Teacher’s aides accused of waterboarding special-needs student

[Hepburn]

Political observers like The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan have argued that one of the most dangerous elements of the Bush administration's torture policies was the risk that a "torture mentality" would take hold in American society.

Those who seek evidence for that theory need look no further than Great Falls, Montana, where two teacher's aides have been charged with using water torture on a middle school student.

Julie Ann Parrish and Kristina Marie Kallies face one count each of felony abuse after allegations that they forced a 13-year-old autistic boy's head under water after he fell asleep in class. They also stand accused of "forcing him to sit in his soiled pants for hours and making him eat his own vomit when he got sick," reports KTLA in Los Angeles.

"If the teachers thought Garrett was being lazy or falling asleep at his desk, they forcibly took my son to the kitchen sink in the room and forced his head under the water while he was screaming for his mother," Tifonie Schilling, mother of the alleged victim, told ABC News. "And if he had an accident in his pants he was made to sit in it all day. They would taunt him and say, 'You stink like a baby.'"

http://rawstory.com/2009/10/teachers-aides-waterboarding/

OMFG........words fail me.

:grr:

[jinto86]

1. More to love about public schools I see

[Hepburn]

2. How could this happen?

There had to be more than one incident, right?

[jinto86]

11. I had some shit happen to me when I was younger...

Far less then this but I couple times I was told not to move from a seat for over an hour (me being a literal aspie took it that way) while I was freaking out and bursting to pee... didn't always end well.

[Joe Fields]

148. I had some unbelievable things done to me by teachers, also.

Slapped right across the face with a handful of rulers by a senile old bitch teacher, attempted molestation by my shop teacher who was 6'5" and 300 pounds, and I had an eighth grade english teacher drag me out of class for talking, and when he got me out into the hall, he grabbed me by my neck with one hand and lifted me up off the tile hallway about a foot, then slammed me up against a locker.

Those teachers continued to teach until retirement.

[Oregone]

5. You think public schools are the problem?

No, a fucked up society, where fucked up members try to politicize any fucked event to abolish social services is the problem

[jinto86]

7. I would believe that if this was an isolated event

It isn't. Horrible abuse of the severely disabled and slightly less horrible abuse of the mild - moderately disabled is an every day thing anymore.

[Hepburn]

9. I agree with that...

...seems like there is more and more of this every day.

:cry:

[Oregone]

10. No it isn't at all

There is a sickness in the entire society, and that isn't a product of public schools.

[Fridays Child]

20. Bring your proof that this is the fault of public education.

:eyes:

[jinto86]

21. Child goes to public school... child gets abused at public school

What else needs to be said. Like I said before if the mother had kept the child home that she would have been guilty of a crime... something is wrong there.

[Oregone]

23. No, the mom is welcomed to home school

Public education isn't the evil in a twisted society that causes people to be abused there

[jinto86]

24. Now your certainly assuming stuff

What if she was working 12 hours a day? Heck with a special needs kid what if she was working 8 hours a day? What if a good deal of her money was going to treatments so she couldn't afford private school or even more so a tutor (having a special needs kid, especcially with something as severe as Fragile X, is expensive in America)? Etc. Most likely she was in no position to homeschool and wouldn't have had the knowledge even if she was in position.

[Oregone]

25. "if the mother had kept the child home that she would have been guilty of a crime"

How does a mother working 12 hours a day care for their special needs child, who is at home? Now that doesn't make sense to me.


But regardless, I really don't give a shit about this specific example, as far as it goes in proving public school is some negative thing. The public school system was not the cause of this. It was the place where it happened. This also happens in private daycares. Abuse happens. The facility doesn't make it happen, the people do

[jinto86]

26. Considering how many people would have had to ignore this

I can't believe one place has a monopoly on evil people.

[Oregone]

27. Grits are gross

[drm604]

31. Child goes to school child gets abused at school.

There's nothing to indicate that the fact that it was a "public" school has anything to do with it. I've heard more than one horror story about Catholic schools (and that's not even counting the sexual abuse). These kinds of things can and do happen in both public and private schools.

[jinto86]

41. Like I said before....

The difference is that you can't remove your child from public school, unless you have enough money too. A great deal of our population is basically imprisoned in public schools, no way out without breaking the law.

[drm604]

51. You talk like there's no recourse.

If this kind of abuse occurs you report it and demand appropriate action.

[jinto86]

57. Look at the case of Alex Barton

The kind gets emotionally tramaitized, gets removed from the class, but the teacher gets to keep her job because of the teachers union (so in other words the teachers that the boy would have in the future stuck up for the woman who emotionally abused him.) Nice recourse. Then theres always the less subtle bullying, where almost no recourse exists.

[drm604]

72. Alex Barton.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/feb/03/teacher-alex-barton-case-testifies-hearing/
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/mar/31/judge-upholds-alex-barton-teachers-suspension-loss/

There was no physical abuse in that case. The child showed up without his homework, kicked a table around, and threw crayons at other students.

Maybe the teacher did go too far in having the other students vote him out of the room, she should not have embarrassed him in front of the other students. She was suspended and lost her tenure for this.

I don't see anything about the Teacher's Union in either of those articles so I can't speak to that, but if you feel that unions are the problem then ask yourself this: If there were a large growth in the number of private schools don't you think that their employees will try to unionize?

How much recourse is there in private schools for "subtle bullying"? Sure you can pull your child out, but unless you can convince the school that the teacher was guilty, you'll probably lose the tuition. At that point you'd either have to pay for another private school or send them to public school. I assume that you're a supporter of vouchers and I assume that if you received a voucher and then later wanted to return the child to public school, then you would have to repay the voucher. So pulling the child out of the private school costs you two tuitions, or a tuition plus the value of the the voucher. That isn't much of a recourse for people who can't afford it, just like with your public school example.

[jinto86]

75. Yet the teacher is still in the class, and will undoubtedly still get some autistic students

That scares me.

Beyond that there are private schools popping up all over the country for just high functioning special needs kids (think HFA, asperger's, ADHD, dyslexia, language disorders, and the like) where the teachers are all far more screened and all have backgrounds in special needs kids. The problem is they cost an amount of money that few parents could afford... just think if the government would help them out a bit.

[drm604]

81. And you've given no proof that private schools would have handled this any differently.

We can argue about whether or not the teacher in the Alex Barton case should have lost her job, but what does that have to do with public versus private schools?

[jinto86]

82. He is in a private school now

And just got straight As on his report card. There are private schools out there with 95+% special education teachers, and no one with training in how to work with special needs students would do shit like this.

Meanwhile a former child abuser is still in the public school, and will probably get more special needs kids in the near future...

