By: Las Vegas Now Staff
An angry mother is demanding answers after she says her special needs son was taken from home without her knowledge or permission. Felicia Philips says an assistant principal showed up at her home and took her son, who was home sick, to school without contacting her.
Sixteen-year-old Devon Pollard is a junior at Spring Valley High School. Last Wednesday was testing day for the district, an important day for students but Devon was home sick. He’s a special needs student and says he got scared when he saw one of his assistant principals at his door threatening to suspend him if he didn’t get into her car.
The report filled out by Clark County School District police refers to the incident as suspicious circumstances/kidnapping.
Philips said she had Devon stay home from school because he didn’t feel good. She left for work and says about one hour later an assistant principal showed up at the house.
”It was a lady that worked at school. I recognized her, and she said ‘Devon are you going to school to take the test?’ I said ‘I don’t know I am not feeling well.’ She said ‘if you don’t I’m going to RPC you,’” said Pollard.
RPC stands for request parent conference and can sometimes lead to suspension. Pollard who is a special needs student and works at a second grade level, says he felt he had no other choice.
“She said ‘I’ll be outside waiting, I’ll give you give you five minutes,’” Devon said. He did get into the car and was taken to school. His mother is furious and says she was never contacted.
“To me this is like kidnapping a minor especially without a guardian’s authority. For somebody taking my son off my property. I don’t care if they want to take him to school. They can’t do that without a parent’s authority,” said Philips.
She says the principal at Spring Valley would not return her calls so she finally went to the school on Monday.
“They did apologize and told me it was wrong and asked me what I wanted for compensation. I said I did not know. Bottom line is this can not to happen again,” she said.
Philips says none of the emergency contacts on Devon’s personal chart were contacted, letting them know he was going to be picked up by an administrator. Eyewitness News did contact the high school principal but the phone calls were not returned. The school district says they cannot comment . Devon’s mom is now hoping to start a parent committee to help keep this from happening to other students.
I feel that the school should be held responsible for taking this child out of his home without his mother knowing, or saying it is ok.
It only goes to prove that not only should children never go with a stranger, but now also not even with people they know unles a parent says it is ok first.
If I were this childs parent, id be going after the school district, the school in question, and also the person that deemed it necessary to remove this child from his home.
Comment by Lynda Epton — April 8, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
This is an outrage! The school district has gone too far with this one! Special needs or not it is not the school districts’ responisibility to come to any home to pick up a child, ( unless it is a school district bus ). I hope the district fires the Assistant Principal & the Principal for this unlawful behavior. Mom - I hope you go all the way with this!! I know I would!
Comment by Tiffany — April 8, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
Sounds suspicious to me. This child & his mother knew how many days in advance that there was a test that is required by the student to take & he is sick. I have been that age at one time. I know every excuse on reasons why a child cannot go to school. The mother of this child should be ashamed of herself for raising such a fuss. She knew that there was a test that day & she let her child stay home. I am in no was defending this school. They were just as wrong by going to their house & removing him. The school messed up & so did this parent, by allowing him to stay home on a testing day. It was an error that should have never occurred on both parties.
Comment by Brian L — April 8, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
get over it lady! many student were notifed that there would be testing that specific date and for your son to come up with that excuse was not relaven. ALL students were too take the test at any cost unless they were a that hospital or dieing. so just drop it and ppay attention to your kid better because it has been almost a week now!!
Comment by sarah — April 8, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
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Pingback by Local Las Vegas >> Summerlin » Mother Claims School Official Kidnapped Teen — April 8, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
Who in the hell does this woman think she is? She should be demoted or terminated. This is unacceptable behavior!
Comment by Heather H — April 8, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
The fact that the principal did not respond to requests for comments makes this even more outrageous. This is another example (there seems to be a preponderance of examples!) of people in positions of authority overstepping their boundaries and apparently resenting the fact that they might be questioned. What amazing gall. I hope this parent gets satisfaction, and the assistant principal is thoroughly admonished.
