Schools disproportionately use corporal punishment with students with disabilities, according to a joint report from Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union titled, "Impairing Education". According to the report, public schools used corporal punishment with about 19% of public school students with disabilities during the 2006-2007 academic year, although these students make up only 14% of the total population.
Although some instances of corporal punishment were unrelated to the child’s disability, the report found that some schools punished some students for “conduct related to their disabilities, including students with Tourette syndrome being punished for exhibiting involuntary tics and students with autism being punished for repetitive behaviors”, according to the ACLU website.
Although most states have laws prohibiting corporal punishment in schools, 20 states permit it, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. However, some school districts in these states do ban corporal punishment.
Community and individual reactions to proposed bans vary widely, from full support to support for continued use of physical punishment. It is likely that personal experiences and fears about school violence play a role in the varied perspectives. Clearly with or without bans, school personnel need more training in anger management, behavior modification, about disabilities, and the symptoms of various medical conditions.
SOURCE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/education/11punish.html?_r=1&ref=education
RELATED:
American Civil Liberties Union Children’s Rights Section:
http://www.aclu.org/intlhumanrights/childrensrights/40676prs20090810.html
Human Rights Watch, “Impairing Education”
http://www.hrw.org/en/node/84946/section/2
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/education/11punish.html?_r=1&ref=education
RELATED:
American Civil Liberties Union Children’s Rights Section:
http://www.aclu.org/intlhumanrights/childrensrights/40676prs20090810.html
Human Rights Watch, “Impairing Education”
http://www.hrw.org/en/node/84946/section/2
21 comments:
That is really apalling to read this article on the punishment related to ones disabilities. Some teachers who are put in charge of these special ones with disabilities are usually not qualified enough with the particular disability. I have been in a high school where a teacher was leading special ed. children to lunch. For some reason a child got out of line, with the teacher not seeing any authority around yanked him by the arm to discipline him. It outraged me and I went to office and reported it. I feel these people need to be monitored at times for the need of our children. Rebecca GRiffith
I think this is insane...aren't teachers suppose to be there for support, especially children with disabilities? And I can't believe there are people who still support corporal punishment in schools! I think there are better ways to TEACH a child to behave, the use of physical force, in my opinion, will not make the child understand that what he/she is doing is wrong, especially a child with a disability. I agree with the arcticle- more training is needed on how to effectively handle these situations. We hear all these stories, which are REAL, on teachers even killing some children using restaring and seclusion. What more needs to happen before schools realize that physical force is not the solution?
-Claraly Pena
REHS 6300
This is a shock to me upon reading this article. First of all I thought that that corporal punishment was illegal in all the states, apparently it does. And then how could authoritative figures in the school districts punish children with disabilities just because of their disability. I believe that those teachers should get punished for their actions...
This is a shock to me upon reading this article. First of all I thought that that corporal punishment was illegal in all the states, apparently it does. And then how could authoritative figures in the school districts punish children with disabilities just because of their disability. I believe that those teachers should get punished for their actions...
A personal note I did not add to the original blog post... one of my family members has Tourette Syndrome. The thought of him being punished for his tics haunts me... all it would take would be one uninformed or impatient teacher and so much damamge could be done.
I agree completly with teachers getting more traing in anger management, retraint and getting be educated with different disabilities. If these teahers would just take the time to educate themselves with a child's specific disability they would have a better understanding of what the child is going through and that the disability is not a child's fault nor the symptoms that accompany the disability. If this were done I'm sure that one's decision on punishing a student with a disability would change.
It is sad to hear about types of punishments especially having a disability. I really do believe that there has to be more training and educate all types of disability that might have to use some type of restraining or have some type of punishment that wont be harmful. I also was a witness in a special education class where the director of the special education where she restrained in a bad way. There are ways to handle situation the propper way but there has to be training.
This is horrible. I am actually embarrased to be living in a state where they still allow corporal punishment. This kind of punishment towards children with disabilities is just plain mean. How can someone hurt innocent children. The tourret's syndrom and autism children do not deserve to be treated like this just because they can not control their body movements. I dont understand why the school districts allow this to happen. And why dont they put cameras in the rooms of ALLLLLLL the special education classrooms so that the district can see whats going on with the children who can not defend themselves nor speak up about abuse. There should be a law for this.
Aissa S.
The percentage of 19 percent is extremely high of the corporal punishment that is occuring in public schools. Punishment of children especially "children with disabilities should be totally banned. It is fustrating to see in todays society all the abuse that occurrs. I attended a school event and there was a special education classroom with childrem with severe disabilities. I recalll my fustration of the way the children were treated. It was apparent the lcak of education of the "teacher and the aides of having lack of experience and knowledge in physically handleing the children. I strongly feel that the education system is in need of further funding in this area to provide further training in the medical conditions and disabilities. Training in rehabilitation to work with the children. I relize the challanges they may encounter daily but there is no reason to take it out on the children. There has to be a system implemented to supervis the educators to avoid corporal punishment.
Tina Casares
REHS 6300
This just goes to show the lack of training and education these so called "educators" actually receive. To punish a child with Tourettes for an involuntary tic is horrendous. Apparently, these people do not have enough knowledge, patience or heart to be around these children let alone teach!
Jeanette G.