[drm604]

84. I feel like I'm repeating myself.

This one case doesn't prove that private schools are superior to public as far as avoiding abuse of the children.

I'm done here.

[jinto86]

92. I just cited about 10 cases and then theres my own

Let me guess, they are all coincidences? I am sorry I believe in school choice after my OWN experience in public schools that caused me to be suicidal before I stepped foot in middle school, and I have worked with many kids who felt the same way. What am I supposed to do, ignore all my experiences and everything I have seen... but then I would be you.

[liberalhistorian]

171. And many of those private schools are not and would not

do any differently than public schools, sometimes even worse. I know, because my son is an aspie. There's plenty of abuse in private schools, including specialized ones. Public schools do not have a monopoly on abuse, far from it.

[jinto86]

172. Well first off, once again I am the parent helper aspie

And second, I have seen great things happen in these specialized schools, and outside JRC (which is an abomination) and a few wilderness schools I have never seen any abuse.

[liberalhistorian]

176. Well, I HAVE seen abuse in private schools; hell, I attended a

private high school. Broad-brushing an entire system because of the actions of a few in the system just ain't gonna cut it.

[jinto86]

177. You attended a private special needs school?

Interesting considering most haven't been around that long. Now I don't doubt that some abuse does occur in them, but I have yet to hear of any stories of waterboarding. And I have yet to hear of any at private special needs schools, so I want a case showing such, I only know of maybe 50 of them in the country... so I really would think I would hear something.

[liberalhistorian]

185. No, it was a private high school, not a special needs

school.

[jinto86]

187. I would agree though that catholic schools are about the worst option for special needs kids

What about Montessori Schools? What about schools where 95% of their teachers have a special education background and generally certification. Theres all sorts of schools out there outside the public realm that can't be looked at by some parents due to finical constraints. I am sure you have considered these schools when your son has been abused in the past, why shouldn't parents have a chance to look at them?

[madeline_con]

182. Assistants, not the teacher, abused the child. n/t

[jinto86]

183. And the teacher didn't realize this kid was sitting in a messy diaper/underwear?

Not buying that at all!

[mitchum]

90. Anti-public school AND anti-union. You're not very subtle, are you?

[jinto86]

93. Not anti-union

Anti-teachers union. When they protect a child abusing piece of **** I get that way. As for anti-public education, I believe public education is good for many if not most, but for those it fails (myself included) it can do horrible things to students. I never got a way out of public education, my mom was poor and could never afford it, I want todays special needs kids to have another option, especcially considering there are all sorts of new options out there for special needs kids.

[Odin2005]

101. I see I'm not the only Aspie that is disgusted with the teachers' unions.

[jinto86]

102. Yea, damn right wing nut job!

Just kidding.

[Name removed]

124. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jinto86]

125. Did you miss that he has PTSD from his treatment at the hands of teachers?

If he can't hate teachers who can?

[mitchum]

151. Well, I have met a couple of Aspies who are really annoying fuckwits...

but that doesn't lead me to be contemptuous of all Aspies

[jinto86]

152. And I have met a ton of NTs that were annoying bullies...

where were you going with this again...

[mitchum]

153. Maybe to the place where I cease bothering with a couple of seemingly perpetual whiners?

In fact, that seems like a good idea. Goodbye.

[jinto86]

154. LOL whining about what others you feel are whining... love the irony.

[liberalhistorian]

174. Then you have no idea what it was like for teachers prior

to the allowing of unions. Yes, I said allowing, because, when they started their careers in the early 60's, teachers were not even permitted to join unions. They still aren't in some areas of the country. And their working conditions and pay were horrendous in many cases and they had no rights to speak of. They had to fight like hell to get even basic rights on the job. And it's a constant never-ending fight, even today. You could never pay me enough to be a teacher, period. I saw what my parents went through and how little they got for what they gave and how they'd get the blame in general for what the bad apples would do. No way am I ever going through that.

And, as I've said before, my parents never tolerated teachers who would do things like this or even on a lesser scale. ANY mistreatment of students, by either teachers or other students, they wouldn't tolerate and would be the first to report teachers who did so. And their friends and colleagues were the same. Most teachers I've known were the same. Yes, there are bad apples and I've dealt with some in regards to my aspie son and have not hesitated to hold them accountable. But the majority aren't like that at all.

[donco6]

192. So when do we get "the story" again?

Hurry up and get it over with already . . .

[mitchum]

199. Anti-union horseshit on a Democratic board? Fucking incredible

Now, see if you can whine that post down the rabbit hole...

[jinto86]

201. Teachers unions defend child abusers

So therefore I hate teachers unions... whats so hard to understand about that?

[mitchum]

204. My...that's very...primitive...of you

Have trouble with that higher ordered thinking, eh?

[jinto86]

206. You support teachers unions supporting child abusers?

Nice.

[mitchum]

207. I was getting ready to ask you, "Aren't you going to let this drop?"

And then it dawned on me...of course not!

Yeah, I said it.

[jinto86]

208. As soon as abuse stops at public schools

that many parents and kids are trapped into, I will stop critizing public schools.

[Shell Beau]

139. But are all public schools like this? Is this a case of really

nasty shitty teachers? Yes. But we can't label all public schools as bad because of this.

[jinto86]

141. I would be willing to bet that a good percentage of special needs kids out there

have experienced shit like this, God knows I have...

[donco6]

193. Do you work for Fox News?

Because you use the same tactics they use. Hyperbole with no facts, innuendo repeated endlessly until someone's quoting you as fact, personal anecdotes to elicite emotional defense. You're a pro! Kudos!

[jinto86]

196. Yea, the Senate always investigates nothing

[Fridays Child]

60. Post-hoc ergo propter hoc

[jinto86]

64. That would only be true if...

him going to school and him being abused at school weren't related. If he didn't go to that school he couldn't have possibly been abused at that school. There is no way that it was a coincidental coorelation when the abuse happened at the place I am condemning. His abuse was directly related to him going to public school. Now you could try arguing that him going to private school would have still gotten him abused, but that would be a hard case to make without any evidence. On the other hand I have all the evidence I need...

[Fridays Child]

118. A wholesale condemnation of public education, based on this? I'm not moved.

[jinto86]

120. Most out there know its pretty widespread...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/18/siu.schools.abuse/index.html, but go on beleiving that its just an isolated incident, meanwhile more and more will be getting abused without a way out.

P.S. The school at the bottom of that is private...

[Fridays Child]

134. Most out there know??? That's your defense of your position? You can't be serious.

[jinto86]

135. When the Senate has a hearing about abuse in schools

I think there is something wrong going on.

[madeline_con]

186. Yes, we waterboard all the time at our school. n/t

[jinto86]

188. Read the study I posted

Its not exactly just one or two incidents. Even I have my own horror stories to tell.

