On Tuesday, May 19, the House Committee on Education and Labor will hold a hearing to examine abusive and deadly uses of seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools. Seclusion and restraint are physical interventions used by teachers and other school staff to prevent students from hurting themselves or others.
On Wednesday, May 20, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will testify before the House Education and Labor Committee about President Obama’s agenda for transforming American education. This will mark Secretary’s first appearance on Capitol Hill to outline the President’s education goals.
On Thursday, May 21, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine proposals that will make historic increases in college aid by enacting reforms that will make the nation’s federal student loan programs more reliable, effective and efficient for students, families and taxpayers.
One of the proposals the committee will examine is President Obama’s FY 2010 budget proposal, which would increase the Pell Grant scholarship and other forms of student aid by almost $100 billion over ten years – and at no cost to taxpayers. The President’s plan would be paid for by ending the subsidies the federal government currently pays to lenders in the federally-guaranteed student loan programs and re-directing those savings back into additional aid for low- and middle-income students.
On Wednesday, May 20, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will testify before the House Education and Labor Committee about President Obama’s agenda for transforming American education. This will mark Secretary’s first appearance on Capitol Hill to outline the President’s education goals.
On Thursday, May 21, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine proposals that will make historic increases in college aid by enacting reforms that will make the nation’s federal student loan programs more reliable, effective and efficient for students, families and taxpayers.
One of the proposals the committee will examine is President Obama’s FY 2010 budget proposal, which would increase the Pell Grant scholarship and other forms of student aid by almost $100 billion over ten years – and at no cost to taxpayers. The President’s plan would be paid for by ending the subsidies the federal government currently pays to lenders in the federally-guaranteed student loan programs and re-directing those savings back into additional aid for low- and middle-income students.
There was an article in Newsweek a few weeks ago about an elementary school principal in a small southern town who uses a paddle for disciplining students. In other cases, the physical discipline is not mandated like this, yet is done anyway. The teachers who are certified to work with students who have special needs are trained to deal with emotional outbursts. Yet, some teachers have been known to sit on students who are a fraction of their weight. The students can't breathe. Some have died or suffered brain damage from oxygen deprivation.
Causing pain and embarrassment to a special needs student does not alter the pattern of behavior of the student. However, it can do permanent damage to that child emotionally, as if the child hasn't already been dealt a difficult enough hand in life.
In these tough economic times we need to remember that our obligations to the weakest and youngest in our society are still just as important as ever. This issue needs to be looked at and taken seriously. And, anyone who tries to protect a teacher who is physically abusing a student should be dealt with in the strictest of ways. These children deserve no less.
Thank you to Chairman Miller for shining a light on the abusive restraint and seclusion practices that are being perpetrated on students with disabilities in classrooms across this country every day. It is high time to end the victimization and enforce both the civil and human rights our kids deserve.
Thank you to everyone who is working to shed light to these issues. Too many children have lost their dignity as a result of abuse and neglect from those who are supposed to be there to care for them. And far too many have died. It is time for change!