When a child’s behavior suddenly changes, it could be a sign of abuse. In a New Orleans School, Abuse is Policy
by: Craig Wiesner on July 16th, 2010 | 7 Comments »
I recently attended a training session for adults who work with children in our faith community. The training included the signs people should look for that might indicate that a child has been abused. For example, a six year old boy who was always happy, outgoing, and loved playing outside with his friends, suddenly withdraws, only wants to stay in his room, doesn’t want to go to school… Could that be a sign of abuse? Yes. And in New Orleans the abuse he suffered at the hands of adults responsible for his care at school was MANDATED by the school.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is filing a suit against the school system:
Children at an elementary school in New Orleans are subjected to unlawful seizures and arrests – including handcuffing and shackling – for minor violations of school rules, according to a class action lawsuit filed today by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL).
The suit was filed on behalf of a first-grade student who was brutally handcuffed and shackled to a chair by an armed security officer after he argued with another youth over a seat in the lunchroom at Sarah T. Reed Elementary School. The school is part of the Louisiana Recovery School District.
The boy, known as J.W. in the court filing, was just 6 years old when the incident occurred on May 6. He had previously been handcuffed and shackled for a similar incident. School officials told the boy’s father that the arrest and seizure was required under school rules.
I’m sure there are circumstances we can all imagine where a child might have to be restrained, but handcuffing and shackling a child for breaking any school rules is ridiculous, immoral, and obscene. The school system should not only be held liable for this but the adult employees who abused this child should be prosecuted for assault and battery. The scars of this abuse will be difficult to heal and schools and those who work in them across the country need to get a clear message that this kind of abuse will not be tolerated.
Please consider supporting the Southern Poverty Law Center as they take this case through the courts. And… if any child in your life has a sudden change in behavior, becomes withdrawn, loses his or her spark, doesn’t want to do things he or she liked doing before, consider the possibility that something traumatic has happened to that child and make sure that the child gets some help.
Such behavior toward a child is immoral, unwise, uncalled for and almost undoubtedly illegal,and any Statute illegal per se.
Children need to be gently guided along logical, lines toward exhibition of their scientifical ly DOCUMENTED innate goodness. They need to be carefullly helped to quietly and patiently negotiate their differences. The other child involved must also be involved in this process. Any rule permitting the forcedul seizure of a child MUST be removed from the Rule Book. Those who administered this torture/ injustice/ deprivation of rights must stand responsible and undertake psychological treatment.
Handcuffing this child is barbaric, and I hope an easy lawsuit to win. What stands out to me is that this horrific policy is the magnified image of all school discipline policies. I have seen my daughter’s spirit slowly wither from teachers who routinely raise their voices in scornful or angry tones. Her values for nature, imagination and justice have been subtly and consistently pushed down. The situation is less extreme, perhaps because this is a relatively wealthy school, but I don’t think a sudden change is the only indicator of abuse. What might my child be like surrounded by love at school?
Sometimes forced restraint is the most loving action that can be taken for all concerned. Handcuffing is not barbaric. There are many children with ADHD who need special supportive treatment, and this might be such a child. We do not have enough information to make the kinds of judgments that have possibly been made in abandon here. Love is more than kind smiles. Love means helping in the best, and sometimes the only way possible to bring the situation undercontrol. The child is not bad for what he may have done. He just needs guidence, which often starts with forcibly stopping his/her excesses, when the child is mentally unable to do so themselves.
Dear Georgianne,
While I could be convinced that some form of restraint is sometimes needed for certain situations, in this case, the parents were told that ALL infractions of rules in that school REQUIRED that the child be handcuffed and shackled.
The legal action brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center is an excellent example of their important and good work. The suit should require that the New Orleans school superintendent, school principal, and responsible teacher be summarily dismissed from their jobs. The earlier remark re: ADHD students is stupid. The assumption is that ADHD students don’t have the capacity to understand behavior limitations, so let’s just handcuff and shackle them. Really stupid!
Hank,
I agree. What often perplexes me is when people get furious at organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU. Why get mad at them? All they’re really doing is asking “Is this behavior legal?” Judges and juries then have the opportunity to decide. Rarely, from my perspective, have cases brought by these organizations been frivolous or malicious. We have a great system in the United States (though flawed of course), where people who believe they’ve been harmed can address their concerns in court.
The Southern Poverty Law Center should check out the whole state, not just New Orleans. Corporal punishment by the principal is allowed by law in many school districts in Louisiana.