Comments on: Teacher Charged With Abusing Special Needs Student

By: Concerned Dad

Concerned Dad — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 23:13:03 +0000

I’ve known this teacher. I’ve ALWAYS been one to give EVERYONE the benefit of the doubt (even more than I probably should) but this teacher has always come off as brash and short tempered. I’ve known several students that have thrown tantrums in an attempt to not attend her class and I always confused as to “why” because the students are SPECIAL NEEDS and did not have the communication ability to explain fully to me “why”. The article states that the video shows that the student provoked had his/her head down on the desk before it was flipped, yet Mrs Dixon states the student would not comply. What was the non-compliance? I truly believe that most offenders commit a crime several times before they are actually caught. If video were not captured, would this have been ANOTHER not caught? All of the sudents in Westgate are special needs children, MANY cannot “speak up”. I hope that the student & the others in the class are ok. I am disturbed by learning about this story BUT I am NOT surprised!

By: No Excuses

No Excuses — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 19:42:49 +0000

Video doesn’t show everything. What if she left to go get help because the student reared back and caused the desk to flip over?

Don’t be so smugly surel

I don’t think her intent was to flip the desk over, even though that is what happened.

I hope the investigators do a thorough job and she is disciplined appropriately, but I agree with the other commentator – I see no need to burn her at the stake.

By: BettyH

BettyH — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 16:40:35 +0000

It’s truly sad when teachers lose patience and act this way. Luckily video doesn’t lie…Hope her days of teaching are over and the children will be better looked after from now on.

By: Take a breath

Take a breath — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:27:00 +0000

People are jumping to the worst conclusions, take a breath. If you don’t have a special needs child or have never worked with them it can be difficult at times and blessings as well. Not giving the teacher an excuse, but what if she was just tilting the desk a little to get the child to move and it went to far.
She called for help and it did not come being that they were short handed I assume. I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that Westgate could use help and most of the elementary schools have special needs classrooms and I know they could use help. So for those that think she is a terrible woman or teacher, get up and go volunteer for just a week. The school would appreciate the help and just maybe you could come to a better understanding of what goes on.

By: 429SCJ

429SCJ — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:02:07 +0000

Yes; she is guilty of assault.

I feel that everyone has a breaking point, all care givers, providers, supervisors ect.

This woman reached the point where her stress level pushed her beyond the limits.

No excuses, just explanation. It is time for her to move on to another career.

While I find her actions unacceptable for her profession, I see no need to burn her at the stake.

By: Kane

Kane — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 01:59:25 +0000

No matter the reason, no matter how experienced the teacher, no matter how hard it is to deal with special needs children, this woman is guilty of assault. She committed a crime plain and simple. No amount of excuses Robinhood, Notme, WhoAreYou that you make it doesn’t change the fact that she is guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt (thanks to the video) of assault.

By: RC

RC — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:34:42 +0000

I dont think anyones judging when the facts are on the video

By: Sadmom

Sadmom — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:57:48 +0000

Wow I knew this woman she taught my son for two years and I never thought she could or would do something like this .I as a mother know hard it is to be deal with special needs children I have one and it’s hard to handle him at times there times I have to walk away .but I will say this these kids are in this school because they have disabilities .so it’s not right for anyone to do disaplen them the way she did I’m just saying and she only got suspended that’s crazy

By: WhoAreYou

WhoAreYou — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:50:53 +0000

Thou shalt not judge.
Some of you need to take the time to remember this.
Were you there during the situation?
Have you seen the video?

If your answers are NO.. then, don’t make snap opinions.
Thanks.

By: No Excuses

No Excuses — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:10:24 +0000

It is regrettable that an obviously experienced teacher let a bad decision derail an entire teaching career. It seems to me that perhaps she did not intend to turn the desk over, but since it went, she got it off of the student, set it down and walked away. Is this behavior acceptable? Of course not, but I think there is more to it than meets the eye. There are a number of laws surrounding the transportation of these students – make sure you know them before you pass judgement too quickly.

That’s why she’s out on bond. The incident is being investigated to see if further action needs to be taken. Will she be fired? Most likely. Will she serve jail time? Depends on the results of the investigation and if it goes to court.

I’ve been a special educator for the last 34 years. Not much fazes me anymore, but I can understand a bad day – just don’t act on it.

Special needs children and adults can be quite stubborn. She should have gotten assistance to get the child to the bus. That’s what we did when it was necessary.