Abuse in Schools Widespread, Report Finds

(CBS)  A new federal study, released exclusively to CBS News, reveals hundreds of cases of abuse of students at the hands of school officials -- and even deaths.

The report, done by the Government Accountability Office, finds incidents of abuse of restraints and seclusion, among other forms of mistreatment, in public and private schools alike, all across the country, says CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

A congressional panel has scheduled a hearing about the findings for Tuesday, and child advocates are calling for better laws to protect students.

Students such as Cedric Napoleon and Paige Gaydos.

Paige's mother, Ann Gaydos, is slated to testify Tuesday at the hearing to be held by the House Education and Labor Committee about the abuse Paige allegedly suffered on multiple occasions in school in Cupertino, Calif. when Paige, who has Asperger Syndrome, was seven. She's now 15 and the family has moved to Monument, Colo.

Cedric's foster mother had no idea the Killeen, Texas eighth grader's teacher was physically restraining him when he acted up. Until, Cordes says, the day it led to Cedric's death.

"She took him down and sat on him," a tearful Toni Price told Cordes, "and straddled him. And uh... the autopsy report said that they had never seen anything like that except in a car crash, because she crushed his chest."

The GAO probe finds hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death in schools over the past 20 years, Cordes says -- everything from carpet burns from being dragged to a seclusion room, to bruises from being pinned to the ground. Many of the victims were, like Cedric, children with disabilities.

"Seclusion and restraint should only be used in an emergency situation," says Deborah Ziegler of the Council for Exceptional Children.

And the tactics are used more often than parents might think, Cordes points out. In the 2007-2008 school year alone, the Texas public school system reported 18,741 cases of children being restrained.

Laws vary from state-to-state, Cordes, says, and about half the states have no laws at all.

Ann Gaydos, with Paige sitting at her side, told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen about the restraint and other physical abuse she says her daughter suffered culminating, Gaydos said, with a teacher taking Paige into an empty classroom, lifting her by her wrists and an ankle and slamming Paige headfirst into the ground. Paige was, Gaydos said, "quite seriously hurt" with very bad bruises on her shoulder and head, and with skin forced off a shoulder.

Gaydos says she'll tell Congress Tuesday she wants "far better oversight of school districts, perhaps some third-party oversight. The districts can't police themselves. I hope for stricter laws regarding these restraints, and better whistleblower protections. The whistleblower (in Paige's case) was driven out of the district."

[geena5]

I think any schools that have any teacher kill a student or has a teacher arrested on any charge, needs to have cameras installed in their classrooms and offices. also schools with large failing test grades should have cameras installed in lots of places in the classrooms and offices, to see what is going on in these classrooms and also to help the teachers learn from each other and give each other constructive criticism. of course this is probably too expensive to do, but I believe putting cameras in would be really helpful. maybe at least they should put cameras into any special ed classes they use these restraining methods, especially any methods that have ever resulted in death. people (teachers) would watch their behavior more if they knew it was on tape.

[KidsRpeople2]

U.S. Congress held the first in a series of hearings on 5/19/09 to examine the abusive and deadly use of restraint and seclusion of children in American Schools and Corporal (Physical) Punishment was called "Legalized Child Abuse" by Congresswoman Woolsey. Shocking news headlines of severe injuries and abuse of schoolchildren are all too common in the 21 states that have not Abolished Corporal Punishment in Schools. Over half the states in the U.S. have Abolished Corporal Punishment of Children in Schools, making it ILLEGAL! Every state's Department of Education has training available for educators in NON VIOLENT DISCIPLINE METHODS which are more effective than Paddling. Corporal Punishment is hitting children with wooden boards to deliberately inflict physical, psychological (fear) and emotional (humiliation) pain and suffering intended to PUNISH schoolchildren. It doesn't show them better behavior, in fact it powerfully models physical assault/violence as the acceptable method of solving problems. Picture this, two children are hitting each other at school. They are separated. Each child is PUNISHED by being hit with a wooden paddle/board while being told that "Hitting is NOT ACCEPTABLE"! My 3 children attend schools in an UNRESPONSIVE Paddling School District. Students in the Middle school are taken into the hallway just outside class and told to "Bend over and grab your ankles" to be hit with wooden paddles for minor infractions such as not turning in homework. ALL the other students hear the paddling and the paddled student must immediately return to their seat and face their classmates. Teachers keep wooden paddles (with holes drilled into them) in their desk drawers and take them out to threaten the students with physical harm. These teachers have not "Earned" the respect of their students. Teachers who hit schoolchildren are actually a deterrent to children's ability to learn. We do not hit our children and I am angry that they are expected to learn in a punitive school environment where bullies and more concerned with punishment than teaching, all paid for by our tax dollars. ALL children deserve EQUAL access to safe and healthy learning environments. The Cost to eliminate schoolteachers and administrators right to assault and batter schoolchildren is $0.

