Aug 19, 2019, Missourian: Columbia schools policy committee discusses restraint of children and recording of teachers https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/columbia-schools-policy-committee-discusses-restraint-of-children-and-recording/article_3c5df23c-c289-11e9-8fed-2fdabb46fcb3.html Members of the Columbia School Board’s policy committee Monday continued discussions on two contentious issues: when teachers can restrain students and when parents can record teachers. But it’s not clear when either might be heading to a vote by the full board. The policy discussion on use of restraint in schools comes as the Columbia School District is facing a lawsuit over the seclusion and restraint of a kindergarten student. Andrew Hirth, the attorney representing the family, said the case is proceeding after a judge ruled against the district’s motion to dismiss it. No trial date has been set yet. … …. The school district’s seclusion, isolation and restraint policy describes when those measures can be used with children; it also includes requirements for training district personnel and notifying parents. Schools already are required to notify parents or guardians, either in writing or verbally, the same day their child has been restrained, isolated or secluded. School officials are discussing how soon the district would be required to provide a fuller, written report. The draft policy proposes that it be provided within 10 days. But during the policy meeting, Superintendent Peter Stiepleman proposed giving the district leeway to take more than 10 days, “if an extension is needed.” …
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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