I have read two letters from parents regarding the recent "incident" at Tarboro High School. In fact, I recently spoke with the parent of an autistic child from Tarboro who had written a letter. Regarding the "incident" as it was called – certainly it probably should have been called more than an "incident" based on the seriousness of the matter. Both of the parent/writers are correct – I totally agree; we should not make excuses for any child being mistreated in our schools.
... the child was a special education student. Regardless of any label for a student, no student should suffer from attending our public schools. Only Mr. Suggs, schools officials, the police, the student and others involved know the full account and to date I have not read anything that disputes the child was in fact disciplined inappropriately by hand/ruler.
The two ladies who have so far written did so in an objective and factual manner. I do not agree with Oliver Curtis Powell that corporal punishment could be justified in this case or any other. Even with students having no learning challenges/difficulties, we do not get our best from fear of being hit. Students are not motivated out of fear ... they are motivated out of positive support and encouragement.
In speaking with the Deborah Laughter ("I hope the parents pursue this matter to the fullest"), I did explain that my letter was intended to show my support for Mr. Suggs as the man I knew in Tarboro. However, I also expressed how much I appreciated reading a letter from a parent/advocate for children and that if so, I did not intend on diminishing the seriousness of the matter or the effects on the child.
Mrs. Laughter has an understanding of the needs of some students that goes beyond what many of us would know. Her letter was timely and certainly prompted a telephone call from me to express my thanks for being a child/student advocate and bringing out that my letter to the editor may have read as excusing any corporal punishment of a child.
... I trust the Edgecombe County Public Schools will look into is taking an internal investigation a step further than just Mr. Suggs and whether or not he committed an unnecessary act against the child. With the No Child Left Behind Act there are many new requirements placed on teachers – one of which is to provide each child (including those with special education needs) ... an education in the least restrictive environment possible.
We should be able to trust that the school system will do a proper internal investigation in addition to the police investigation.
In conducting its own internal investigation, we might hope that Edgecombe Schools will investigate and report to Superintendent Witherspoon on recent and current practices involving special education programs and students. Such an internal investigation will disclose any weaknesses in school/management oversight of special education programs and students. For example, a lack of required oversight by school or central office administration could inadvertently lead to problems developing within the program that could otherwise be seen/addressed and corrected.
While Mr Suggs' matter is still up in the air, there is no doubt that Tarboro has a few good parent advocates – and special education student advocates at that. Listen to what these parent advocates have to say and the school system might reap some great rewards.
Kenneth Pledger, MaED
Rocky Mount