This is outrageous i can not believe that things like this still happen at least in such a public setting. What s that saying to children with disabilities ? hide your disabilities or get physically abused this subject realy needs to be brought to the forefront in terms of education reform
This is outrageous i can not believe that things like this still happen at least in such a public setting. What s that saying to children with disabilities ? hide your disabilities or get physically abused this subject realy needs to be brought to the forefront in terms of education reform
-Pete Castaneda III
REHS 6300
This article really gets my blood boiling it’s a very appalling to read this article on the punishment related to ones disabilities. How can any person that goes into education, do this, don’t they understand that the children have a disability and they don’t do behavior in purpose. It is good to hear that most states have laws to prohibit such behavior by educators, but that law really should be enforced more if states such as Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming allow it in there schools. I would say this if corporal punishment is discovered in any school for actions that are caused by a physical or mental disability then that school district should lose all federal funding. Maybe by the school district knowing that they will lose the funding they so much really on to survive, they will enforce the laws of no corporal punishment in there schools. The reason I feel so strong about this and it gets me so anger is because I’m coming from a parent that has a child with a disability and that disability can sometimes seem to some people as bad or improper behavior, but I have learned that my son does not do it on purpose its just automatic actions that he is unable to control.
Juan Leija
I can't believe that teachers/faculty from schools are actually doing this. When I read the section where it stated that some schools punished students for “conduct related to their disabilities" it made me angry. How can schools allow this. I really think that school faculty should be informed/educated about the different types of disabilites. When I think about it, I have seen it here in the valley in some schools. I don't think that its ethically right to do something like this to a child with a disability. Teachers are suppose to have compassion, not the opposite.
alina l. REHS 6300
What! These children cannot control what they do. I dont understand why people are so ignorant and choose to ignore this!
Education towards disablity needs to be made known. It upsets me to hear this. I was placed in special ed when i was younger due to my lack of speech (stuttoring problem) Teachers or adminstrators did not know what to do with me, i mean c'mon 1990s and they they I have mental retardation. This was probably the best experience for i was able to meet alot of great people who have stayed in my life and my views on disabilities have been molded because of that. If teachers, administration and general public were more educated on disbailities proper adjustments could be made and discirmination can be avoided.
Gabby S.
I feel that more education is needed in the treatment of children with disabilities in the school setting. While special education teachers usually have the qualifications, they are not always the only people that the child interacts with throughout the day. Many people that do not have knowledge in this area, look for physical signs of disability. When a regular education teacher, a substitute, or even a principal sees a child in the hallway that looks no different than any other child, but refuses to obey,what does he/she dO? As a school teacher myself, I believe that there is a need for training and staff development for all faculty and staff in schools.
MGARZA
It is very unfortunate to know that schools have faculty that are not properly educated to assit individuals with dissabilities in their education. After reading these stats, i am really surprised that the corporal punishedment is even administered as a behavioral model of discipline. I know that if i were a parent of these students that were punished, i would be outraged and would hope that something would be done to deal with this issue.
Eddie Reyes.
As an educator for the past eight years, I was dismayed as I read the rest the actual study.
“In 2006, 10,222 students with disabilities were subjected to corporal punishment and Texas is ranked the eight highest state for use of corporal punishment.”
I am aware that our campus did use corporal punishment for students that did not have documented disabilities. However, only our school Principal was allowed to use it after numerous (documented) behavior interventions took place.
Then, although not required, the Principal called the parents in to sign a permission slip and told to be witnesses. I was shocked to read the story of one particular child who was still spanked even after the parents signed a paper stating that they did not want corporal punishment used for their child.
As I kept on reading the study, I kept asking myself “How could this happen?” I was disappointed to read that The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) does not address discipline! In fact, the George B. Administration took the position that corporal punishment is not prohibited.
As an educator, and future Rehabilitation Counselor, I find this unacceptable. Therefore, I looked into some of alternatives to corporal punishment recommended by the researchers.
The authors of the study have recommended the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS). I am please to see that this website has tools for parents, educators and administrators! I hope that it is ok for me to provide a link to the website:
http://www.pbis.org/default.aspx
B. Ramirez
6300
Not only is this outrageously shocking, I don't think I've been this disappointed in a long time. As someone who used to be a teacher, I know that it is our duty to help our students develop socially, educationally, and personality wise. We are supposed to help them grow, not hinder them. Absolutely no good can come from abusing children with disabilities by physically punishing them. It is abuse because they are put in a vulnerable position, completely helpless. Tourette syndrome is not a disability that can be fixed with physical punishment. We should help children with disabilities not impede their ability to learn, evolve and lead in society.
L.M.de Lastra
This article was very interesting because it highlighted a problem with kids being disproportionately punished if they have a disability. It was found that they were using corporal punishment on students with disabilities of about 19% of the students with disabilities. Children being punished because of a disability a shameful and I cannot believe that in today’s society we are still allowing what we call teaching professionals to physically punish the student. This amounts to the same thing is abuse and these people should be put out of our school system and in some cases they should probably be put in jail. Punishing the student for having Tourette syndrome is plain ridiculous because the child cannot control their disability at all times and dealing with a disability as a teacher is part of accommodations for that student. There should be a law in our Federal government banning corporal punishment for individuals with disabilities in school.
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