This happens everywhere, don't be embarrassed. It was just the south this time.

It may happen everywhere, but attitudes like this are definitely more prevalent in the south, and that is hard to deny.

It can and does happen everywhere, sad to say. Institutional abuse is rampant.. in schools and nursing homes. It's a damn shame that poor child was treated this way. It can be very traumatic to have a cruel or abusive teacher.

Don't feel bad, this stuff happens anywhere.

There was a girl who was harassed by a teacher and a teachers aide somewhere and the parents recorded it.

This stuff is just disgusting.

Only problem I see with this is that the mother unlawfully recorded the teacher. How they can use this evidence in court is beyond me, but it's good that this was put to a stop.

Fire their AZZ!

NOW!

From someone who actually WAS born and raised in the South (and is duly ashamed of the entire region, and moved away promptly upon reaching adulthood): Texas isn't the South!!!

Texas is its own entity that's actually even worse.

Here is what is definitely considered "the South": Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina. Probably Kentucky and Arkansas could be tossed onto this list without too much protest.

Here is what MIGHT be peripherally considered "the South": North Carolina, and parts of Florida, mostly the Panhandle. Like Texas, most Floridians are an entirely different subset of humanity.

Nobody in the South would ever agree that Texas is part of their dim little backwoods club. I don't know if Texas should feel slighted or delighted at the snub, but I can assure you, Texas is not the South. You still have every right to be embarrassed at having been raised there, however. No argument on that point.

Unlawfully recorded the teacher? Good. People who say crap like that never acknowledge the reprehensible behavior of those being so unlawfully treated. Wonder why there are laws protecting people from being recorded who are incompetent and abusive in trusted positions yet the powerless can go f themselves? Maybe the sheep can enlighten? Then the school did nothing but put on a brief dog and pony show. Good she had the unlawful recording and could get someone to do something about it when thew school decided screw the kid and mom, let's get these fun gals back to work.

These tow teachers should be fired, period.

Basic ingredients for becoming a teacher or parent. TOLERANCE, PATIENCE, LOVE.

It's interesting how the school board always seems to take care of their own and to hell with the wellbeing of the kids.

As for the taping, I don't think it was illegal.

I would like to see video cameras in every classroom and passworded Internet sites where parents can check in on their kids and see what the class AND TEACHER is doing at any time. Iran has that. Why shouldn't we? I think teachers would be a lot less likely to engage in brutality if they knew a parent might be watching and a record exists. I think kids might choose to behave better, too. And it would put an end to the he-said, she-said.

Too many atrocities going on in schools, from bullying among students to bullying from teachers. Let's just put an end to it.

The recording may not be illegal. If TX is a single party state, than only one person in the conversation needs to know about the recording. In this case, I think they could maybe make the argument that Little Joe knew about it? Or that since his mother is his repersentative, that since she knew about it, it was legal?

The whole thing makes me ill. Why get into Special Ed if you don't want to help Special Ed kids?

I was born in the West and have lived a large part of my life in the North---This kind of thing happens every place! Just because it happens doesn't mean we should accept it however, these teachers need to be fired immediately!

I don't get what is wrong with people !?!!!? I am just reading one horror story after another in the news today. I NEVER wake up and think okay today I am going to abuse a student ( verbally or physically) or murder my neighbor, abuse children, rob a bank, rape the lady down the street .....I mean seriousy, if you are thinking of hurting yourself or someone else, or acting out sexually --- get help! If you are thinking of hurting a child then either take yourself away from society or put an end to your miserable life. Why are some humans so freakin destructive?

One commenter said making that it was illegal for the mom to make this tape. There is nothing illegal about a private citizen making a tape of someone in a public setting who is doing a public job. There is no expectation of privacy for teachers in a school setting. This is totally legal and hurrah for the advent of small cameras in this case. These teachers should not only lose their jobs, they should face criminal child abuse charges.

Screw firing them just kick each of them in the face with a steel toed boot.

Ahh the North, where people think their @!$%# doesn't stink. The same place that produces people like John Corzine, Charlie Rangel, and Rod Blagojavich. The same place that produces 65 percent of the pollution generated by the US even though it is 15 percent of the land area. Where Wall Street is. Where gangs beat little black kids to death for studying too much. For that matter where the whole gang mentality originated, along with another Blue stronghold: California.

Don't get me wrong, this act was reprehensible, but don't act like any area is better than another. Hell, the North is the epicenter of the yellow journalism that sparked the outrage over Trayvon Martin that you guys lapped up like it was chocolate covered yum sauce.