[fascisthunter]

63. more kids have been harmed in private, perochial schools

so your argument actually places public schools in a better light.

[jinto86]

68. Ummm evidence?

Thomas Gregory White
Alex Barton
Ryan Patrick Halligan
Matt Epling
Brandon Mitchel
Jared High
Corrine Sides
Matt Epling (thats probably enough dead kids for now, right? FYI I just mean the last 5)
Garrett Peck
Cedric Price (killed by directly by public school teacher)
and I could go on and on... why didn't any of these kids have a choice where they wanted to go to school? Several of them are dead now... something tells me no other school could have done any worse.

[fascisthunter]

86. Oh brother... ok, here's a juicy list for you

Catholic schools shift with the population
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20091011_Catholic_schools_shift_with_the_population.html

SEXUAL ABUSE IN SOCIAL CONTEXT:CATHOLIC CLERGY AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS
http://www.catholicleague.org/research/abuse_in_social_context.htm

Taxpayers Fund Abusive Punishment at Private School
http://www.progressivepuppy.com/the_progressive_puppy/2009/04/taxpayers-fund-abusive-punishment-at-private-school.html

Serial child abuser finds easy prey in classrooms
Children's safeguards are scant to nonexistent
http://www.nospank.net/neff.htm

State Cites Boarding School in Abuse Case
http://articles.latimes.com/2004/apr/24/local/me-cited24

Accused child abuse couple ran private school in Knox Co.
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=2903844#

Here's a fun link for you...
COALITION AGAINST INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD ABUSE
http://www.caica.org

You shouldn't be surprised considering there are less strigent oversight for private entities than there are for publicly funded schools. Now take your anti-public education crusade elsewhere.

[jinto86]

91. Half those articles didn't even talk about abuse at schools...

And even with that it was hardly more prevalent.

[fascisthunter]

95. lol.... as if you even looked at them all

nobody is interested in playing with you. And it's quite obvious by your first post, as to why you decided to post here on this thread. Your argument is based on a few links... it's stupid. We could both sit here all day long submitting links of abuse, and you'd lose by the end of the day.

PS - you didn't even look at those links. Go try to spread your bullshit right wing propaganda elsewhere

[jinto86]

97. I looked at the first few

It makes it appear very clear you aren't aware of the private school options out there now, beyond that, is all abuse in the Catholic religion done at schools?

[donco6]

195. Like a typical rightwinger.

Don't bother with evidence, when you can look at the "first few."

[liberalhistorian]

170. And again, I reiterate that this shit happens a lot in private

schools, too. And often there's even less accountability there.

[Joe Fields]

157. I see that you are a dauntless defender of a severely broken system

Something like this event should NEVER happen in a public school.

[jinto86]

159. What you don't like your tax dollars going to finiance a felony?

Weird... damn right wing nut job!








JK

[Joe Fields]

164. the whole freaking public education system is a felonious assault to

my sensibilities.

[Fridays Child]

167. You assume a lot.

[Joe Fields]

169. actually, there is little to assume here.

read all of this person's posts in this thread.

[bobbolink]

73. Could you please do a separate post on that?

It needs to be said, and it needs ATTENTION.

I would appreciate it.

Thanks. :thumbsup:

[jinto86]

77. The threads are already out there...

Not much more I can do right now. With the knowledge I have right now everyone would say it was a series of coincidences, all totally unrelated to public schools in general... and probably the fault of Republicans...

[bobbolink]

78. Well, I just expressed interests. Guess that was a mistake.

I didn't make either of those comments you listed, did I?

[jinto86]

79. Nope, sorry wasn't meaning to accuse you

Just this whole situation is depressing and no one seems to want to face that the system itself could be at fault. So may I ask do you have any experience in this?

[bobbolink]

80. DU is very depressing, if you're looking for justice and compassion.

Try being homeless and coming to DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6822376&mesg_id=6838686

And it gets better.

Yes, the ugliness here is unbelievable, but it's approved ugliness.

[Odin2005]

98. I'm an Aspie and I have PTSD from being emotionally harrassed by teachers.

Nowhere near as bad as this poor kid suffered, though.

[jinto86]

100. Be careful

You don't want to get lumped in with me... most people here believe public schools are great.

[Odin2005]

103. Too late, LOL!

I get bashed a lot for criticizing the teachers' unions.

[jinto86]

105. But... but... but... they always do it for the kids.

Why else would they defend a child abusing piece of scum like Wendy Portillo, must have been for the kids!

[liberalhistorian]

178. My parents devoted their entire lives to

helping teenagers and were damned good, compassionate, caring teachers who defended their students against overbearing admins and the few bad apples they encountered and who started their careers at a time when there were no unions, unions often weren't even permitted, and their working conditions and pay were horrendous, they had very few real rights. They didn't hesitate to report bad teachers. My mother taught at a state juvenile reform school and was especially protective of her students, particularly those with disabilities. Both of them received jack shit for it, in terms of pay and respect and appreciation, for a lifetime of such service, as was the same with most other teachers I've known. My stepdad is now in a nursing home with dementia at a fairly early age; he slaved away in schools for decades and didn't even get to enjoy his retirement at all before his illness took over, while my mom deals with the attendant emotional and financial stresses. So shove it up your wazoo with the broad-brush generalizations and hate.

I had to deal with a severe learning disability and hearing impairment all through school, which wasn't formally diagnosed until high school (but we knew there was "something wrong" before that, but at that time there wasn't nearly as much recognition and understanding as there is now). I had my share of shitty teachers and treatment, no question. But I also had some good, compassionate ones as well.

[tonysam]

111. If you are going to bash the unions, you'd better know what you're talking about

The truth is teachers' unions are far more often than not in cahoots with the districts, unlike real unions' relationships with private companies. They aren't adversarial at all. Teachers' unions tend to be completely worthless when defending individual teachers from abusive or negligent principals or other administrators. If anything, they help the administrators. In my termination, the union's executive director, who defended me in my first two hearings, accepted what most people would call a bribe to take a job working for the human resources crook who spearheaded my illegal dismissal. She was a potential witness for me in my sham hearing and took the job over a month before my hearing, but the human resources crook guaranteed she couldn't be called to defend me.

[rucky]

132. That stuff never happens in private school

[jinto86]

133. I would rather get spanked with a ruler

Then be waterboarded and made to sit in **** for hours. Beyond that since when are all private schools catholic, and why can't a parent choose what they want for their child no matter what it costs.

[liberalhistorian]

179. Well, I attended a catholic grade school for a few years,

and I saw a LOT of shit. A. LOT. Worse than ruler-rapping, believe me. But it was allowed to continue and there wasn't nearly as much accountability there as there was in the public schools.

