Substitute teachers dismissed after child with Down syndrome wanders unnoticed
3:04 PM Fri, Apr 24, 2009 | Permalink
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Lisa Vernon-Sparks WEST WARWICK -- An 8-year-old boy with Down syndrome apparently walked out of his school Wednesday unnoticed, and was gone for about an hour, before a neighbor found him playing unattended in a yard on Bramble Lane, officials said today. The child, who was discovered around 11 a.m. and returned to school by the police, is a student at Greenbush Elementary School, which is about five minutes away, Supt. Kenneth Sheehan said. He walked out of the building sometime around 10 a.m., Sheehan said. The child had been in a collaborative [integrated] classroom being taught by three substitute teachers that day. The child was taken out the classroom for morning speech therapy, with other children. The speech therapist said she brought the child back to his seat, but he did not join the reading group led by the substitutes, and apparently he got up and walked back out of the classroom, Sheehan said. The school did not realize he was missing until the child was brought back by police 51 minutes later, Sheehan said. The three substitutes were fired that afternoon. "These were certified substitute teachers. They have been relieved and dismissed of all their duties and will not be employed in West Warwick schools. We take this very seriously," Sheehan said. "I have a complete investigation going. They say they never saw him reenter the classroom. The whole thing is inexcusable." "The child was unharmed, or uninjured. There's no criminal activity,'' Knott said. Sheehan said after talking with the child's parent Thursday, the little boy may have been looking for his grandfather. The child will now have a full-time teaching assistant assigned to him. In addition, Sheehan wants to put alarms on all the doors to classrooms and all the doors in the corridors that lead to the outside. When asked how much new alarms would cost, particularly in light that the schools have a $3.1-million deficit and are suing the town, under a "Caruolo action'' lawsuit, to cover it, he said it didn't matter. "This could have been catastrophic," he said. "You need to care and protect the children." 
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I find this horrifying for any parent who thinks that there child is safe in school, disability or no disability. These people need to be futher educated on child safety prior to being employed in any state educational system.
Being a mother of 1 disabled child and another that has no disabilities, as of this date, find this a very very upsetting thought. After I bring my children to school everyday with thoughts that they are in good hands, protected and in a safe environment for the day.
Very scary to think that these people would be able to apply for employment within the state of Rhode Island or any state for that matter without being re-educated in safety for children in which they are responsible for.
Now? this child will have an teaching assistant asigned to him - first off the child has Down Syndrome - WHY ON EARTH DID THIS "8 YR OLD" CHILD "NOT" HAVE A TEACHING ASSISTANT ASSIGNED TO HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE AS ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD HAVE.
This is very serious situation and I hope that every parent is angered by this article and are prompted to speak to their school officials to find out what the policies are are in place for the protection of there children in schools, disability or no disability.
This should never happen, luckily the child was unharmed, however, the mental status of the parents/family I'm sure is fratured/stressed/overwhelmed.
I am curious what the State of Rhode Island is doing at this moment to be sure policies in all educational facilities are put in place so that this never happens to any child again.
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There are two problems here.
First, Where were the certified teachers. If the speech teacher was the only certified teacher why was she spared.She should be fired as well if they want to go that route. SHe is no less guilty.
Second shouldn't there have been an investigation before these people were fired or do we live in russia. I think the teachers assistants should have been reprimanded/suspended but not fired. The certified teachers are in charge, fire them. The certified teachers know the kids and what to expect from them not a temporary teacher. The school department is looking for scapegoats to avoid being sued.
Very poorly handled by administration
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Were you there Paul?!
Before you start shooting your mouth off you should get YOUR story straight! No teacher assistants were fired! 3 CERTIFIED TEACHERS WERE! The Speech teacher did her job and did it well! The school department did do an investigation! Again be thankful the all ended as it did for the little boy involved!
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