Ever stop to consider that a large part of these stories come out because most Southerners are naturally appalled by stuff like this that we raise enough hell to get it on the news? Should we judge all of you Northerners by the actions of Wall Street, Jeffery Dahmer, and the New Black Panther party? Are you all gangbanging thugs that are just looking for a way to steal everyone's money and then cook them up in a pizza? Not fair? It's the way you're judging the South.

I don't presume to think the South is perfect, nor do I presume to think everyone in the North is just another dirtbag, but I'm tired of people pointing fingers when they won't even clean up their own back yard.

On topic: the solution here is simple. If the story is accurate as presented (and we know the media's track record here is scarcely beyond reproach) fire the teachers so they can collect the 2 years unemployment that the North has saddled the rest of the country with.

(jim doesn't know the difference between "the north" and "the north east"

Patter123:

I would like to see video cameras in every classroom and passworded Internet sites where parents can check in on their kids and see what the class AND TEACHER is doing at any time. Iran has that. Why shouldn't we? I think teachers would be a lot less likely to engage in brutality if they knew a parent might be watching and a record exists.

It's an understandable knee-jerk reaction, but you're not going to find too many people willing to teach a classroom full of 20-30 rowdy kids if they know their every move is being filmed, recorded, and scrutinized by a mob of people (parents), at least a few of whom would have a hair trigger finger on the phone to the local attorney's office. Would ANY school district advocate this? You'd effectively be "cutting your nose off to spite your face," preemptively punishing thousands of qualified, competent, and even genuinely caring teachers for the admittedly awful behavior of a very few. Take it one step further: Would YOU take a job (of any sort) if you knew that every moment you spent working would be video-recorded, then viewed and dissected by two dozen people every day? I wouldn't take that job, and I doubt you would, either, particularly if you had gone to college, gotten a degree, and passed a background check and a state-mandated competency test, all of which teachers in most states must do.

As for the "Iran has that, why shouldn't we?" comment, I can only pick my jaw up off the floor. You're seriously suggesting we become MORE like Iran? Really?

Actually Mandy, my knowledge of geography is just fine. I reference Chicago to New York to New Jersey. That area would be considered the heart of the "North". West of there you have what is considered the Mid West. South of there you have....the South. What part of that is tough for you?

Chicago is in the Midwest, Jim. The midwest is often referred to as "the north" (this excludes the new england region)

Because they belong to a union making it almost impossible to fire them.

nj -

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Unions protect teachers (and other workers) like this all the time. They need to rid themselves of their trash if they want to regain respect.

Those involved in Public School System aren't as ignorant as you two appear to be - when Teachers don't get fired - it is because they have political connections in their school system. Unions can't protect teachers - teachers can - however - get a lawyer to protect their rights. Sometimes (if the Union agrees that the teacher is innocent) they will provide a lawyer.

Obviously - the blame for this incident lies primarily with the Special Education Teacher who should have had more training on how to treat Special Education Students. But then there are people who are simply unsuited for this kind of job.

Blame should also to placed on the Principal of the school - who by law - is responsible for supervising the employees at his school. And - the same goes for the Superintendent and the Board of Education who obviously are not properly supervising their personnel.

Not only should they be dismissed without pay, they should have thier teachers licesons refoked and put a hireing ban on them as teachers in the whole state fo alabama.

I had a daughter that was brain damaged from birth , she passed away just shy of her 19th birthday and I'm afraid of what I would have done if I had found out my little girl was being treated like this little boy was.

She went to 3 different schools during her too short life and at each of her schools the teachers not only wanted the parents to visit their children at school they wanted parents to make unannounced visits only checking in at the front office for security reasons.

joe, I'm sorry your little girl left so early. She was your angel and now she is Gods.

Little Joe. Sorry. I hope your life gets better. Such a beautiful smile.

The teachers should be brought up on child abuse; child neglect and all others that can be applied.

Unions and tenure rules protect EVERYONE - just like "reasonable cause" and "search and siezure" laws protect everyone - including YOU. They protect us all from random, biased, baseless, and capricious treatment in the workplace. Yes, with these kinds of rules in place, sometimes slugs like these two teachers get to stay on administrative leave, even with pay, while the facts become known and a careful and fair decision is made. And sometimes, even though they are "guilty," they even get to return to work with just disciplinary action. But, these rules - and unions - would proctect YOU from an arbitrary, spiteful, or vengeful supervisor who just doesn't like your attitude, your look, the color of your skin, ...your hairstyle! Even though you've done your job! Just like the rules of justice in our legal system, we try to provide protections for the innocent - we'd rather let 10 guilty people go free than send an innocent person to prison or the death chamber (God help us!). We'd rather a couple slugs get a fair hearing and maybe get their jobs back on a technicality, than allow one well performing, perfectly responsible employee get fired - like YOU - for wearing his or her hair the wrong way!

