BEL AIR, Md. —A new report has raised concern over how some Harford County teachers treated students in a special-needs classroom.
The roughly 80-page report by the Maryland Law Disabilities Center was completed in January but concerns about the identities of those involved held back a full release.
It started with an anonymous letter from a concerned parent that prompted the Maryland Disability Law Center to launch an investigation during the summer of last year into claims of abuse at Hickory Elementary School in Bel Air.
"There was just a systemic breakdown. At every level, things fell apart," said Leslie Margolis, managing attorney with the Maryland Disability Law Center.
Using numbers to identify students, the report finds nearly all of the staff interviewed by Harford County Public Schools and the Maryland Disability Law Center confirmed they had witnessed the use of water spray and rolling pins as a deterrent for behavior. The report states: "Water spray was used with student 3, who was sleeping at the time."
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When did these kids become "Special"? We used to say Crippled, and Retarded, is this a PC term?
ReplyDeleteThere is no law against home schooling special needs children.If the parents feel strongly enough about this they should be advised of their options.Most are more horrified with the prospect of keeping them home 24/7 than they are with the treatment they receive in school.
ReplyDelete"Special needs" is the politically correct term used now but I am in my 40's and have known that for many years now but that's the the issue to the story. They are abusing the special needs kids, ("crippled" and "retarded" as you put it) for no reason. Shouldn't matter what kid it is, what they are doing is wrong.
ReplyDelete