By Tonya Hedgecraft
Anderson resident
I have a child with special needs. He is afflicted with a form of autism known as Asperger Syndrome. He makes relatively good grades in his studies, but has a hard time in social situations. We work with him on homework and projects and take part in his education. Society as a whole does not give all children the same opportunities. He is taught to treat others as he would want to be treated, he goes to church and has pretty good manners. He is taught to say please and thank you and when he meets someone new to extend a hand and introduce himself in a proper manner. He is only 10 years old. Because he is “different,” or as teachers put it “not normal,” he is bullied by other children. He is called stupid, gay, dumb, his belongings are messed with, he is threatened physically, and has been touched in aggressive manners. He has an IEP (individual education plan), which is an agreement between the school and parents as to the course of actions and needs for his education.
Anderson Community School Corp. has broken his IEP (a binding contract) time and time again. In the hallways there are big signs that state “No Bullying Zone.” These signs are a waste of paper, because this is not enforced. We have addressed this issue for four years to no avail. My son has been put on strong anti-anxiety medications because of the stress he is forced to live under day to day in order to get an education. His doctors are now calling this abuse. He gets in trouble for things as simple as his hands being at his sides and not behind his back or for touching the walls in the hallway. Where are the priorities? He is allowed to be abused nine months of the year. If his handicap were visible such as in a wheelchair or such he would not be allowed to be kicked in the leg or such, but he is abused in his handicap emotionally and mentally weekly and sometimes daily. This makes his afflictions worse. If I as a parent were to do this to my child I would go to jail.
My son is not alone in his situation. Anderson Community School Corp. has gone so far putting this back on the children who are the targets of these behaviors as to suggest some of them be hospitalized. When does Anderson Community School Corp. take responsibility for its actions that my son’s doctors are calling “abuse”? These adults make excuses for the bullying being allowed to continue and for their own actions, but do not accept excuses from the children they are teaching. When he stands up for himself and gets in the bullies’ face and tells them to leave him and his belongings alone he gets a referral. If the bullying were addressed in a timely and proper manner the other would never occur. Why are our taxes being used to support such an institution? Anderson Community School Corp. is in deep financial trouble. They blame this on lack of enrollment. I wonder why people are choosing to enroll their children in other areas. Could it be because of low ISTEP scores and lack of the basics as a whole?