[liberal_at_heart]

136. I would never put my autistic child in a private school

There are obviously cases in public schools where unqualified people get hired, but at least there are laws to protect special needs children at public school. I have looked into private schools before and there are much less rules requiring the private schools to make adjustments in their school to accomadate special needs children.

[jinto86]

137. Can I ask if it was a school specifically designed for them

Check out the High School of Ft. Worth or Spectrum Charter Academy, what about one of those two schools? Just curious.

[liberal_at_heart]

143. no the ones I checked on were not designed for special needs

I think there is only one school specifically designed for special needs children in my state and it is no where near me, so I haven't even bothered to check it out. I am very happy with the public school he is in right now. He has made so much progress, he engages in conversations now, he is more confident, he has friends, he is in before and after school programs. He is still behind academically but he is getting better at working through his frustrations when he gets stuck on his work. His teachers are wonderful. If I were worried about his safety I would do whatever I had to to find him the right school though even if that meant moving. But right now, we are very happy with his public school.

[jinto86]

144. Thats nice, I just hope you realize its not always like it

Sometimes autism can be a bit easier to get a good education with then asperger's. Asperger's people are still frequently just seen as freaks, whereas autistic people are seen as truly disabled. I just want more school system options for these kids, even if their parents can't afford it (I am sure you know how expensive having kids with special needs can get just for basic therapies, not to mention adding onto that.) I donno... I just worry about the kids I have worked with, I see how bad the system is treating them... and I want to help them out so much, but know theres nothing I can do.

[liberal_at_heart]

147. my son's autism is very mild

He tends to behave alot like someone with Asperger's. He does engage in conversation, but he doesn't always know the correct social cues. He can go on and on about his favorite subject, sometimes he interupts people, sometimes he corrects people when he thinks they are wrong, sometimes he boasts, but he can be very funny and charming. I think that is why the kids like him. I agree that there needs to be more resources and more support for these kids. My son doesn't get any formal ABA treatment from a doctor or from school because we can't afford it. We have to rely on the special education team at his school like his teacher, his speech therapist, and his occupational therapist. I wish all the burden didn't have to be on them. That's not the way it should be. They have done a wonderful job though.

[jinto86]

149. A speech therapist and occupational therapist at school... damn

And I though my school psychologist made me lucky. Yea, most students are never given those sorts of services, especcially not with Asperger's. Still thats very good. What grade is he in may I ask? Oh and a little advice, never move. Kids that have known him all their life with always treat him better then kids that haven't. My bullying, and so many other cases of bullying I have noticed, is always worse after moving.

[liberal_at_heart]

155. thanks for the advice

He is in the 5th grade. I hadn't really thought about the fact that kids that don't know him will probably treat him worse. We have thought about moving for financial reasons. I have considered whether he could make the transition. He has been handling transitions much better, but I hadn't considered how new people would react to him. I will have to take that into serious consideration any time we think about moving. Thank you.

[jinto86]

158. Kids don't become bullies until middle school (generally)

6th grade would certainly be about the worst time to move, everyone becomes so cliquey then and he probably wouldn't fit comfortably in any clique (outside maybe an artsy one) and bullies become about 10 times worse then. And no problem, the first piece of advice is free, that last one will cost you $5.00 :).

[liberal_at_heart]

165. 6th grade does seem to be very hard on everybody

My daughter had a very hard time trying to figure out where she fit in and how to act in the 6th grade. She ended up with some girls who were very mean and I had to have some serious talks with her about it. 7th grade was much better for her. She eventually figured out how to find a group of friends wihout having to be mean to other kids to fit in. I do worry about my son going into the 6th grade even if we don't move. I do know how hard it can be for all the kids and I can't imagine how hard it is for the kids in special education classes. I have found that the more activities he is in the less isolated he feels, so I have always tried to keep him very invlolved. I will do the same next year. I will try to find some before and after school activities to be involved in, and hopefully he can find at least one or two friends.

[jinto86]

166. Well heres the most important piece of advice...

TICKLE HIM REGULARLY! GOOFS NEED TO BE TICKLED! ESPECCIALLY IF THEY ARE BEING ISOLATED.(and yes he is a goof).... okay that will be $10 in all :).

[liberalhistorian]

180. Having raised an aspie son, I think one of the major problems

in understanding them in both public and private systems is that, because they ARE very intelligent, it's difficult for people to see them as being "disabled." There's little understanding that "disabled" under certain conditions doesn't always mean stupid or lack of intelligence. Far from it, in many cases. I've dealt with that constantly, being learning disabled in many areas but above average intelligence in others.

[jinto86]

181. Agreed, but I still think that teachers with special education certification do better

[mitchum]

156. Shill

[Iggo]

36. Catholic school 1960's. Torture central.

This ain't private school vs public school.

This is people who hate children being put in charge of children.

[Hepburn]

40. I am in my early 60s and I can recall being told about what went on...

...in Catholic schools way back when ~~ primarily the 1950s. The nuns were brutal ~~ to say the least. I always thanked gawd that I went to public schools where about the worse thing that happened is that your knuckles got smacked with a ruler.

One pal who went to Catholic school told me that as a punishment, one nun had him kneel on uncooked grains of rice. Mean and clever ~~ Cheney would have loved her cuz the punishment hurt like hell and left no permanent marks.

[Nikki Stone1]

53. +1

I remember one nun tying a kid to a chair and making her sit through class all tied up.

[jinto86]

70. 2009 is not the 1960s

I would hope we would have moved forwards since then.

[Iggo]

76. I'm just saying...

...kid abuse exists in private as well as public schools...famously, in some cases, as in the case of Catholic schools of the 50's and 60's.

Public school does not have a monopoly on fucked-up treatment of children. As far as I can tell, the way that kid was treated had NOTHING to do with his attending public school instead of private school.

And yes, I hope it's better now than when I went. (It'd almost have to be...)

[Forkboy]

38. Damned silly comment.

[madmom]

45. Like the pedophiles that teach in their religious schools? Yes we just love them!

[Mass]

46. The problem is not public schools, It is the general lack of compassion we have

for those who are disabled. It is also the fact that many parents get angry because money spent on special needs kids is not spent on their precious brats, and because people who are not trained and vetted are used as paraprofessionals.

All of these things happen in private schools as well as in public schools. It is sadly human nature.

[Hepburn]

117. +1....

....it is like the handicapped and disabled are invisible.

So FN sad....

[fascisthunter]

61. found an angle to turn this into a Public School Bashing, Huh

you would, which is pathetic and all too revealing.

[jinto86]

69. So you don't think this kid should have gotten a choice not to be abused?

Thats nice.