Comment by Judy Butler — April 8, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
I agree with this mother. If I knew my son was at home sick and someone came and got him and took him from our home i would be very veryu upset and consider this kidnapping. Escpecially if I had no knowledge. If this had to happen, why did’nt the school contact the parent. Why do they think they have all of our phone numbers on file for. The school that my son goes to has our home, work and cell phone numbers, so in my opinion there is NO reason why this mother was not informed. Kidnapping is what it sounds like to me. Charge the Clark county school district and the person who thought they had the right to remove this sick child from the safety of his home.
Comment by sheila — April 8, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
I have also had negative run-ins with the school district on multiple occasions such as:
1. special needs daughter was allowed to leave school bus and take a city bus to D.T.C. no one has any answers other than I’m sorry this happened. they also wanted to put my daughter back on the same bus with the driver that let her leave the bus in the first place.
2. my other daughter was signed up for safekey after school program and the school let her leave assuming that she knew where she was going. I later got a call from a stranger that she stopped my daughter from running into main traffic on decatur blvd.
in both instances they were down played
Comment by James — April 8, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
Though the vice principal was wrong to place a child in her car without parent permission, PLEASE report WHY a school is so desperate to have 95% attendance on these test days. It is irresponsible not to give all of the information. As you know, according to No Child Left Behind, the school would not meet AYP if they did not have 95% attendance for the test ON THAT DAY ONLY. I doubt any school can boast of an attendance level this high on any normal day especially with school enrollments that are so extreme. Parents do not place an importance on education or testing in our current educational environment. They would rather excuse their behavior than correct it.
Comment by Beth Phillips — April 8, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
I call it KIDNAPPING!! An Assistant Principal with no common sense!!
Comment by Kathy Miller — April 8, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
This is a dangerous precedent if allowed to continue,
putting our children in danger’s way, opening the door
to pedophiles and other misfit’s in society. Where is
protocal we empower our civil servant’s to put in
place to ensure the safety of our future generation.
Comment by S.Fuentes — April 8, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
This is nothing NEW the administration of the CCSD have not been following policy for a longtime (20 plus Years)There is only one Principal in this town who is by the book and acts like he does indeed work for the taxpayers of our community. The rest are part of a cult and wouldn’t dare follow the RULES for fear of alienating there fellow Principals. Just try to attend one of there monthly meeting and see what they discuss. I guarantee you it wont be a discussion of following policy. I will be blackballed even worse for posting this message. What they fail to understand is its about the kids and not them and me.
Comment by Mark — April 8, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
I think what the school did was totally inappropriate and wrong. The school does not take place of the parent. They should never had taken her son out of the home without the mother’s permission. I believe the assistant principal made a very bad decision and should be reprimanded for his actions. As a parent, in this day and age, it is very difficult just being a good and responsible parent. School is for educating our children and if our kids break a rule, there are consequences. So if an educator breaks a rule, there are consequences. Lead by example. A bad decision was made and the assistant principal and school need to make it right so that this does not ever happen again to anyone!
Comment by Evelyn Velasquez — April 8, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
Bottom line, the school should definitely have contacted someone, not simply picked up the student. However, I am even more concerned as to why this student is referred to as “special” needs. Why should that matter? A student should NOT be picked up from their home and, if a student is needed at school, a guardian should be contacted first. IF the special needs label IS meant to imply the student was unable to decide for himself what to do in such a situation due to the fact that he is referred to as working at a second grade level, thus meaning the school took further advantage of the situation, why was the child left ALONE at home anyway? A few things, going even beyond the basic topic of the article, are raising red flags for me!
Comment by Heather — April 8, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
I have taught in the district for 25 years (special education) and this all stems from the “No Child Left Behind”. This young student was not capable of passing this assessment if he is functioning at a second grade level. Lets get real here, he is probably on an ” option two diploma” and will never graduate with a real diploma. How dare the administration do this to a working parent with a child with a disability. We need to have permission signed by the parents when ever we go out on a community based instruction or school outing. Believe me if the tables were turned and a teacher did this we would be fired!. Nothing will happen to that administration, just like the case with the special needs student locked in the closet. THE DISTRICT SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS AND STOP COVERING UP THEIR WRONG DOINGS.
