VA- 6-YEAR-OLD is in custody after shooting teacher

[airportwoman]

I have a friend who is at her wits' end right now with her school district and her special needs son. It's completely overwhelming. I really feel for parents like this.

I sure hope her child is not dangerous. Even kids who have disabilities, but aren't, can face huge challenges.

 

[Simply Southern]

Teacher who allegedly was shot by 6-year-old has been released from the hospital as child's family issues first statement | CNN

The statement comes on the same day officials announced Richneck Elementary School teacher Abby Zwerner, who was wounded in the January 6 classroom shooting, has been released from the hospital.

Hear from grandmother who gave CPR to teacher allegedly shot by 6-year-old student

My heart breaks for the young, beautiful teacher. CPR, 13 days in a hospital, the injury must be very severe. Her whole life changed in seconds, there must be accountability.

 

[Laughing]

I know I’ll more than likely be in the minority here for saying what I’m about to say, and I totally understand why most be opposed to it, but I truly believe that schools would benefit from metal detectors. Would going through one every single morning be wildly inconvenient for students and staff with piercings, keys, etc? To the utmost degree. Would it reduce a place of education to a prison? I mean, no more than it does an airport! Ultimately, I just feel the negative connotations and whatnot might be worth overlooking if it means potentially saving lives.

/JMO

I'm an itinerant educator and am in & out of different school districts most days of the week.

The metal detectors become No Big Deal in about a week.

I tend to set them off, nutrition education involves cooking & cooking involves knives & other metal items. Sometimes an administrator or the SRO (School Resource Officer) comes to look at my knife collection, but after the first time I'm waved through.

The students think it's funny, and a few will wait around & joke about wagering whether or not I'll set the thing off this week. In one building, a student was clever enough to ask what we were preparing -- vegetables require a knife, yogurt doesn't.

But -- the students seem to accept the security systems.

Just my humble experience.

 

[sallye818]

Also interested to know when and by whom it was determined that it was now safe for this child to attend school without an accompanying parent.

 

[chipwhitley]

Wow, I have never heard of a parent accompanying their child to school! Here, that child would either be in a special education classroom or, if they were in a general ed classroom, they would have an aide to tend to their needs. I wonder what his disability is, although I doubt we'll ever find out.

 

[Arkay]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed>

<modsnip - response to quoted post> Why would any parent want their disabled child to attend a mainstream school so badly that they would attend the school with their child daily?. That is ridiculous.
Can we not imagine for a moment that for now, mainstream was their only option and the resources were not in place to help this family?. Why would a school agree to a parent attending with their child everyday?, my guess would be that there was no other choice.

Maybe we could wait for any facts to come to light before we judge and condemn these parents for wanting the best for their child, and clearly doing their best for him.

The gun being secure is a separate issue, and I agree with everyone else, it wasn't secure if he got hold of it.

I'm a retired NYC teacher.

Here there are thankfully many options for parents of children with learning and/or behavioral disabilities.

When I was a new teacher, "Special Ed." students and their teachers were segregated into their own wing in our school. This was policy across NYC.

About five years into my career, the policy became the "Least Restrictive Environment" and this population was mainstreamed into the General Ed. classrooms. From then on the students were heterogenous and it was common to have paraprofessionals as well as a Special Ed teacher working alongside me.
Different paras had different purposes, depending on the needs of the student. There were many "1-1" paras assigned to a particular student who needed extra supervision. The hard part was meeting with the Special Ed. teacher every day to draw up lesson plans with accommodations, since I also had to do that with the ELL (English Language Learners) teacher in a different class, and several lesson plans per day is a lot of work when we could never align our programs to meet often enough!

I taught 8th grade, and I have never had a student who was mandated, at that older age, to have a parent or legal guardian with him or her. That would be mortifying for a 13 or 14 year old.

It is not that difficult in NYC to get a child who needs help into Special Ed. I have a friend who lived in Puerto Rico and moved here just because she needed her child to have the appropriate services.

There are, though, particular schools which are called a "600" school. (The teachers there made $600 more annually, back when that was real money). Those schools were for older children who did exhibit violent behavior and whose least restrictive environment was deemed to be in a 600 school. I've known teachers who work in such schools, and they love those kids and work diligently to help them with all the staff and resources available.

It's patently obvious that if the child accessed the weapon, then the weapon was accessible.

Are the parents at fault? Right now they are victims and I imagine have endured much over this child whom they love. If they missed a step one day in securing the weapon, that will come out. Right now my heart breaks for all parties involved and I pray for the teacher's full recovery.