[fascisthunter]

88. yeah... like that's what I was implying... anymore highschool debating tactics?

or do you need to watch more Fox?

I guess you don't want poor kids getting an education then... see how that works.

[jinto86]

89. Single payer education for all

Arianna Huffington told me that... last I checked she wasn't on Fox News...

[donco6]

85. Yes

Why he's still here is beyond me.

[fascisthunter]

87. the idiot actually thinks it's being clever

let's have fun with it....

[proud2BlibKansan]

130. I am over him

Put him on ignore.

There's no reasoning with his agenda. And yes, I too wonder why the fuck he is still here.

[jinto86]

131. Oh I love you too sweetie

I have plenty who agree with me and know there is something seriously wrong with public schools... funny thing is, its mostly public school employees who keep insisting there is nothing wrong with them. I have yet to see a mom of a special needs kid come on here and tell me that public schools are perfect. I wonder how many employees of Gitmo would say anything was wrong there? Guess that means that there is nothing wrong there too.

[donco6]

190. He reminds me of those late-season blue bottle flies -

You know - when you get one in the house and for DAYS it's just flying around and around and you can never quite swat it. Then in spring you find it all dessicated, legs up on some hidden windowsill. Ick.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jinto86]

96. Hey there sweetie, I missed you

You finally want to tell me how Arianna Huffington is a right-wing nutjob. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/so-we-cant-have-single-pa_b_276644.html

[mzteris]

112. DU discussion rules . ..

"Do not publicly accuse another member of this message board of being a disruptor, conservative, Republican, FReeper, or troll, or do not otherwise imply they are not welcome on Democratic Underground."

[jinto86]

113. OH SNAP!

[mzteris]

114. usual modus operandi

for anyone they disagree with. When facts fail, attack!!

[RetroLounge]

110. What a dumbass comment...

:eyes:

RL

[AwakeAtLast]

119. I've heard just as many horror stories about private and charter schools

It's not whether it's a public, private or charter school. It has everything to do with the administration and whether or not they are capable of hiring competent people. Many administrators are simply not, amazing as that sounds.

[jinto86]

121. Interesting, I can't imagine this happening at a school for special needs kids

Like are popping up all over the place.

[AwakeAtLast]

122. Would you mind elaborating on your post?

I'm not quite sure what it is you are saying.

[jinto86]

123. No problem

There are schools popping up specifically for either severely disabled kids (down's, fragile x, williams, etc), mild-moderately disabled kids (HFA, asperger's, severe ADHD, etc) or both. These schools hire entirely people that have experience with special needs kids, and generally certification to teach them. If we (the people) would help parents send their kids there, so they didn't have to carry the burden themselves, which they generally educate THESE kids cheaper then public schools do (keep in mind we spend a lot to educate special needs kids in public schools, especcially when we mainstream them), a lot more of these schools would open up, especcially as parents started to move where they are. Doing this would educate them better, and probably elimate most of this abuse... why not do it?

[liberalhistorian]

168. This shit happens in private schools, too, believe me.

Especially those "devoted" to special ed. Private schools are NOT immune from this shit at all.

[jinto86]

175. Okay can you cite a case?

I have a couple friends who go to such a school, not one has ever noticed any abuse or heard about any abuse. So where have you heard about it?

[donco6]

191. Not that it matters.

http://cbs4denver.com/local/eagle.county.duct.2.1267516.html

I think we should eliminate teaching altogether. I mean, if anecdotal evidence is going to be the basis for our strategic planning, there's plenty of private school anecdotes to go around. That means it MUST be endemic to all schools and the only common denominator is TEACHERS, not public school. So if we get rid of teaching, we solve the problem! Tada!

You really aren't fooling anyone, by the way.

[jinto86]

197. I was asking for a case at a special needs private school

Though duct tape versus waterboarding...

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Horrible!

[Hepburn]

My stomach turned over when I read what these two assholes did to that child.

Why in the world would they want to work with disabled children if they hated the job so much they could do anything this evil???

[Oregone]

It a high paying job for requiring minimal education

And its not sought after. Special need jobs are the last ones filled every summer (when a lot of school jobs are filled in the spring). They don't always attract people in them for the kids, especially not now when there are a lot of qualified (academically) unemployed people looking to make rent

[tonysam]

13. Aide jobs are NOT highly paid

They aren't that much above minimum wage, and parapros aren't highly paid, either.

[Oregone]

16. Perhaps it depends on the state.

Ive always seen them well above minimum (12 to 13).


In BC now that I moved from states, they are $20 bucks an hour with bennies, requiring high school education.

[tonysam]

17. Even at 12 to 13 an hour

it's still practically no money at all when it is a ten-month position.

[LostInAnomie]

19. Hahaha... I wish it were that much.

Around here it's a little over $11 and that is pro-rated to cover when you don't work during school breaks and summer vacation, so it comes out to really be about $8 an hour. Plus, the fact that you only get 35 hours a week with no possibility of over time. Some of the aides I know that have to buy insurance only make about $200-$225 a week.

[Oregone]

22. Still better than fast food

And you can pick up part-time in the summer.

Yes, not exactly lucrative for everyone

[tonysam]

34. If you're a parapro,

you have to have an associate's degree, which isn't required for fast food.

[wolfgangmo]

42. Not the case here in the US.

In the midwest aides would get between 9 to 12per hour with minimal or no bennies. In the south it is just north or "would you like fries with that." And in Montana - it is almost not compensated. There is no supervision in some of these small school districts where the superintendant is also the principal and probably also teaches. Aides could have been rump-rangering that kid with a buick and no-one would have seen a thing.

[liberalhistorian]

184. In this state, aides are lucky if they're paid more than

eight bucks an hour and that usually doesn't include benefits. It really depends on the state, but most don't require much education or training and don't pay all that much.

[liberal_at_heart]

49. I was looking at technical schools

I want to take veterinarian technician classes so I have been looking into different colleges; traditional colleges and technical college. Some of the technical colleges actually offer certificates to work with special needs children. It only takes 5 semesters to get this certificate. There is not enough educational requirements on becoming a special education teacher's assistant.

[Lance_Boyle]

32. I didn't see in the story where it was a class for disabled kids or that

the aides requested (or otherwise wanted) to work with disabled kids. Is it possible that this is an unwanted byproduct of "mainstreaming" special needs kids?

[AllentownJake]

4. My brother was locked on a hot bus for 2 hours

He was autistic. Some teachers are absolutely fucking wretches to special needs students.

Execution seems to be ok with me to such individuals.

[Hepburn]

6. OMG....

...that is just awful.

Nothing like picking on those least able to fight back. So sad...

