tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post6224660135824688931..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: It's Not About Law And Order, It's About Love And RespectTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-68106822467246842322014-11-12T12:20:23.647-08:002014-11-12T12:20:23.647-08:00267, 000 times in 2012. That is terrifying and so...267, 000 times in 2012. That is terrifying and so sad. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-662277568489383822014-11-12T07:13:40.852-08:002014-11-12T07:13:40.852-08:00Thank you for writing this post. First of all, I w...Thank you for writing this post. First of all, I want to let your readers know that the situation at your former student's school is being addressed officially by the school district as well as by some very brave parents. Changes are happening.<br /><br />But it's far from over. This can happen, and I'm sure IS happening, anywhere where adults regard certain children as "dangerous," either because of their disability, their behavior (often related to a disability), or even because of their race or culture. <br /><br />Prejudice is at the root of it all, and we parents unconsciously feed it when we take a narrow approach to our own child's safety. Maybe we complain to our children's principal or teacher about "THAT kid" whose behavior we imagine is stopping our child's learning. Maybe we could consider a different approach, one that takes "THAT kid's" needs and safety into consideration, too. Because it's a lot easier for awful things to happen to a child in school when the adults view that child as Other.<br /><br />I have worked with elementary schoolers with emotional/behavioral disabilities and I have been trained in how to perform physical restraints that are (I guess compared to all the other horrible things a stressed-out, frightened or angry adult could do) safe for the child. Like you, Tom, I have only used them when the child was in imminent danger (trying to jump out a second story window), or when it was part of his plan and actually did help him calm down. <br /><br />But I can say from first hand experience...restraint is only marginally effective at best. And it feels absolutely awful to do. It tears your soul. The numbers show that there are actually higher rates of injuries at schools where restraints are performed. There are better ways to deescalate a child. <br /><br />And this isn't just me being all crunchy-granola. Even the school district's official training program has a heavy emphasis on using antecedent management, calm voice, non-threatening body language, empathy for the child, and a whole host of stuff you'd have hoped was common knowledge.<br /><br />But as long as we view certain children as "dangerous," we parents are unconsciously feeding a culture of consequences that only serve to increase the child's stress levels and rob him of the self-awareness he needs to realize that he is CAPABLE of making good choices.<br /><br />ALL of our fingerprints are on this too. If this isn't happening at your school, it's quite likely happening at the school where "THAT kid" got sent after enough of you complained about him.<br /><br />Let's please be mindful of our roles as parents in our school communities. ALL children matter.Floor Piehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06533240227865369012noreply@blogger.com