TO HOLD OR NOT TO HOLD

"Here we go!" says Cathy, one of the

classroom assistants in the special

education preschool room at Moody

Elementary School. The van has arrived,

carrying the eight special needs children

involved in Darci Camp's program. Darci

and her two aides go out to welcome the

children.

"Darci, your going to have to talk to Jose

again. He's screaming and using obscene

language on the van. He's also unbuckling

his seat belt and hitting the aide when she

tries to make him sit down," reports Betty.

Betty has driven the van for Darci's class

for five years. She loves the kids and takes

special care of them.

"Thanks Betty, I will," Darci replies. She

has been getting similar reports since Jose

began two weeks ago.

Darci follows her class into the school and

down the hall to the brightly painted

room. There, the class quickly hangs up

their jackets and begins using the

playdough on the table.

"OK Nick, set the timer for five minutes

and then we'll begin our circle time. Jose,

sit in the chair at the other table, we need

to talk," Darci states.

"No, I hate your! I hate the bus!! Bitch !!"

Jose screams, and runs into the

housekeeping area and begins throwing

play food at the group.

Darci calmly walks over and grabs Jose's

hands in her own.

"Jose, we don't throw things. If you're

angry then you need to tell me with your

words," Darci states firmly.

Instinctively, the aide brings a chair for

Jose. Still holding his hands, Darci sits

Jose down in the chair and puts the seat

belt on. Jose fights with her and tries to

scratch at her hands. Darci moves away

and holds the chair. She continues to say

"Jose, when you stop yelling, I will talk

with you."

**********************

***********************

"O.K. everyone," says John Tello, the

principal of Moody School. "Listen up and

we'll be out of here at a reasonable hour.

Going around the table is a copy of the

new child abuse policy. Everyone needs to

read thoroughly, but it briefly states what

we are already doing. The only difference

is that instead of coming to me as the

principal, you go straight to the police and

DCF. Then we call the superintendent.

Part of the reason for this is because this

policy clearly states that you are

responsible for reporting ANY abuse you

notice including abuse in school by a

colleague. Is there anyone who has a

question or a problem with this? Good. I

really don't foresee any problem here, we

have a good staff and we work hard for

the kids. If anyone has concerns your

welcome to see me privately. Well, that's

it for today. This was a quick meeting but

remember to read this thoroughly."

The teachers are quickly scattering and

discussing the antics for their own classes.

Darci and Donna, the two preschool early

childhood teachers walked out together.

Glancing at each other, Darci began the

conversation.

"John knows that we use physical restraint

when we have to, right?" says Darci.

"Oh yeah. He knows what goes on in our

rooms and why we do it. We don't just

restrain everyone. He knows the riften

chairs are just for those who need them

and for our own protection!" Donna

replies. Donna started the program ten

years ago. She has dedicated her time and

patience for years to three and

four-year-old special needs children.

Donna had been at the same school for

eight of those years.

Five years ago the program enlarged and

Darci was given the new teaching position.

Darci started out at the same school as

Donna, but then due to renovations, and

seniority Darci and her class was moved to

a nearby school for three years. This year

the program classes were brought back

together and the two teachers were able to

work closely with each other. Darci was

learning a lot from Donna and the two

women had become good friends.

"Well, have a good night. I need to get

some rest so I have some energy for Jose

tomorrow. He is really wearing us out!!

He has been with us for two weeks and has

punched someone everyday and used every

profanity imaginable!! There has to be

something that will help him manage

himself. Would you mind coming in to see

him?" sighs Darci.

"Sure, no problem. I'll some in as soon as

I get my kids off the bus," replies Donna.

***********************

"Jose, do you think you can help me bring

Chad into the school?" asks Cathy.

"Sometimes he starts to run so hold his

hand and walk together."

"Sure," Jose replies, grabbing Chad's hand

and heading for the front door.

Jose enjoys helping and having some

responsibility. The pride shines through

his eyes as bright as the sun. The few

moments each day that Jose is not

exploding, he is a sweet and caring boy

with hugs for everyone around him. His

slender frame wraps itself around the

assistant or teacher working with him and

his desparate need for love and attention

can be felt physically.

Jose came to the program two weeks ago

due to his day-care and foster mother's

concerns about his behavior. Jose appears

to be of normal intelligence but

emotionally Jose is a time bomb waiting to

explode. He has witnessed his mother and

step-father using drugs, and selling drugs.

He also watched his step-father attempt to

kill his mother by stabbing her. Jose has

been in foster care for two years with his

four brothers and sisters, all of whom

have behavior problems.