I have never taught such young children and have never known anyone who encountered a little child with a gun. I can't imagine how that would proceed legally in NYC.

ETA: I forgot to mention the last resort alternative for students who have not responded positively to years of intervention.
My friend's son, who had trouble controlling himself since toddlerhood, was sent in high school to a residential facility in upstate New York. While there he somehow cut down a tree branch and attacked a teacher with it. Eventually, thank God the environment, and the empathetic and trained personnel were able to help him succeed.

ALL of this was paid for by the NYC school system, and today he's a 38- year old wonderful man who works in animal rescue.

 

[airportwoman]

As a Virginian, I'm pretty sure, it maybe months, but we will hear. Moo..

I do feel for the parents and the frustration they feel for special need children. Over the years, we, as a state have disband special need classes in many school district. All children are main stream, have individual mental health workers with them the entire time. It's difficult for all, the special needs child, as other students.

Moo..

That's absolutely insane. There are many situations where mainstreaming is NOT appropriate, not just for the disabled child, but for the classmates too.

 

[mickey2942]

Interesting reading. I have never, ever heard of parents having to accompany their child to school every day. That isn't done. Normally.

If he is in Special Education, he would be eligible for an aide to assist him. If he isn't in Special Education, I still don't understand how the parents were escorting their child to school, but they stopped the day of the shooting?

Their child accessed a "secured" gun? Doesn't sound too secure to me. We had a gun safe, with a combination. I had no clue what the combo was, let alone our kids.

 

[Observant-ADHD-ENFP-BSc]

(Nutshell background: I was Born, grew up and went to school in the UK. Moved to Canada in 30s. I have experienced schools for myself and my children in the UK and my children in Canada)

In the UK, there are separate schools for mental and physical disabilities. I have known adults who attended them, and I have known parents of children who have attended them. Both the children and parents have had nothing but praise for them. They have 1-to-1 care and fantastic facilities with more than your average school. It is not to 'separate' the kids; it is so all kids get the individual education they need without any interference from each other's everyday activities.
Even back in the 80's remember, violent and reactive kids had an alternate school, and from a certain age, they did paid work experience 2-3 days a week.

In Canada, AFAIK and have seen children with mental and physical disabilities attend mainstream school, and there are several SEN teachers or assistants that spend mostly all day with the children; they also have IEPs, but it seems the classroom teachers have a sound support system with the SEN and each classroom has a TA.

What is the general plan for mental and physical disabilities in the U.S.? Does it vary from state to state?
ETA: AFAIK, each classroom has a TA.

 

[mickey2942]

@Observant-ADHD-ENFP-BSc Special Education is based on federal law, 94-142, that states are required to provide services to children with a disability.

We don't know if this child had a disability, or was covered under an IEP, Individualized Education Program.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

BTW, I am "ESTJ".

 

[fred&edna]

Are US public schools responsible for what a child does at home?

The gun was reportedly kept at the residence of the gun owner (his mother). The child did not obtain the gun at school... he wasn't given the gun by school teachers, aides, special education assistants, nor another student. This 6 yr old brought the gun from his home and (intentionally) shot his teacher. Information from LE and news sources explained that this shooting event fundamentally began in the child's home (when the child obtained the gun).

 

[Observant-ADHD-ENFP-BSc]

@Observant-ADHD-ENFP-BSc Special Education is based on federal law, 94-142, that states are required to provide services to children with a disability.

We don't know if this child had a disability, or was covered under an IEP, Individualized Education Program.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

BTW, I am "ESTJ".

The parent's statement said he had an 'acute disability,' so I was going from that.

Regarding the special education you mentioned, do you know what kind of services were provided? Does it include a 1-on-1 TA or SEN? I assume the parents having to attend school with him say they don't offer that. Could it be more refined in each state individually?

(BTW, I have several close friends who are ESTJ )

 

[airportwoman]

And (no?) thanks to FERPA, all information about a child's disabilities is to be kept confidential by the school staff.

 

[QB2022]

(Nutshell background: I was Born, grew up and went to school in the UK. Moved to Canada in 30s. I have experienced schools for myself and my children in the UK and my children in Canada)

In the UK, there are separate schools for mental and physical disabilities. I have known adults who attended them, and I have known parents of children who have attended them. Both the children and parents have had nothing but praise for them. They have 1-to-1 care and fantastic facilities with more than your average school. It is not to 'separate' the kids; it is so all kids get the individual education they need without any interference from each other's everyday activities.
Even back in the 80's remember, violent and reactive kids had an alternate school, and from a certain age, they did paid work experience 2-3 days a week.

