I began teaching special education in 1983. This was only 8 years after the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was passed. This act allowed all school districts to educate children with disabilities (later renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA in 1990). The final federal regulations requiring school districts to adhere to a set of rules when providing education to children with disabilities was not passed until 1977, merely six years before I began to teach special education.
I learned this information when I met with Colleen about my home visit at Rich’s house. She put into perspective the fact that most of these parents were going it alone for most of their child’s life and now all of the sudden they had to fit into a different box. Obviously Mr. and Mrs. A had found ways of dealing with Rich that worked for them, but they were not ways we could use in school.
“Technically,” continued Colleen, “what they are doing to Rich is abusive and we are required by law to report it.”
My heart dropped. The image of Mrs. A stroking Rich’s forehead entered my mind and I could hear her tender words, “…just so nobody takes my Richie away from me.”
“What do I do?” I asked.
“Nothing. I will make the call.”
I walked back to the classroom, heavy in heart and spirit.
After my home visit to Rich’s house, his behavior deteriorated significantly. He was trying to run from the room 3-5 times every day. He peed in the corner regularly and exhibited constant anger by biting his hand. Joan and I had a terrible time sticking to a routine because he was so unpredictable and kept the entire classroom in spontaneous chaos.
One day he arrived at school with enormous anger. It felt like a dark force entered our room when he walked through the door. Joan and I both noticed it. We tried to ignore it, greeted Rich calmly, and then went about our normal routine.
I was working with Kathy on some goals at a table when all of the sudden Rich ran to her, put his hands around her neck and began choking her. It required Joan and I both to take him down. I sat on him while Joan ran to the office for help. She returned with Mr. Brock, Colleen, and Mr. Kurt, the janitor. Mr. Brock and Mr. Kurt took Rich out of the classroom and kept him in a chair in his office until it was time to go home. Colleen set up a meeting with Child Protective Services. By the time we were able to have to meeting, a week had passed since my home visit. Daily, Rich would come to school angry and daily he would try to choke at least one or two of my students. Mr. Brock and Colleen started driving him home. By the time I went to the meeting, I gave a summary of his behavior and stated that I felt he was a danger to the other students. My eyes met the eyes of Mrs. A. I felt like a traitor. No school system could pay me enough to feel good about having to say what I had to say.
I went back to the classroom and we all carried on, going through the motions of education. I received a note from Colleen asking me to stop by after school.
“So, what’s going to happen?” I asked her later that day, standing in the doorway of her office.
“Lori, Rich is going to an institution. We can’t possibly house him here if he is a danger to the other kids.”
House Him? I thought, like he is an animal? "Maybe we should give him another chance?” I half wondered and half begged. “Maybe if we did things differently.”
“The decision has been made. They are taking him out of the home immediately.”
I sadly turned to go. Colleen called me back.
“Lori, I know this is hard, but you can’t save them all,” she said.
I walked to my classroom, put on my jacket, and drove home.
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