205 posts)KCMO is by far the center of the metro area. Kansas City, Kansas is like the poor stepchild.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)read the article more closely. KCMO is really quite nice, and the work they are doing downtown is amazing, and the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is incredible. I was never in it, but I watched them building it when I used to be in that area of KCMO. I sincerely apologize with my snappy reply I made earlier. I had been reading about Brownback yesterday, his latest budget mess in Kansas, and sorry, I just snapped back. There is a considerable difference IMO between MO and KS. Most people I don't think begin to realize/know how beautiful KCMO is, especially with all of the fountains. And driving in from KS along the parkway into the city is quite incredible. Thank you for correcting me!
evlbstrd
(11,205 posts)It is a beautiful city. It's been improving for many years now.
My reaction was a bit knee-jerk as well. So many times people who've never been here equate Kansas City with Kansas. All they need to do is look at a map.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)poor kid. Really, individuals that pull sh** like this need to be removed from ANY position of authority.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)I cannot believe this would be legal under the law?
icymist
(15,888 posts)The school gives him the cane so he could get around easier. Bang the drums and blow the trumpets!! Now, instead of punishing the kid like the other children are punished, the school takes away the cane and replaces it with something absurd?! As a two week punishment?! WTF is wrong with Kansas City? Has that whole area of the country (Missouri and Kansas) gone insane?
branford
(4,462 posts)What educated and experienced administrator thought that confiscating a child's disability assistance device could ever be a good idea. As a purely practical matter, not only would the punishment likely breach a plethora of federal and states laws, if the child received an injury, the financial liability would be enormous. That fact that the punishment was undeniably cruel, and the alternative device (a pool noodle!!!), needlessly subjected the boy to additional ridicule about his disability, is almost an afterthought.
The relevant administrators need ample "sensitivity training" and disciple, and I would not be surprised if the family of the boy has already retained counsel.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)I used to work there and am horrified. Although there were some psychos throughout the district, we all knew who they were, I've been gone too long to have an opinion about this, except,
951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)Its not like they use a disabled child to bait a rapist on campus like in Alabama then let her get raped.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/22/girl-used-as-rape-bait-sparkman-middle-school_n_5861888.html
If its not the police shooting a little dog in the back because it was a distraction or its some school teacher taking a blind kid's walking stick. Geez, we're really hitting rock bottom.
Last edited Wed Dec 17, 2014, 09:28 PM - Edit history (1)
Why are academicians respected in our society?
niyad
(113,284 posts)niyad
(113,284 posts)Gracemor Elementary School
Public School
Address: 5125 North Sycamore Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64119
Phone 816) 413-6420
Ykcutnek
(1,305 posts)elias49
(4,259 posts)to apologize. That's just pathetic.
yuiyoshida
(41,831 posts)A pool Noodle looks like..
And yes, what a stupid replacement!