In Canada, AFAIK and have seen children with mental and physical disabilities attend mainstream school, and there are several SEN teachers or assistants that spend mostly all day with the children; they also have IEPs, but it seems the classroom teachers have a sound support system with the SEN and each classroom has a TA.

What is the general plan for mental and physical disabilities in the U.S.? Does it vary from state to state?
ETA: AFAIK, each classroom has a TA.

<modsnip>
UK

Yes there are specialist schools but places are far outweighed by demand. The expectation is inclusion within mainstream. Specialist schools rarely provide 1-1 care, it is usually classes of 6-10 with 3-4 adults.

I have two of my own children with EHCPs (statutory support) who both receive a higher level of care in mainstream than they would in specialist. I also work in SEND services.

 

[realanastasia]

@Observant-ADHD-ENFP-BSc Special Education is based on federal law, 94-142, that states are required to provide services to children with a disability.

We don't know if this child had a disability, or was covered under an IEP, Individualized Education Program.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

BTW, I am "ESTJ".

The statement says the child suffered from an “acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.” I assumed that “care plan” was another way of saying IEP, but maybe it refers to something else (though I don’t know what that would be).

 

[mickey2942]

The statement says the child suffered from an “acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.” I assumed that “care plan” was another way of saying IEP, but maybe it refers to something else (though I don’t know what that would be).

I don't know either. It is very strange. I have been in education for decades, yes, that long! And have never seen parents required to provide care to their child at school.

If the child had a behavior disorder, the school has to provide resources for the child. Or look at a change in placement, from school to day treatment. He is probably at a residential treatment facility now, or maybe still inpatient at a children's psychiatric facility. Juvenile hall wouldn't have the resources for the level of treatment he needs.

All above is just my musings, as we don't know where the child is now.

 

[Simply Southern]

The statement says the child suffered from an “acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.” I assumed that “care plan” was another way of saying IEP, but maybe it refers to something else (though I don’t know what that would be).

I would hink most would call it a care plan, most likely developed from the IEP. The IEP is an official term, defined in the Code of Virginia, required for ALL special needs students.

Title 8. Education

law.lis.virginia.gov

. Responsibility. The local educational agency shall ensure that an IEP is developed and implemented for each child with a disability served by that local educational agency, including a child placed in a private special education school by: (34 CFR 300.112)

Snipped...
. IEP team.

1. General. The local educational agency shall ensure that the IEP team for each child with a disability includes: (34 CFR 300.321(a), (c) and (d))

a. The parent of the child;

 

[Simply Southern]

I don't know either. It is very strange. I have been in education for decades, yes, that long! And have never seen parents required to provide care to their child at school.

If the child had a behavior disorder, the school has to provide resources for the child. Or look at a change in placement, from school to day treatment. He is probably at a residential treatment facility now, or maybe still inpatient at a children's psychiatric facility. Juvenile hall wouldn't have the resources for the level of treatment he needs.

All above is just my musings, as we don't know where the child is now.

My thoughts....
Maybe the Behavior Health Therapist was out sick, or changed jobs and there was no one to replace the employee. Maybe the parents offered, maybe they were there to observe first hand. Those involved agreed to the arrangement and that maybe, it would be of benefit to the student.

I do know our newspapers are full of ads for Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP). Virginia required licensure about 10 years ago, requiring a Masters in specific studies. It became increasing difficult to find licensed staff. The need clearly outweighs the available candidates.

Moo...

 

[Laughing]

I don't know either. It is very strange. I have been in education for decades, yes, that long! And have never seen parents required to provide care to their child at school.

If the child had a behavior disorder, the school has to provide resources for the child. Or look at a change in placement, from school to day treatment. He is probably at a residential treatment facility now, or maybe still inpatient at a children's psychiatric facility. Juvenile hall wouldn't have the resources for the level of treatment he needs.

All above is just my musings, as we don't know where the child is now.

504, perhaps?

In my own long years of contact with public schools, I have seen & been aware of some different situations of parent presence in public school, and wonder if possibly the parents reported very different behavior at home & offered to 'show' the school how to manage the child?

This would likely not be included in an IEP or 504.

Interesting to me that this child's parents report that one or the other was at school with him -- until the week of the shooting.

Glad this wasn't my class, my building, my district, that's for sure.

Very glad that the voices of the teachers were heard at the public meeting!

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Quotes snipped by me.

don’t appreciate the lack of transparency in this case.

There is an extreme and disturbing lack of transparency in this case, IMO.

Unfortunately they've already been demonized in the court of public opinion

An innocent teacher was gravely injured, the other children were traumatized, and worse could have happened. There are no excuses and plenty to be angry about. JMO.