Ockhamism in a Real World

As the Lord wept for Jerusalem . . .

I was a substitute teacher again today. I weep for Kentucky.

It was an emotionally disturbed class of first and second graders. OK, they do not call it that anymore (it's EBD now), but we all know it's the kids who can't behave in a normal classroom.

It started off well. Then the kids showed up. One child, upon entering the room visibly crying, went right for the scissors. The teacher's aid next to him took them, then the child went for the pincushion. He threw pins at other students, then began stabbing himself with a pin, screaming that he was going to kill himself and using profanity. I began to wonder why there were any sharps in the room at all . . .

Then the disturbing thing happened . . .

I wrestled the pin from the child, and the teacher's aid picked up the child and threw (yes, threw) him into "the time-out box". "The time-out box" is a small padded room built into the corner, without lights. The child was locked in the box for seven timed minutes, screaming and kicking the walls.

The day had many other highlights, including getting a mouthful of food spit into my face and several kicks, but that such a thing as "the time-out box" is used on children, that ruined my day.

I am not trained in education. I am not part of the NEA. I have not been trained in the education of special needs children. Yet I am still qualified to say that "the time-out box" is AWFUL. Human persons, especially those who lack love and attention in their homes, deserve better.

MADNESS!!! Sad, madness!

Posted by Jake at April 19, 2004 07:48 PM | TrackBack