MINA Breaking News - Australian School Keeps Autistic Children in a Cage

Skopje, Macedonia

Australian School Keeps Autistic Children in a Cage

Thursday, 11 March 2010

A SYDNEY primary school that pens children with autism in a fenced area at lunchtimes should be investigated for human rights violations.

Parents with children at Seven Hills West Public School are angry that pupils with special needs are placed inside a fenced enclosure that has one tree, a bench and a dirt floor.
But the NSW Department of Education has defended the enclosure, saying it is used for new students with disabilities if they require more intense supervision while they adjust to school.

The school has 52 students with special needs.

But Coalition disability spokesman Andrew Constance said the treatment of children with autism at the school was inhumane and called for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to investigate.

"To see the type of facility which autistic children are being penned in is outrageous," he said.
"I've seen cattle yards in better condition.

"You cannot treat children with autism in this way.
"I think it is in breach of every anti-discrimination act in the country."

The Department of Education said in a statement the enclosure was set up after parents raised safety issues.

"The school is located on a busy road. Without this area, the students may leave the school grounds and could potentially be injured," the department said.

"Some of these children have no sense of boundaries and do not respond to staff asking them to stop.

"Once the school is satisfied a student will listen to directions from staff members and is also aware of playground boundaries, the child can use the playground."

The department said any student in the school could use this area if they chose.

"The area is never locked and students are supervised by a school learning support officer at all times," it added.

"Students are actively engaged in play and can leave the area to use other school facilities like the library."

In 2008, a number of parents of the students with disabilities raised safety issues with the school about their children leaving the school grounds.

"This fenced off area was created as a result of these concerns," the department said.

Comments (1)

	1. 19-03-2010 03:19
	Seven Hills West Public School. Parent T Walked out of a great class after teaching a vocational class Thursday afternoon and straight into the media maelstrom surrounding Seven Hills West Public School. Let me open by saying that I am one of many parents who are truly involved in this school community and the school has a wonderful culture of caring and inclusivity in every aspect and at all times. We have praised the school on many occasions and in writing to the education dept including about the inclusive nature in which they conduct themselves. I know how hard the teachers, parents and students work to maintain a solid school community and inclusive attitudes amongst the students. Many times I have sat in assembly and watched our special needs kids give wonderful performances in class presentations and speeches in mainstream Public Speaking Competitions. Perhaps the media should be talking to the parents who actually take part in the school and are educated and informed enough to understand the inclusive culture of the school. I speak to staff on a daily basis on a whole range of things that are happening in the school. I think that there are few people more qualified than me within the school community to comment. We chose Seven Hills West Public School because of its inclusive culture and great learning outcomes. There is NEVER outrage over the creation of a safe and appropriate environment for children to play in and this is what the area within the mainstream playground is. I looked across the leafy playground last Friday and across to the beautiful heritage listed tree that has caused all this and I thought how calming and well planned the playground was. The well appointed park benches that surround the tree and the highly visible adjacent mainstream playground where children are incouraged to interact. The children are NEVER left alone and are provided with activities to encourage stimulate minds and senses while in the playground. They are allowed to go to the toilet when they require to do so. I have never heard the children refer to the area as cage or pig pen. Our children are better educated than that. I spoke to Stuart Bocking on 2UE on Thursday night live on air and supported the school and the incredible programs that the school runs and the wonderfully inclusive culture of the school. He went out to the school and examined the area. His comments were positive and inclusive and informed because he went to the school and saw the playground first hand. Seven Hills West Public School is an impeccable school and its all because of the caring, talented and passionate principal and her incredible staff. I would like to commend the teachers on the way they all calmed the children and treated the situation appropriately.Teachers calmed hysterical parents as they gathered at the school worried that something terrible had happened to their children. If teachers and staff had not been so quick to respond, the children would have been traumatised by this experience, well done, you are all a credit to this great school. Guest

Kirsten Redshaw

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