Special education story was not balanced

Dear Editor,

As I read your article titled, "This abuse must stop" [Dec. 19], I was offended not just by the article but the title as well. I am a special education teacher within Chesterfield County. Aren't there always at least two sides to every story? This article was obviously biased against the schools and special education teachers and aides. Where are your comments from the teachers who you have called out in your article? How about our documentation from doctors and hospitals showing bruises, sprained appendages, scratches and bite marks? Would Mr. and Mrs. Greene have considered it an "extreme circumstance" if their child had left the building and run the short distance out onto a main road and gotten hit by a car?

I love my job - we are definitely not in it for the money. But just like real life, there are happy, pretty moments and then sad, ugly moments. No teacher enjoys restraining students despite what these parents think.

Our goal as educators is to keep the students safe. That means all students. If one child is out of control, what does that mean for the rest of the class? Should the teacher sit by while one student disrupts and impedes the learning of their classmates so as not to offend the parents? Why is the safety of the teachers not just as important as the safety of our students?

Your article was an unfair representation of situations that are very difficult to deal with. I believe you were negligent in your reporting by not attempting to contact the school or the teachers that you have dubbed as abusers. I would like to challenge anyone who thinks they know what "really" goes on in these classrooms, especially with students who have severe behavior problems, to come and do a "better" job. So, let's stop attacking the teachers and find a way for the parents and teachers to work together for the betterment of the student and his or her peers.

A Chesterfield special education teacher

(Name withheld by request)

According to Community Relations Director Debra Marlow, it is against school policy for teachers and principals to discuss incidents related to specific students with the media, which is why the schools mentioned in the article were not contacted directly. Responses from the school system's community relations department were included in the story. Editor