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And in Tampa....

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Misty

Misty

Banned
Look closely. That’s a preschool child, duct taped to his mat at nap time. A teacher snapped the picture, shocked at what she saw. She then quit her job. This was apparently the final straw in a series of other disturbing things happening to the kids at the daycare.

Tampa Bay news, weather forecast, radar, and sports from WTVT-TV - FOX 13 News

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Go spend a day in an inclusion classroom. I have. Not advocating this at all, but when you have a child or more in a classroom that hits, kicks, bites, punches other children, destroys classroom materials (computers,laptops, toys, books) it's VERY challenging. The teachers in those classrooms are under way more stress than a teacher in a non-inclusion classroom. On top of trying to teach, they have to keep daily records and stats on the inclusion children. It's extremely difficult to stay on top of all their 'requirements', try to teach all the other children, all while you have one or two children screaming at the top of their lungs because another child looked at them. The toughest job in education is VPKD. Voluntary Pre-kindergarten w/Disabilities. It is EXHAUSTING! And it is not pretty. And it is not fun to have to restrain a child that is out of control and doesn't even know he's out of control. There are methods to the madness though and even though it looks cruel, it's not physically hurting the child. School is possibly safer than home for a lot of these kids if you think about it. It is an ugly truth.
 
I wasn't able to see the article so I don't know what the circumstances were in this situation. But according to Misty this is a preschool situation. I've volunteered in a preschool setting and this would have never been even considered an option under any circumstances. Ever. If it had been I would have removed my child immediately.

The teacher would have sat next to the child and rubbed his back and made him feel safe, which we did often for the ones that needed it. If something was wrong and the child was not able to stay in one place during nap time, the teacher would either find something else for the child to do or call the parent to pick up the child, depending.

The teacher is responsible for creating a safe, secure and wonderful environment for learning, playing, engaging, napping, etc.

I can't imagine how restraining a child to enforce a nap would ever be acceptable.
 
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I couldn't read the article either and i don't feel it's acceptable either Teresa. I'm just saying it's really hard on the teachers tasked with this type of classroom. There are two teachers per inclusion class. But what if you have 4 or 5 or more children on the spectrum that decide today is the day I'm going for broke and no one is having a good day? Those teachers literally walk on eggshells because the slightest change in routine for some children is a 7 hour tantrum. And don't forget they have other children to teach as well. It's very difficult too when parents send their children to school and they aren't potty trained, then you're also changing diapers and/or assisting in the bathroom trying to teach at school what should be done at home. There are lazy ass parents out there...so as soon as their child is of pre-K age, they're sending them regardless of the child's needs. A pre-KD teacher needs about 4 or 5 stunt doubles. I wouldn't take that job for anything, but I have the highest respect for teachers that do.
 
sunspotbaby said:
Go spend a day in an inclusion classroom. I have. Not advocating this at all, but when you have a child or more in a classroom that hits, kicks, bites, punches other children, destroys classroom materials (computers,laptops, toys, books) it's VERY challenging. The teachers in those classrooms are under way more stress than a teacher in a non-inclusion classroom. On top of trying to teach, they have to keep daily records and stats on the inclusion children. It's extremely difficult to stay on top of all their 'requirements', try to teach all the other children, all while you have one or two children screaming at the top of their lungs because another child looked at them. The toughest job in education is VPKD. Voluntary Pre-kindergarten w/Disabilities. It is EXHAUSTING! And it is not pretty. And it is not fun to have to restrain a child that is out of control and doesn't even know he's out of control. There are methods to the madness though and even though it looks cruel, it's not physically hurting the child. School is possibly safer than home for a lot of these kids if you think about it. It is an ugly truth.
Click to expand...

For someone who isn't advocating this type behavior, you have used an entire paragraph to justify it!

THERE IS NO EXCUSE!
 
Yep, we changed diapers, the kids were babies and up to age three. Part of the job was helping potty train, working as a team with families. But these were not children with behavior problems or disabilities to speak of, though there were definitely behavior issues as the kids are so young. Highly trained teachers and Assistants made for a great learning environment for these tiny people, totally centered on positive learning for the kids and also education for families.

In our school, the child can not move up to the 3-6 program without certain skills such as potty trained. So it was in all our interest to support that child, that family and create a successful experience for everyone. It starts with highly trained teachers for leadership and oversight and carried out by a team of staff, volunteers and family. So many ways to ensure success for the child, and to involve families. I'm afraid that preschools today may be just a business without the necessary infrastructure of education and trained staff, beautiful environment, or mission for great education. A preschooler comes to school with an incredibly absorbent and amazing mind, regardless of his home life. The teacher has a huge responsibility to respect that and deliver the right education environment.

If we're talking environments that include children with disabilities then those developmental skill levels and timetables will be very different for certain children.. Teacher experience and training is so important. And the positive, safe, secure education environment is always necessary for success...for every class.
 
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I'm not justifying it. I just tried to give an idea of what an inclusion classroom is like. Go visit one. Go help in one. And when that kid throws a punch at your kid and your kid is traumatized everyday by that kid, what do you do? My post is based on personal experience. And my personal feeling is that inclusion maybe is not the best idea for some children. In fact at 3 yrs. old, school is not the best idea for some children. period.
 
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