[tonysam]

8. The problem with the story is

the person who emailed the mother was just as responsible as the two aides, as were the alleged witnesses. They had a LEGAL duty to have reported the incidents to the principal and to the police, and they didn't do it.

Plenty of blame to go around.

[Hepburn]

12. I know teachers are mandated reporters....

...but I would assume anyone who works in a school would immediately report anything this so totally out of line without having to be legally mandated to do so.

Not sure if aides are mandated reporters, but if they are not, they should be.

[tonysam]

14. Yes, they are.

There is no excuse whatsoever the aide who emailed the mother didn't notify authorities.

[Realityhack]

108. I don't know if the laws on that vary by state or not but when...

I was working as a teachers aid I was a mandated reporter. Same for being an untitled worker in a similar situation.

[AllentownJake]

15. My mother found out about my brother

when the next door neighbor who was in his class told her. She sued the School District for a different placement, the teacher, well she retired with a full pension last year 15 years after the incident.

My brother was half mainstreamed half special ed. He ended up full special ed after the incident and never fully recovered his trust factor.

[Odin2005]

106. All my Aspie sensory issues were dismissed by teachers, and then I got in trouble after...

...I had a meltdown because of it! :grr:

[jinto86]

109. Been there done that

I had so many meltdowns when I was in elementary school... what was worse is when after it they put me in principals office (not so bad) or counselors office (really bad cramped and 100 feet away from anyone else) alone for over an hour.

[ZombieHorde]

18. So sad. nt

[Hepburn]

28. Looks like one of these really brave ladies who abused this child...

...has fled to Texas.

http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-teachers-accused-dunking-students,0,6948518.story

But the article goes on to say that they have contacted her there...so at least they know where she is.

[ellie]

29. I would sue

Sue the school, sue these sadistic bitches, and sue the state. The only thing people understand is money. Take away their money and people will straighten up right quick. Then I would make sure these two never spend time around children again. Make an example of these two.

[tonysam]

35. It isn't "their" money; it is the insurance company's money

n/t

[Mrs. Overall]

30. Oh my god...this just makes me cry.

I cannot understand why certain people abuse the weak and vulnerable. Stories like this involving children or the elderly or the mentally ill really upset me. Animal abuse stories get to me as well.

I hope these individuals are punished severely.

[Capt. America]

33. "I learnt it from watchin the Preznit"

[imdjh]

37. I think I'm going to hold off a while. This has a touch of McMartin Preschool to it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1222439/U-S-teachers-aides-accused-water-boarding-autistic-boy.html

The parents of five other children at the school also claim their children were abused.
Molly Gillis says her daughter came home from the school 'on numerous occasions with bite marks, bruises, burnt fingertips and missing hair.'

[gordianot]

39. Not a surprise, another sad situation, along the same lines in Missouri

Head under the faucet I find this sickening maybe not that uncommon a sign of the times. I am a 30 year Special Educator, and still work part time.

Another similar situation in Missouri.

link: http://tcfpbis.blogspot.com/2009/01/mo-fight-over-care-at-mapaville-state.html

Friday, January 30, 2009
MO: Fight over care at Mapaville state school moves into court
NOTE: A nurse admitted that she knew some loud noises will induce a seizure in a child wih epilepsy - and was recorded as DELIBERATELY and repeatedly ringing a bell, telling others, "Watch me as I thrown him into a seizure."

Other abuses were recorded. Yet the school is claiming they've done no wrong...

By Robert Patrick
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/29/2009
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/60D0FCC9EF75F2008625754D000F9054?OpenDocument

Mapaville — Sheila Scott's severely disabled son Chandler cannot tell her what he learned at his state-run school in this Jefferson County town. Although he is 12, he cannot communicate how he is treated. So the mother started hiding a tape recorder in his wheelchair.

What she didn't hear disturbed her: no distinctive pop from the opening of a can of his PediaSure lunch, none of the familiar sounds of him eating.

What she did hear was disturbing, too. In one case, it was the sound of a school nurse ringing a bell and saying, "Watch me throw him into a seizure," and then ringing it about 30 times more.

The nurse later admitted to an inquiry panel for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or DESE, that she knew loud noises might trigger seizures in epileptic children such as Chandler. In a 2-1 decision last month, that panel sustained Scott's complaints of abuse and neglect. But neither side is satisfied. DESE says the panel went too far, and is seeking an order in federal court in St. Louis to overturn the finding as unfounded.

Scott and parents of eight other students are suing too, saying the panel did not go far enough. They're asking a federal judge to close all 35 state schools for the severely disabled because of a "continued and persistent failure" to properly educate the disabled as required by law. They ask that the state be forced to fire offending Mapaville staffers and install Web cameras there and at similar schools, so parents and officials can monitor what goes on.

"These kids are shoveled into these state schools to be forgotten about — not to be educated and not to be treated with respect," said Scott, of rural Jefferson County. "It seems like nobody cares how they were treated."

Jonathan Beck, the lawyer representing her and other parents, said the secret recordings she and two other mothers made were just a snapshot. "These are just the things we know," Beck said. "What about all the days and all of the classrooms we didn't tape? What did we miss?"

The suit claims the Mapaville school has chronically inadequate supervision and undertrained employees, and failed Chandler "through a persistent pattern of profound incompetence, willful neglect, gross misjudgment and reckless indifference to his rights."

State education officials say in their suit that Chandler got an appropriate education, and that the panel's decision was "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable." The Missouri attorney general's office, which represents the school, declined to comment.

Responding to questions by e-mail, Charlie Taylor, superintendent of the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled, a part of DESE, said that complaints about Mapaville were met with "a thorough investigation" and that "corrective actions were taken" as needed.

He declined to comment on personnel matters, or specifics of the state's appeal.

"We believe that all the state schools provide a safe and caring environment for the students entrusted to our care," Taylor wrote this week.

AN AIDE'S EYE VIEW

Chandler's host of medical problems, including cerebral palsy and epilepsy, put him at the developmental level of a 3- to 9-month-old. He must eat liquid or pureed food, doesn't cry and doesn't sweat, leaving him vulnerable to heat.

Scott said she became concerned when she worked as an aide in Mapaville in 2007. She said she saw students left in their wheelchairs all day instead of being engaged in therapy or education. She also said other workers came to her with concerns about her son's being left in a hot classroom.

After a day when she picked up Chandler soaking in his own urine, Scott quit the job, saying she couldn't work there and advocate for her son at the same time.

She bought a digital recorder at a Radio Shack, cut a small slit in the fabric covering the bottom of his wheelchair and secured it inside with Velcro. At night, she downloaded the recordings to a computer and spent hours reviewing them. She said she pulled Chandler out for good after spending one long night listening in vain for the sounds of him being fed.