Jose reaches Chad's classroom and drops

him off. He then proceeds to his own class

next door. Jose immediately throws his

bag on the floor and runs to the sand table

and begins digging.

"Jose, I'll hang up your coat and bag for

you," says Cassie, a sweet little four year

old girl.

Jose continues to dig for a second. "No!!

Don't you touch my stuff!! I'll kill you!"

he screams as he sprints at Cassie and

pushes her with incredible force onto the

floor.

Even Darci can't catch him as he runs past

her.

Jose hangs up his coat and bag and walks

up to Cassie and screams in her face.

Cassie begins to cry. Darci picks up Jose

and carries him off, kicking and

screaming curses at her. As Darci sits

down on the floor and attempts to sit Jose

in front of her, he bends his head down

and bites her.

Standing in the doorway for the past few

minutes is Dominic's mother. Dominic had

missed the bus and she brought him to

school herself. Dominic has a language

difficulty and attends the program

primarily for speech and language therapy

in a play-based environment. Dominic's

mother stares at the scene horrified and

heads down the hall toward the office.

***********************

"John, do you have a minute?" asks Darci.

She had been wanting to talk to John about

Jose for the past few days.

"Sure Darci, come on in," replies John,

the principal. "What's up?"

"Well, I know you have seen Jose, our

new student. He is with me for a least the

next six weeks. He is here for a diagnostic

placement," states Darci.

"Oh yeah, I have seen him. He's the little

one who was running down the hall the

other day? I caught up with him when he

was hiding under the nurses desk," laughs

John.

Darci grins, remembering the day that

Jose bolted out the classroom door and

reached the office before she, or either

aide could get up off the floor!!

"He started yelling that I was going to hit

him. I just asked him if I had ever hit him

before, and he said no. So I took his hand

and pulled him out. Cathy brought him

back to class. He's a pretty smart boy I

bet," laughs John.

"Yeah, he's pretty smart and fast too!! But

that is what I wanted to talk to you about.

I am worried that some of the teachers see

this going on and watch us carrying or

holding him and they don't quite know

how to take it. I just wanted to make sure

you understood how we discipline. Plus,

Jose is so angry, he'll say things that never

even happened if he thinks he will get

something out of it, like extra attention or

something," says Darci.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm in your room

everyday. I know what your dealing with

and how your doing it. You have your

hands full with this one though!! You do

know that Dominic's mother came to talk

to me. She saw you with Jose the other day

and wanted Dominic out of there. I

reassured her that Dominic was

appropriately placed and this was the best

environment for him to get the help he

needs. I also told her that each child in the

program was there for a reason and the

teachers were there to help them. She

seemed to be appeased for the time being,"

John reassures Darci.

"Great," says Darci, rolling her eyes. "I

better get back to my zoo, before there it

another casualty!"

***********************

"Darci, I wanted to talk to you. I don't

want you to take this personally, but I

don't know if I can keep working. I hate

to admit it, but Jose is wearing me out and

I'm not enjoying work anymore. I am

going to start looking for another position.

I'm sorry," Catchy says reluctantly.

"I understand, but I think we need to start

thinking about another placement for Jose.

I have been logging what has gone on each

day, and do you know that only two days

over the past three weeks were without

hitting? We have tried every sort of

behavior chart and modification program

I could think of and he doesn't seem to

respond to any rewards. If he does

respond to something positive, it only

takes a second for him to explode over

something. We don't even see it coming!

We have had bites, bloody noses, punches,

and kicks. Betty said that he even slapped

her aide across the face this morning. I

really think there is more going on here

than we know. I don't know if it is the

foster family, his visits with his mother,

or his brothers and sisters, but it has to be

something," Darci sighs.

Darci doesn't want to lose Cathy because

of one child. Cathy puts her heart into

these kids, and she is great with them. She

can also read Darci's mind and gets to

things before Darci evens asks. They were

a great team. Darci decides that it is time

for her to call her director and urge her to

come and observe. Perhaps, then, Jose can

be placed in a class that can help him more

than Darci can. In the meantime, Darci is

hoping Cathy doesn't find another job.

Study Questions:

1. How would you handle Dominic's

mother and her apparent disapproval with

her son's placement?

2. Is this Jose's most appropriate

placement? How can this situation be

better handled?

3. Is the principal's attitude toward Darci's

concern over her colleagues views of her

practical?

4. Darci has a problem with her aide

leaving. How can Darci help Cathy regain

her confidence and enthusiasm?