After reading the letter to the editor regarding a teacher bullying a child, I am outraged!
This student's speech is inaudible. She had no means to speak out against the brutality she endured at the hands of this teacher. A first- or second-grade special needs child doesn't know this behavior is unacceptable by an adult. She has no idea that it is not happening to her peers, she just believes this is the way all children are treated at school.
It is unethical for a teacher to deny any child access to the restroom! Imagine a special education teacher who would make a special needs student sit perfectly still and not make a noise without any work to do at a desk that has three sides built up around it for up to an entire day. Then hold the child's hands down on top of her desk because the student would fidget. That is unacceptable behavior from a professional. The student was not allowed to attend speech therapy, math or reading classes because of "unwritten rules" that the teacher perceived as justifiable to exclude this child. This teacher denied this student an education unless it was on her terms.
Who did speak out for this child? School employees reported this teacher's behavior to the administrative staff. Who decided it was best to act like ostriches and stick their heads in the sand. Why did the administrative staff fail to protect this child? They knew there was a problem long before those school employees felt it necessary as the last and final straw to contact the county, who in turn contacted the state of Minnesota's Department of Education regarding this teacher's behavior toward this student. Why is the teacher who broke the law allowed to retain her position? Why is there no accountability amongst the administrative staff for failing to protect this child from this teacher?
Supt. Kathy Leedom and Willmar School Board members, these are valid questions that the parents and this community deserve answers to. What we don't deserve is a teacher who uses unethical and unlawful behavior toward our children.
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Lisa Nelson
Pennock
