Public schools’ responsibilities with special education students can’t be outsourced. That’s why charter schools and private schools can get away with their self-segregated enrollments. They’re not under the same constraints. So it’s not as simple as warehousing all the supposed trouble-makers in a campus ghetto. But Chong, so silent for so many months, is now hearing “a constant complaint across the campuses” about trouble in schools. The undocumented gossip is good enough for her, and apparently good enough for the rest of the board, to start talking about reviving an outdated model at huge expense. I’m surprised one of the board members didn’t call for bringing back whipping children. That may not be far off, judging from the smacking sounds from Brevard.
Chong is new to the board. She can’t be blamed for double standards. Not until after this paragraph ends. We now know that another profoundly autistic student at Flagler Palm Coast High School years ago broke the arm of his teacher and assaulted another autistic child, leaving her bruised. He was never disciplined nor transferred to the alternative school, which was still open at the time. Why? Because his parents were prominent. Because they were take-no-prisoner advocates for their child, as any parent ought to be. Because they insisted he be treated according to Exceptional Student Education laws and regulations. Because they knew their parental rights before it became a hollow fad on Hammurabi’s electoral slates. Because the school was terrified of a lawsuit, and those parents could pay for it. Because the child was white.
flaglerlive.com
