Apologies if this is being discussed, and I've missed it. Two SPED teachers at LCPS claim retaliation after reporting sexual assault by a student with intellectual difficulties. They lost their jobs after going forward after repeated pleas for intervention, and non response from LCPS.
My opinion is... it doesn't matter how intellectually challenged a child is, there are certain boundaries. Assault, violence, are two of them. And if the kid needs to be fully restrained to avoid crossing those boundaries, then fine. If not, then they need special care outside of a school. The school failed the teachers by not backing them up, and now everyone loses - it's not like people are lining up to become teachers, let alone SPED teachers. https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2022/06/special-education-teacher-sues-loudoun-co-school-board-following-sexual-assault-claims/ |
The school maintains that they are mischaracterizing the student’s actions and that they disclosed private records. I think there is t enough information for us to really know. Sexual assault involves intent and I can’t see that it’s clear what happened here. I mean if a very low functioning 7 year old reaches out indiscriminately they could hit the butt and breast area depending on whether the adult is sitting or standing or bending over - particularly if they lack the ability to tell where their body is in space and have motor issues.
I think it’s hard to be a special Ed teacher. But I just can’t tell here with the information that’s been made public. Also there is no excuse for revealing private data on a student. |
Considering these two are being egged on by the charlatan Ian Prior and his ridiculous group Fight For Schools, I am dubious. Team LCPS. So over these provocateurs who seem only to be posturing for an interview by Tucker Carlson. |
I obviously don't know what happened, but man being a special ed teacher or care giver must be so hard. Even if there is no intent being repeatedly groped or touched can still be violating. |
Ian Prior's involvement in this is suspect. However, I have worked in a class like this before and have seen these scenarios play out. The teachers are probably telling the truth about the student's behaviors and their administration's response. If the teachers reported the actions and their admin's only response was to suggest wearing an apron or using a visual cue card to get the student to stop, they're negligent and shouldn't be surprised the teachers escalated the situation. At the very least they should've brought a BCBA into the classroom to observe, collect data, and do a FBA/ BIP. |
these teachers sound like idiots. the response to this is and FBA and more restrictive placement. not to breach a student’s privacy, no matter how you feel the school is responding. |
the school says they have a BIP and the behaviors stopped when the child’s placement changed. I have no illusions about how well schools address behavioral problems. but in my experience, teachers often make it much worse by not implementing the BIP. |
Sometimes a BIP is so difficult to implement it isn't possible. Sometimes sped "teams" consist of people (the school psych, the school social worker, the sped teacher who only works with 1-3 kids at a time) who have not had to deal with physically aggressive kids, alone, in a classroom of 20-30, with no support and the things they suggest for the BIP are so stupid. And they don't listen to the classroom teacher or they think we are being lazy. Like, dude, I want this kid to succeed just as much as you do, if not more, but often that means support in the form of another staff person in the room for that to happen. And that almost never happens. I'm so glad the teachers spoke up. I'm sick to death of hearing about colleagues being assaulted (in any way) by students. It is unacceptable. I was hit twice this year. I was very surprised that my typically amazing principal did nothing about this. |
Does violence require intent? Whether a kid is groping or punching a teacher, it is unacceptable, even if the child has developmental challenges. You protect the child, but you also protect the wellbeing of the adults. If the child cannot help himself from hurting others (and groping women is hurting them), s/he must be in physical constraints or another environment where they do not violate others. This happened repeatedly. It's not an accidental "indiscriminate" motor issue touch. Shame on you for excusing this kind of violation. |
Reading the article, I believe the teachers and think LCPS knows they screwed up badly and are in CYA mode. |
Groping people is hurting them. It would be okay to grab a male teacher’s junk either. |
+1 |
Ian Prior, nonverbal young one, used a BIP, placed in another class and new group said they saw no sign of it, sharing this student's private information to be used as a pawn. These things all make their story suspect. Generally I lean more on the teacher's side but not with this case. |
Sharing student information is a huge violation. At the same time I realize how damaging having students in the wrong placement can be and I think it’s good when that is brought to light. It has happened to me every year of my career where a student with very different needs is placed into my classroom and we can’t give them the support they need. The result is that people get hurt. |
I don’t agree with you. I’ve worked direct care with very low functioning people and I can definitely see how this sort of thing could be unintentional. None of us has enough information to judge. There are two polar views on the nature of the conduct and one of the parties is respecting the studs t’s rights and privacy by not discussing things publicly. |