By the way, I also agree with many of the posts here - these two are slugs and don't deserve to be called human, much less given the title of "teacher" - which in most societies is a term of high praise and honor. But guess what the salary might be for the teacher and the hourly pay for the aide? In Alabama? In Mississippi? In Oklahoma? ....all in the bottom five for teacher salaries. Ever hear the phrase, you get what you pay for? To qualify that, I personally know hundreds of teachers who are amazing human beings with love and compassion for their students and passion for their jobs! And there are millions I wouldn't know. In that sense these states - and I know Oklahoma in particular - is getting a heckuva deal! Teacher pay is usually about 47th but ACT scores rank around 25th. Not bad return on your investment Oklahoma! Start paying these professionals like professionals - pay someone so that they can actually have a family without being on food stamps after four years of college - and you might start to see a much higher caliber individual being drawn to the classroom. Yes, teaching kids is an amazing high! To watch the lights go on in their eyes and the pride in their smile when they master the simplest things is a great reward! I remember my best teachers and how much pride they took in their students' accomplishments. But shouldn't you be able - after four years of college - to be married and have a child and not have to explain to your child why even though you need food stamps to put food on the table you're still call a "professional"! This comes from doing what most would agree is actually the MOST important job in America?! Come on, America!

Who gives a da*n what the teachers earn, they chose this career knowing the pay was poor even tho I agree it should not be. The unions do come in handy when you need them but to stand behind child abusers has crossed the line. These two sub-humans should be fired immediatly and the union should back the action. My granddaughter has a mental disability and if I found out anyone was abusing her there would be hell to pay. I believe there should be closed circuit cameras in every classroom in all schools. They will scream who is going to pay for it, well I will tell you, it can be paid for with money that the school board wastes every year by hiring their relatives and over staffing the main offices. Besides all that we have to come up with the money, this would stop the problem of teacher or student abuse.

To Lib in Oklahoma. You contradict yourself by saying you get what you pay for and then saying you know hundreds of great teachers. I am sure they make more money than those who choose to teach in the south but the cost of living is also less in the south. I stand by what I said, these teachers chose their profession with full knowledge of what they would earn. I believe that anyone who chooses to be a teacher has to be a special person, but there are bottom dwellers everywhere and somehow they manage to slip into this profession. People who will work around or with children should have a background check as strenous as the CIA. As for the parents, if you even suspect your child is being abused go ahead and record it, I am all for it.

I'm just glad her idea got rid of Jose's abusers and he's happy in school again.

I'm glad she recorded it too, so there's no "her word against theirs" bull@!$%# going on either.

Actually it might not be a good idea to record such conversations. Various states have wiretapping laws that prohibit audio recording without the person's knowledge. It's usually handled as a one-party or two-party consent. In one-party consent, one person can record the conversation of say a phone call without the others knowledge. In two party consent, both parties must consent to the recording. Almost all prohibit 3rd party recording which she may be considered. It's an odd legal area though because she's the guardian of the minor so whether she counts as a third person is difficult to tell without more knowledge of similar cases in AL.

I would be willing to take the rap from that in order to save my helpless child from abuse.

Amen paramed, I would be willing to go to jail if necessary to protect my child.

Two teachers in my son's school are two people who should never be allowed to teach children. They are outwardly hostile toward the students. For the life of me, if you dislike children so much, why the teaching profession? It's a hard job, but if you can't handle it, get out, period.

The same can be said of child psychologists or anyone who thinks they "know" something about kids. Kind of like being a horse expert without ever having owned a horse.

Analystgirl,

I wouldn't go so far and say that ONLY teachers with special needs children, should teach special needs children. There are plenty of caring, and compassionate teachers out there that are great at teaching special needs kids and they don't have children of their own or they don't have special needs kids. Case in point, a dear friend of mine that never had her own children, but did an exceptional job of teaching special needs children for more than 17 years.

It is sad how this boy was treated, and I think that his mother acted accordingly. I was a teacher before I had my daughter and decided to stay home with her. When I read stories like this is breaks my heart and lessens all the efforts made by really GOOD teachers. I would never in a million years dream of treating a student the way Faircloth, and Brown did. No wonder people are loosing faith in us teachers. They make all of us that try so hard look bad.

I wouldn't say that only people with special-needs kids should be special ed teachers, but I do think every teacher should be made aware of the more subtle signs of racism/sexism/ableism/classism and be taught how those things only hurt students.

It's one of those things where once you know, you're not likely to repeat those mistakes.