Two other parents also made recordings.

One of them, Jamie Harvell, 39, of Festus, said that her 17-year-old son Joshua, who has a genetic disorder, once had an excellent teacher at Mapaville. But in recent years with different staff members, she said, Joshua did not get the exercise he needed. Her recording was unusable, and her family's complaint was rejected by a different state panel. Harvell now home-schools Joshua.

The remaining parent, Melissa Conner, of Pevely, also lost her case on behalf of son Colten, who she claimed was not being properly educated.

On Dec. 8, the panel reviewing Scott's case ruled 2-1 that Chandler had not received a fair and adequate education from the first day of the 2007-08 school year, as required by law.

"It makes us feel like we can win one of these," said Beck, the lawyer, who is paid by a Crystal City advocacy group, the Disability Resource Association.

PANEL FINDS ABUSE

The panel members said that the manner in which staff talked to students in Chandler's classroom "seemed emotionally abusive," and suggested that if overheard by them, "it would at least be appropriate to report the person for abuse and neglect to the appropriate authorities."

The ruling said the "derogatory behavior" on the tapes seemed "at least fairly routine."

Scott "did not believe, for justifiable reasons, that it was safe for her child to attend" Mapaville, the opinion says, and "had no other choice" than to pull her son out of school.

Witnesses during the four-day administrative hearing in September testified that they had spotted staffers doing puzzles or reading books or magazines instead of interacting with the children — even getting a exercise workout during school hours.

One volunteer said she saw an aide in Chandler's classroom discipline a child with squirts of water in the face.

The panel noted that Chandler appeared to make "remarkable progress" once he was at home, working with a state-provided teacher and therapists under his mother's close supervision.

The ruling said Chandler should get a personal aide and extra therapy as compensation for his treatment at school.

The dissenting hearing officer, George Wilson, wrote that the school system was denied due process because it didn't even know what was at issue before the hearing. He said that Scott did not meet their burden of proof, and that the panel allowed hearsay testimony and audio recordings of "highly questionable evidentiary value."

Wilson declined to be interviewed about the case, as did the chief hearing officer, Samara N. Klein.

Chandler's teacher, a long-term substitute, did not have a college degree and had no education classes among the 60 credit hours she had accumulated toward an associate degree, the panel report said. She is now an aide in another classroom.

Sheila Scott said that she would educate Chandler herself if the state stopped paying for schooling at home, and that he would not return to Mapaville. "It's never going to happen."

[e-mail] 314-621-5154

[KamaAina]

43. Fragile X is the leading cause of autism? Wow.

Fragile X is a relatively rare condition which produces a range of symptoms including those associated with autism. Describing the victim as "autistic" is also shoddy reporting.

Fortuantely Montana has a well-developed network of disability activists for such a small state. I doubt you've heard the last of this.

[jinto86]

44. It is the leading KNOWN cause of autism (most cases have an unknown cause)

And second leading KNOWN cause of mental retardation. I get why they called him autistic before, I have known fragile X parents who have done the same thing, you can qualify for more then one disorder you know.

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. No it isn't. These are 2 different disorders.

One does not cause the other.

[KamaAina]

56. I know that. I probably should've used the sarcasm thingie

or at least the eye roll.

I was surprised to see that in print. I suppose I shouldn't have been, these days.

[proud2BlibKansan]

59. Sorry. I understood you.

I also was addressing the article.

[Barack_America]

74. It is the leading cause of inherited mental retardation...

...and is associated with "autistic-like" behavior.

It is not specifically autism itself.

[redqueen]

47. One count each so far... I wonder if any of those 14 other familes

will be pressing charges.

[Judi Lynn]

48. This is sadistic, unforgiveable. Here's more on these 2 monsters:

Charges filed for alleged abuse at North Middle School
Posted: Oct 19, 2009 01:18 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 20, 2009 06:10 PM CDT

http://mont.images.worldnow.com.nyud.net:8090/images/11339505_BG2.jpg

Julie Ann Parish in court on Monday

The crimes read like a parent's worst nightmare: two former employees at North Middle School in Great Falls accused of severely abusing a special-needs student in his own classroom.

Tifonie Schilling's son Garrett, now 14 years old, is autistic and was enrolled at North Middle School in a special-needs classroom during the 2008-2009 school year.

Today, Tifonie Schilling came face-to-face with one of the para-professionals who she says has betrayed her trust - and now Julie Ann Parish and Kristina Marie Kallies, former aides at North Middle School, stand accused of knowingly endangering a child.

Parish appeared in a Great Falls courtroom on Monday, but Kallies' whereabouts are not known; one official said that Kallies may be out of state, and that a warrant has been issued for her arrest. The maximum penalties for the charges is up to five-years and six-months in prison, and a fine of up to $50,000.

Tifonie said, "We started noticing things pretty quick after Garrett started going up to North Middle School."

Tifonie say she went to the school district and North Middle School wondering about her 13-year-old's new, odd behaviors, but said that the school wasn't much help, and noted that at one point, school officials even blamed her.

Only after the school year was nearly up would an email from another parent alert her to what might have been the cause, after which she pulled her son out of school and got a lawyer.

Randy Tarum, the attorney for the Schilling family, said, "We had a great deal of difficulty getting any kind of information. Information really trickled in very slowly. We were met with a lot of resistance. "

Together, Schilling and Tarum began retracing her son's time at North in the fall of 2008, and as they did, Tarum noted, "Slowly and surely more witnesses started stepping forward." Those witnesses would start answering the question of why her son had been acting strangely.

Tifonie said of Garrett, "He doesn't have the ability to have conversations with me to tell me what happened with him. He is an innocent boy who couldn't defend himself."

More:
http://montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=11339505

[Hepburn]

50. What a fucking nightmare....

...I wish to hell I could design the punishment for those two assholes who did this to that defenseless child.

:grr:

[tomm2thumbs]

52. facing 'one count each of felony abuse' - thank God

this is beyond crazy and these people are sadistic

[surrealAmerican]

67. That's just sick.

If they had done this to an able-bodied adult who they were not professionally responsible for, they would be facing much more serious charges.

Sometimes the system has it backwards.

[proteus_lives]

54. Doesn't have anything to do with Bushco.

Special needs students are often mistreated and sadly it's always been this way.

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. Interesting. Got any links?

I have been a special ed teacher for 17 years and don't know of any disabled kids abused at school.

[gordianot]

66. See my post on #39.

As a retired administrator I know of other blatant incidents impossible for me to discuss. Although rare it does happen usually with students more severely disabled.

[proud2BlibKansan]

99. The claim was "often"

I'd like to see that proven.

