Autistic children put in cage
3.11.10 – A SYDNEY primary school that pens children with autism in a fenced area at lunchtimes should be investigated for human rights violations, the New South Wales Opposition says.
A SCHOOL that pens children with autism in a fenced area may be breaching human rights.
A SYDNEY primary school that pens children with autism in a fenced area at lunchtimes should be investigated for human rights violations, the New South Wales Opposition says.
Parents with children at Seven Hills West Public School are angry that pupils with special needs are placed inside a fenced enclosure that has one tree, a bench and a dirt floor.
But the NSW Department of Education has defended the enclosure, saying it is used for new students with disabilities if they require more intense supervision while they adjust to school.
The school has 52 students with special needs.
But Coalition disability spokesman Andrew Constance said the treatment of children with autism at the school was inhumane and called for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to investigate.
“To see the type of facility which autistic children are being penned in is outrageous,” he said.
“I’ve seen cattle yards in better condition.
“You cannot treat children with autism in this way.
“I think it is in breach of every anti-discrimination act in the country.”
The Department of Education said in a statement the enclosure was set up after parents raised safety issues.
“The school is located on a busy road. Without this area, the students may leave the school grounds and could potentially be injured,” the department said.
“Some of these children have no sense of boundaries and do not respond to staff asking them to stop.
“Once the school is satisfied a student will listen to directions from staff members and is also aware of playground boundaries, the child can use the playground.”
The department said any student in the school could use this area if they chose.
“The area is never locked and students are supervised by a school learning support officer at all times,” it added.
“Students are actively engaged in play and can leave the area to use other school facilities like the library.”
In 2008, a number of parents of the students with disabilities raised safety issues with the school about their children leaving the school grounds.
“This fenced off area was created as a result of these concerns,” the department said.
Subscribe
Enter your email to subscribe to daily Education News!
Hot Topics
- Education Technology
- Teachers Unions
- Charter Schools
- California Education
- Education Research
- Online Education
- New York Education
- UK Education
- STEM Education
- School Choice
- Cost of College
- Education Funding
- New York City Schools
- Julia Steiny
- Florida Education
- Education Reform
- Parent Involvement
- Texas Education
- Los Angeles Schools
- Math Education
- C. M. Rubin
- Obama Administration
- Chicago Schools
- Testing
- Vouchers
- 2012 Election
- Pennsylvania Education
- New Jersey Education
- Tennessee Education
- Teaching
- UK Higher Education
- Teacher Training
- College Admissions
- Early Childhood Education
- Louisiana Education
- School Health
- Ohio Education
- Teacher Evaluations
- Illinois Education
- Literacy
- MOOCs
- Cheating
- Michigan Education
- Arne Duncan
- UK Politics
Career Index
Plan your career as an educator using our free online datacase of useful information.
- Select a City Subject
- Liberal Arts Schools in Belcourt
- Liberal Arts Schools in Devils Lake
- Liberal Arts Schools in Dickinson
- Liberal Arts Schools in Fargo
- Liberal Arts Schools in Fort Yates
- Liberal Arts Schools in Grand Forks
- Liberal Arts Schools in Jamestown
- Liberal Arts Schools in Mayville
- Liberal Arts Schools in New Town
- Liberal Arts Schools in Valley City
- Liberal Arts Schools in Wahpeton
- Liberal Arts Schools in Williston
Comments
Article just goes to show that special ed parents have to be really careful about what they wish for. Schools will always take the low cost way out. I don't suppose it occurred to the school to put a fence around the whole play yard.
I was appalled when this hit the news. I'd never imagine that this could happen in my own country. The mainstream school that my ASD boys attend proudly boasts having 6 special needs classes to it's name. They have never had issues with keeping the special needs children safe and have never had to segregate them from the rest of the school. They just have adequate supervision. To herd the special needs children into a muddy corale like this is absolutely disgraceful. I noticed one person in power saying that this was satisfactory as it meant the children were able to attend a mainstream school… I wouldn't want my children to attend a mainstream school if they were going to be treated like this! I'm disgusted!!!