One has to wonder about the people in the education industry. Instead of serving their clients (who are children than cannot speak for themselves), they are only interested in self-serving easy solutions, and protecting themselves against liability. Lobbyists have been pushing the cosponsors of the Miller bill to weaken the legislation so that it is almost useless. At this point, they have already convinced the politicians to craft the legislation so parents have no recourse if their children are killed or maimed by school personnel as the result of using restraints.
This comes as a total slap in the face to the brave parents that came forth to testify at the Congressional hearings. While Anne Gaydos was able to settle for some damages for her daughter Paige, foster parent, Toni Price here was not even allowed to press charges for the death of her foster son Cedric. His killer is still out there and has worked for several schools around children.
To make matters worse, education lobbyists are pushing to still allow restraint and seclusion to be written into Individual Education Plans (IEP). The federal laws states that a positive behavior plan is supposed to be in place for any child with undesirable behaviors. WHY aren't they insisting positive behavior plans be written into the IEP instead?
If a parent used any of the methods advocated by educational lobbyists, Children's Protective Services (CPS) would be called, the children would be taken away and the parent would be jailed, As the situation stands now, even CPS can't charge school personnel with abuse even if they are caught red handed. It is time to hold schools accountable to the same laws parents, caregivers and babysitters are. Let Congress know this. Make them pass a law that protects children NOT administrators.
Take Action! Call or Email Congress
When you call or write, be sure to include the bill’s name, “The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act,” and its number (H.R. 4247).
Telephone/TTY: Call your Congressional Representative at 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904). This is the switchboard, so you will need to know your Representative’s name. When you are connected, ask for the aide who handles education or disability. If you get voicemail, please leave a message. You can also find direct dial numbers, fax numbers, and local numbers on your Representative’s webpage at http://www.house.gov.
Email: If you need to use email, go to www.house.gov/writerep for the House of Representatives. A call is always best because it is personal, but email is helpful too.
Find Out Who Your Congressional Representative is: If you do not know who your Congressional Representative is, go to www.house.gov and put your zip code into the box in the upper left corner. (You usually only need your five digit zip code.)
Comments
I'd appreciate an explanation of how it is known what educational lobbyists have been doing. Are they testifying? Is there a record, or what data is out there that indicates that this is happening. I truly understand how the Education Industry is organized enough to do this, but could you provide more facts? It would help rally more action if people understood how this is happening.
Hi Deb,
Lobbyists don't testify, lobbyists are paid by the industry to make appointments with the reps to get their points accross. They also may be offering financing contibutions for campaigns. They DO decide who they want their campaign dollars to go. Children on the other hand do not vote and do not have money. They can only depend on non profit advocacy organizations or individuaal citizens who do not have $$ to contibute to campaigns. COPAA (Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys) has been trying to lobby for a proper law but they are out numbered and out financed.
If you want so see the testimony of school personel click on the blue link in the article above where it says "congressional hearings".
This bill would give much-needed protection to thousands of children who live in states with no regulations regarding restraint & seclusion. However, for children with the most severe behavioral challenges, the inability to have a written behavior plan could literally be a death sentence. I have students who try to beat themselves black and blue, bite through their own skin, tear out their hair, smash their heads on the floor until they bleed... and they try to do these things many times per day. The safe way to protect kids who go into such severe crises so often is to have a written plan developed with parents and WITH PARENT APPROVAL. When a child bites himself and the blood is already flowing, there can't be any hesitation or any question about exactly what to do to protect that child. All my students' behavior plans contain numerous positive strategies, but they also include written instructions for crisis management and we get full parental consent first.
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