[gordianot]

138. In my 30 years I know of this type of activity at least 4 times, for me too "often".

I am truly glad you have not experienced this. I was shocked and surprised every time it came to light. Once is too often for me.

[proteus_lives]

71. Here you go.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/18/siu.schools.abuse/index.html

http://www.greatschools.net/improvement/quality-teaching/abuse-of-kids-with-LD.gs?content=1596

http://kcsos.kern.org/SpecialEd/stories/storyReader$428

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1765318/cnn_reports_abuse_of_special_needs.html?cat=4

http://www.allbusiness.com/medicine-health/diseases-disorders-developmental/13011841-1.html

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2009/05/31/connecticut-family-of-autistic-boy-sues-teacher-michelle-campbell-for-abusing-special-needs-students/

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1086224.html

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-19093-Seattle-Special-Needs-Kids-Examiner~y2009m10d21-Kids-with-special-needs-facing-abuse-at-school-a-troubling-trend


It's probably happened at your school, just because you don't know about it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[proud2BlibKansan]

104. If it happened at my school I would know

And it has not.

[proteus_lives]

116. Let's hope so.

Nothing against your school but I'm very cynical when it comes to public schools/education.

[proud2BlibKansan]

127. I am the only sped teacher on staff

So yes, I would know.

[jinto86]

128. Asperger's student here...

Never once communicated with the special education teacher at my school... so its a good bet that they didn't know I was being abused there.

[gordianot]

140. Correct they probably did not know you were being abused.

Even if they knew about you it would be difficult for them to come up with program. If not Special Education IEP you should have had a support system from regular education such as a 504 Plan. My office was sometimes a temporary refuge for several students over the years while 504 plans were being developed.

[jinto86]

142. They talked my mom out of IEPs and 504s

She was a poor single woman, so a bit naive on the ways of the world, and she believed them when they said it would label me for life and hurt my chances of getting into college (even in the 1st grade when I was already diagnosed with several disorders). So the special education services people never spoke with her, and would she tried to get help with me they threatened to put me in the ED/BD room where they, she, and I all knew I would go crazy. So I continually got abused, and I never really spoke out about it and the special education teachers never even knew. Quite nice system they had going.

[lumberjack_jeff]

161. In my son's school.

A teacher restrained a developmentally disabled kindergartener while another student hit him.

http://www.thevidette.com/archives/26mar09/index.html

The teacher was not punished.

[1776Forever]

62. More info on this from KRTV Report.........

GFPS official discusses charges of abuse at North Middle School

Updated: Oct 22, 2009 08:16 PM EDT

GFPS official discusses North Middle School abuse charges

http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=11369435

Reporting for KRTV

Great Falls Public School administrators are speaking out about the alleged abuse inside North Middle School.

Two para-professionals stand charged with felony abuse of an autistic student last year; both teacher's aides resigned before the end of the school year.

Tammy Lacey, GFPS Human Resources Manager, told KRTV, ""We were as appalled as anyone to hear about the allegations, even last April, and then certainly this week has been very sad for us."

District officials say they started an internal investigation immediately after hearing of the potential abuse of a North Middle School student. The two para-professionals at the center of the case, Julie Anne Parish and Kristina Kallies, were allowed to continue working with students.

Administrators say the two would have been put on leave if they believed a child was in danger, but say there was not enough evidence at the time to support the allegations.

The only formal charges against the former district employees involve the alleged abuse of Garrett Schilling, although the lawyer for Tifonie Schilling, Garrett's mother, tells us other parents have since come forward, saying their children were abused in a Great Falls school.

But according to Tammy Lacey, no new allegations have come forward in the district involving any current school employees. In fact, Lacey says the district has seen a great deal of support from parents.

She said, "They've called to say the special education program in GFPS changed their children's life for the best (and) had a major impact on it, and their children can have happy and productive lives because of our special education programming. So that's been a good thing to hear. That doesn't mean that we don't have issues to address and of course we'll continue to work on those."

More at link........

................

Will be watching this as it developes. Thanks for posting.

[Judi Lynn]

194. Hope this exposure might move schools to keep a closer eye on what happens

in these classrooms, so the children aren't simply left at the mercy of people who really don't have human regard for them.

There should be a serious adjustment to allow much closer oversight. This should never happen again.

[1776Forever]

198. Maybe cameras in the classrooms might help. I don't know if that is a privacy issue but babysitters

are taped without their knowledge so abuse can be reported. Just an idea. I agree with you totally!

[fascisthunter]

65. sick

lock them up

[Odin2005]

94. That is some sadistic shit right there.

:grr:

[demigoddess]

107. as the mother of a handicapped student, I'm not surprised.

in texas they used to slap children whenever they thought no one was looking.

[Echo In Light]

115. Conjures up ugly visions of the two aids being beaten to pulp w/ball bats

[DailyGrind51]

126. I wonder what gave them the idea that it was permissible?

[malaise]

129. Evil does not describe these women

make them pay big time.

[Dude_CalmDown]

145. Sick fucking assholes.

What the fuck is wrong with some people?

[jinto86]

146. The scary thing is,

Where were the teachers, where were the classmates, where was everyone else who would have had to know about this...

[Name removed]

150. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[proud patriot]

160. Horrible

x(

[npk]

162. Isn't sticking somebodies head under water aggravated assault

I mean you can kill somebody by forcing their head underwater, basically causing them to drown or suffocate. Shouldn't these women be charged with aggravated assault as well.

[lumberjack_jeff]

163. Developmental disabilities are the last frontier of civil rights. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

173. there are reports they abused other student, too...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1222439/U-S-teachers-aides-accused-water-boarding-autistic-boy.html

how in fuck's name did they ever get hired in the first place??

[mitchum]

200. Because teacher's aide is an incredibly low paid job...

and that makes it rather difficult to hire the most qualified

[jinto86]

202. And the teacher didn't notice a boy wearing a messy diaper for hours getting taunted by his aides?

[mitchum]

203. I was not there; were you?

How would I know?

[jinto86]

205. I have worked with kids with incontience issues...

Its hard to not notice that they are wearing a messy diaper, the smell would at least have been noticed by other kids (in a normal setting), which should have been noticed by the teacher, or the teacher (in a special education setting). Its also hard not to notice a boy crying for his mom when he is soaking wet coming out of the bathroom. I refuse to believe no one noticed anything was going on.

[47of74]

189. Ordinarily I am opposed to capital punishment

However I am to the point where I think that torture committed by any public employee, a member of the military, or any government contractor should be a crime where the government can use capital punishment. And it should be made plain to everyone who goes to work for the government or a contractor performing government work during their orientation that if they commit torture that if found guilty that capital punishment can and will be used.