Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412220031
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ELIZABETH PAULL
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Not only do some parents find that inclusion doesn't meet the needs of their particular disabled child, but most people don't realize that, in addition to physical and mental disabilities, the law classifies behavior as a handicap. As a result, students who cannot function in a ``normal'' school setting also have a ``right'' to an education.
A small minority within this group exhibits violent behavior, both verbal and physical. By the time you get to the secondary-school level, that translates to a student with a long history of violence whose ``absolute'' right to an education seems to override the basic rights of everyone else in the school environment.
When the public wonders what's happened to discipline in public schools, it needs only to look at the vast web of regulations, laws and court rulings that overwhelm public educators.
You send the wrong message to the general school population when one or two individuals act at will, and little or no consequences appear to result because, under the law, these few repeatedly have a different and more forgiving due process as a result of their "handicap!'' Violent episodes get soft-pedaled in the trend to keep every child in school, and these few continue to stay in the general school population much longer than anyone should tolerate.
When I, as a teacher, have to think twice about correcting on school grounds a student whom I don't know because I'm not sure what kind of extreme response I may get, then a serious problem exists. I have an absolute responsibility for the safety of all my students, to keep them free from verbal and physical abuse. I cannot do that in an atmosphere where, potentially, I'm also threatened. The Disabilities Education Act goes a long way to undermine the authority I need to do my job. When you have different standards, then you have no standards at all.
Unfortunately, the actions of a few continue to draw a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources away from the central focus of public education. I went to college for a lot of reasons. And being a teacher requires that I wear several hats, but I don't recall any real training as a mental-hospital orderly.
This particular situation has the potential for very tragic results. Unfortunately, that may happen before parents of children with reasonable needs or manageable problems realize the rights and expectations they assumed they have don't fully exist.
Elizabeth Paull of Troutville is a teacher in Roanoke County.
by CNB