Wow,this is like pansy supreme talk,and I'm for helping the kids

I was a special educator...I now educate preservice teachers...ALL of my students are required to take special education courses... I myself do not have a special needs child...but let me just put this out there...ALL students have "special needs" so let's treat ALL students with respect and dignity. These "teachers" obviously need some education!

T: No, they need to be fired and charged with child abuse, neglect and all that applies.

I agree

this has been around thousands of years. you forget lepers and how they were outcast? it's only that the media covers more and provides more access to such news stories. don't fool or kid yourself. things are just the same

Sounds like an excellent idea. There's a guy who has an abortion clinic who's organized over 1000 people to call protesters and wish them a happy day, while informing them of their home addresses and where their children go to school and so on. He did this AFTER these fascist christian terrorist thugs should up SEVERAL TIMES and his kids' school to protest and hold up posters NAMING his kids.

It's high time ALL BULLIES and thugs get a taste of their own medicine and feel what it is like to be treated like a hunted animal.

I don't get your point.

Treated like a hunted animal- like the abortion doctors that were murdered? Bullied, like the women trying to access an abortion clinic? Talk about being a hypocrit!!!

They should be put in jail for abusing this boy. Make an example of them.

magillacuddy - are you serious?

Put two people in jail - at taxpayer expense - $40k a year - over THIS?

Man, whose pockets do you want to suck dry over stupid crap?

I suggest you change your diaper and get realistic, unless YOU want to contribute out of YOUR pocket each year to keep them locked up.

Emotionally reactionary people like you are a huge problem in this country. Bigger than a few insensitive idiots like these.

Now you're denigrating pigs.

These pieces of garbage should be fired, have their teaching credentials revoked, and charged with hate crimes as should the administrators who allowed them back in the class until the mother went to the press. This is so shameful.

Hate crimes.

Seriously.

This place is a sink trap for stupidity. Does it hurt to have a screen name such as yours and yet bet so stupid yourself?

Is that irony or coincidence?

Hate crimes.

LOL.

Many choose the "profession" because teacher training is no longer rigorous or challenging. I am astounded sometimes by the people who actually get college degrees in this country (in all kinds of major disciplines.) College has become as bad as primary and secondary school in just passing people through.

I really, really, really want to support teachers getting much higher pay, better working conditions and way more respect than they do in this country, but in return I want them to be part of an elite group of professionals who have to attain very high standards to get into and graduate from college and have to continue to enhance their skills in real and challenging advanced education, not the CEU credits they currently get for just about anything including conference workshops lasting 2 hours.

Unfortunately, my experience with my children's teachers throughout their years of primary and secondary public education were much closer to this than to what we hear teachers tell us they are doing.

I agree completely. In Europe teachers are held in the same esteem as doctors and other professionals (are paid like it as well)The problem is that here in America is pays about the same as a McDonald's manager. My husband has been teaching for 14 years and makes $3800 a month gross. He is currently working on a master's degree for his continuing education (about half done!) and he is one of those teachers that students seek out and keep in touch with after graduation! We should be ashamed of how we treat teachers. No wonder the best and brightest go elsewhere.

Anita, I agree with increased rigor in training, higher requirements and standards - which actually do exist at many teacher training programs - but in terms of drawing higher caliber persons to teaching, you'll have to think about where to position the carrot - in front of the donkey or behind the donkey? Do we attract the best with the "promise" (usually hollow and meaningless) that we're working toward higher pay? Or do we start putting our money where our mouth is, raise the salaries substantially, and simultaneously raising the standards and expectations.

You don't have what it takes. These are wonderful children. It is a joy to work with them. They are closer to the divine than you will ever be.

My sister taught in an EBD room in an inner-city school for years. YES she had special training. You *should* be against using shame... because in elementary school children what is that supposed to accomplish?? I have a special needs child, but he's high functioning. I had NO clue what I was doing, but did OK with him and NEVER regretted it! To say that their lives have no value it total crap!! Unless they're in severe pain it wouldn't be a 'mercy killing'. Many severely disabled children are still happy. They still have the ability to make others happy and they have a place in this world just like anyone else. To suggest otherwise states the character of the person saying it. Most parents of children who need care their entire lives make plans for who will care for them. Most families have close relatives and the disabled child is the center of everyone's life. I was an RN for many years and saw some of these disabled adults. You couldn't find more involved family. You find strength and patience you never knew you had. Oh, and I had my disabled child as a teen... his father and I were both older teens. He was loved beyond belief (still is) and is very precious. Would I choose to have a special needs child? No... no one does (unless they've adopted) but you find out how very special they are.

Wow you are COLD. I hope you never need compassion.