Spec Ed Teacher & Aides Removed From NY Autism Program
This is my idea of a potentially nightmarish situation.
A special education teacher and several aides in a public school autism program have been removed and temporarily replaced, and the assistance of the police department has been requested. The program, the Bridge Program, is located at Mahopac Falls Elementary School in New York. According to an article in today’s Journal News, after allegations first reached school officials on March 23, some staff members were removed by the afternoon; three more staff members were removed this past Tuesday, April 10. There are twelve children in the classroom, aged 6-8.
Stacy Mason, whose son is in the Bridge class, said there has been a lot of interaction between parents and school officials since the allegations arose.
Police have asked parents not to talk about the case, she said.
“For now, it’s just a really volatile situation,” Mason said. “I don’t know what to say about it. I loved that class.”
The Journal News also notes that, while some parents have expressed concerns (of what sort is not specified) in the past, other parents have praised it.
I almost would rather not learn about what the police investigation finds out, in this case.
4 opinions for Spec Ed Teacher & Aides Removed From NY Autism Program
Phil
Apr 14, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Keep us up to date with this one, Kristina. I share your dread.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Apr 14, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I’ll be checking—-what would be hard for me would be having to send a child back into the program after such allegations.
Zaecus
Apr 20, 2007 at 1:45 am
The most disturbing part of this, to me, is ‘Allegations of what?’
It’s been nearly a week, and we still have no idea. I’m all for privacy of the children and, believe it or not, not defaming someone who may not be guilty of wrongdoing, but as you say, there’s a lot of worry surrounding sending a child into a program that’s been vaguely accused of criminal wrongdoing, had so many people pulled from it, and then… utter silence.
NY educators plead not guilty
Jun 13, 2007 at 7:35 pm
[…] pleaded not guilty to all counts of child endangerment, the June 13th Hudson News resports. Back in April, the teacher, Tammy Card; aides Joseph Levy and Lorrie Reynolds; and a speech teacher, Joyce […]
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