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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/sep/01/victorian-education-deparment-investigates-child-forced-to-sit-on-beanbag-outside-class
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| Victorian education department investigates child forced to sit on beanbag outside class Victorian education department investigates child forced to sit on beanbag outside class | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Victoria’s education minister, James Merlino, has ordered his department to investigate the Merriang Special Development School after allegations that a student was made to sit outside on a beanbag during two school terms. | Victoria’s education minister, James Merlino, has ordered his department to investigate the Merriang Special Development School after allegations that a student was made to sit outside on a beanbag during two school terms. |
| A former teacher at the school made the allegations to the ABC’s 7.30 program, speaking on the condition of anonymity. | A former teacher at the school made the allegations to the ABC’s 7.30 program, speaking on the condition of anonymity. |
| The teacher said he returned from long service leave to find that the student’s behavioural difficulties were being “managed” by placing him outside on a beanbag for the entirety of term three and some of term four. | The teacher said he returned from long service leave to find that the student’s behavioural difficulties were being “managed” by placing him outside on a beanbag for the entirety of term three and some of term four. |
| Staff told the teacher that the student would sit outside for the six hours of the school day. | Staff told the teacher that the student would sit outside for the six hours of the school day. |
| “Sometimes he would walk around the yard, but very rarely,” the teacher told the ABC, adding that the boy was made to stay outside even during winter. | “Sometimes he would walk around the yard, but very rarely,” the teacher told the ABC, adding that the boy was made to stay outside even during winter. |
| “Mostly just sitting on the beanbag – he might have had an iPad at times.” | “Mostly just sitting on the beanbag – he might have had an iPad at times.” |
| Merlino said that the allegations were concerning: “I have asked my department to commission an independent review of this matter,” he said. | Merlino said that the allegations were concerning: “I have asked my department to commission an independent review of this matter,” he said. |
| “All students, including those with special needs, should have access to fair, safe and inclusive schools.” | “All students, including those with special needs, should have access to fair, safe and inclusive schools.” |
| The teacher said he did not report the incident to the education department at the time because he was on a one-year contract and felt powerless. | The teacher said he did not report the incident to the education department at the time because he was on a one-year contract and felt powerless. |
| The school caters for the learning and developmental needs of students who have an IQ of 55 and below. | The school caters for the learning and developmental needs of students who have an IQ of 55 and below. |
| According to the ABC report, the boy’s mother was unaware that her son’s behaviour was being managed in this way until she was alerted to what was happening by a different teacher and a teacher’s aide towards the end of last year. | According to the ABC report, the boy’s mother was unaware that her son’s behaviour was being managed in this way until she was alerted to what was happening by a different teacher and a teacher’s aide towards the end of last year. |
| “It shouldn’t have happened,” she told the ABC. “How many other kids has it happened to? How many will it happen to?” | “It shouldn’t have happened,” she told the ABC. “How many other kids has it happened to? How many will it happen to?” |
| A spokeswoman for the department of education and training said being placed outside the classroom was part of the student’s behaviour support plan. | A spokeswoman for the department of education and training said being placed outside the classroom was part of the student’s behaviour support plan. |
| “The student could access a quiet and calm space outside the classroom when he needed time away from the rest of the class,” she said. | “The student could access a quiet and calm space outside the classroom when he needed time away from the rest of the class,” she said. |
| “This space was in clear sight and able to be monitored by staff at all times. The school became concerned that the student was withdrawing from educational activities too frequently and appointed a full-time, dedicated education support worker in term four to work one-on-one with the student, which saw his engagement and educational outcomes at school improve significantly.” | “This space was in clear sight and able to be monitored by staff at all times. The school became concerned that the student was withdrawing from educational activities too frequently and appointed a full-time, dedicated education support worker in term four to work one-on-one with the student, which saw his engagement and educational outcomes at school improve significantly.” |
| The spokeswoman said the department took any issues raised about students with disabilities in its care very seriously and would commission an independent review into the incident. | The spokeswoman said the department took any issues raised about students with disabilities in its care very seriously and would commission an independent review into the incident. |
| The Victorian government is currently holding an inquiry into services for people with autism spectrum disorder, with stakeholders and community members invited to have their say on the availability and adequacy of services provided by the commonwealth, state and local governments across health, education, disability, housing, sport and employment services. | The Victorian government is currently holding an inquiry into services for people with autism spectrum disorder, with stakeholders and community members invited to have their say on the availability and adequacy of services provided by the commonwealth, state and local governments across health, education, disability, housing, sport and employment services. |