[maryphillips]

I have been a victim of spiteful and cruel teachers, but thank God they are a majority, but I still lost a great deal. I was an honor roll student when a teacher failed the entire class and kept me off the National Honor Society, and I'd worked so hard to be good enough. When I sought assistance early on from counselors, the blame was laid at my door. I think it was indifference and merely not wanting to do the paperwork necessary to change my class. Also, with my children, I find that the educators are condescending in their attitude towards parents, and hold to the theory that 'I have a degee and you don' so I know better.' The Board of Education is locked into their own ivory tower and cannot be accountable for their own inaction or actions. This needs to stop now.

[cooljust19999]

To those with their own theories, be it positive or negative, keep striving for what you beleive. Just know that we all are different and we all may not agree on every topic. Things happen and what if we think about this comment: it is not what a person do to you but how you respond to it. Life goes on and we will continue to grow...Which way is up to you...

[cooljust19999]

Sadly, this is the truth. My child is a victim of the same abuse here. The school system hides behind an indemity clause. Our city is small and no local attorney would touch it. This is so unreal. I decided to utilize the senate 10 bill or our virtual academy in which after this year I now have the option to do so. I was advised by many educators behind the scene, that the school system was totally wrong and illegal. But none wanted to come forward in fear of the jobs and community backlash...So the saga continues. My child is 10 now but was dragged by the neck at 7yrs by a sub teacher. The system also tried to expel him for what was a manifestation of his disorder. My child is not violent. My child is in trouble for fidgeting, stripping paper, etc...Our doctor offer free training on working with kids with diabilities, to no avail, the schools rejected the offers and attempts. My child sat out of school for 1 year on hospital homebound because we feared for my child's safety and mental state. Now my child only attends half days, and the system consider that fair and legal. This laundry list can go on and on. I have very vivid documentation from the school of all theses claims and more. The systems are poorly equipted and the teachers are poorly trained to work with students with disability. I had to give up my job and more to become a full time advocate for my child and now considering relocating to anothe state. This was not a option. I am estatic to hear about the attempt to provide close attention to these issues. I will continue to fight . I also have returned to school in the psychology field so that I can further assist all who have experience such tragedy and assist with providing preventative measures.

[texasbeta]

So tell us what created the puddle of goo, johndevine? And what inticed the puddle of goo to say to itself one day "Gee, I'm tired of being a puddle of goo, I think I'll "evolve" to the "zoo" and then I'll become "you"?

That puddle of goo must've really had an intelligent grasp of things, knowing that it couldn't survive without becoming "intelligent" to begin with, heh?
Posted by Libs_Will_Never_Learn at 6:42 PM

Your lack of evolutionary understanding is priceless. First of all, evolution does not happen by, nor does it require, intelligence. It requires neccesity and time. Second of all, the "blob" was never claimed to be a living thing...and yes, in order to evolve..you must be a living thing. Don't be an idiot just to act higher than everyone else, pointing out the obvious about the Declaration of Indendence and the Constitution, just to play the party idealogue. As for what created the "blob"...that is kind of a stupid question. Of course, you can say...well, it must have been God. If you were kind of a thinking person...maybe get that in order to explain what makes the blob...we would have to backwards and basically teach you particle physics, and start talking about quarks and recombination of electrons with ionized hydrogen atoms. You know damn well that you have no foundation in such topics, and know that asking that question was a ruse. Don't be a *******.

[spredbury]

Why in the name of all that's right wasn't this teacher charged with the death of this boy? How could the "system" not prosecute her? From what I have read, he/she is living in another state and still teaching. Someone needs to identify this person and stop them from ever being around children again. Isn't she a child abuser? Cedrick's foster mother said she did not have legal standing as a foster parent to sue the teacher or school system for the death of this child. Why didn't Texas CPS, the savior of all children, take legal action? Just another case where Texas CPS contributed to the death of another innocent child. Just another reason why I think Texas CPS is an enormous collection of "do gooders" with little concern for the welfare of children. Didn't CPS see any reason to consider child abuse in the death of this young boy?

[tarheelmomify]

That horrible teacher that killed that innocent child, Cedric Napoleon, not only should be charged, but convicted, and executed by restraint and a steamroller.

[armyoftwelve]

Gee, the Catholic Church got sued for mega$$$$$ why aren't our school districts being held to the same standard??

[anna201]

Restraint & Seclusion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8RlcIRkBkw