Comment by kathy Pederson — April 8, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
Chris Saldana, how often is this child absent from school? Was this an important test for this child?
The Asst. principal has prolly done this mother a favor, jeezus, what the heck is her beef? What exactly were the motives of the school employee bringing the child to school??
Comment by Sandie — April 8, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
If this in fact IS what happened, then that teacher needs to be charged with kidnapping. NOBODY from any school has the right to go to your home and tell your child that he/she HAS to go to with them anywhere. That person needs to be punished for what she did!
Comment by Barb F — April 8, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
I understand the schools’ stance on kids being in school especially for testing, but i don’t feel the VP had any right to go to the woman’s home and threaten her child and remove him from his home w/o his mother’s knowledge. According to the mother, she gave him permission to be home. If anything, the VP should have contacted the mother once she arrived at the home. That was just dead wrong and if something had happened to the boy they would have denied responsibility.
Comment by JC — April 8, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
What the school did was against the law….What if there was a car accident? or he gotten sicker at school..did the school nurse check on him? Did they even have someone pick him up after…?? This is not right bottomline…That kid must have been scared…the mother should be angry.
Comment by DeShawn — April 8, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Clark County School District can thank their lucky stars this kid didnt have a medical emergency and or an automobile wreck while in the illegal presence of the Vice Perpetrator. This school administrator went way beyond the fiduciary duty of a school official. The Vice Principal should be remove permanently removed from her position, the Principal reprimanded, and a public announcement made addressing the school administrators mistake. Along with an apology to the student and his mother.
Comment by Rich P. — April 8, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
School District is out of line and needs to accept responsibility for it wrongful actions. The School Repersenative who went to that home should be charged with Kidnapping and given the Max Prison Time to be made an example of when Good goes Wrong and What happens when you step over your boundaries. The world is bases on a numbers game and if attendance was so important to have every warm body present by any means the principle should be charge as well for his or her intemidation tactics on staff. The mother needs parenting skills as well. She knew it was testing week and she shows that she doesn’t care about her sons welfare by not encouraging him to go to scholl and this is why he is at a 2nd grade level she wants to require the school to teach and raise her son while she probably never got involved in is academics sound like she use her son as bait and just landeed her big payday on accidenal stupidity.
Comment by Mike H. — April 8, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
I remember when I was in school not too long ago and if I was home sick my mom or dad was home with me….. where was this parent? Obviously not too concerned about their child….
Comment by Will P. — April 8, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
A few comments:
1. 95% of attendance is required for testing days regarding juniors, class of 2009, based on No Child Left Behind Act.
2. This 95% is as a component to meet AYP (annual yearly progress) regardless of placement in special education, 504, or general education.
3. A Student’s attendance is another component of AYP. Even if the student has a medical condition related to their disability that causes excessive absences.
4. Many schools are in year 3 of schools in need of improvement and do not want to get to year 4.
5. Could it have been handled differently? Probably, but schools can do some items in retrospect that were inappropriate, but the hanging cloud of Annual Yearly Progress is hanging over the school and whether or not it will meet the standards or fall behind.
6. Education is important and everything should be done to have students attend school on a consistent basis. We are one of the few countries that provides a FREE EDUCATION (so to speak)and the future of our country relies on the current generation to realize this and take advantage of it rather than be victims and have their mommies and daddies bail them out or make excuses for their behaviors.
Comment by CJ — April 8, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
As a parent of four kids and one being special needs the test he did are meaningless to anyone really. The district is only concerned with the mainstreem kids testing. I do not care if it was god that showed up to take the child to class–kidnapping is kidnapping!
Comment by Kathryn — April 8, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
I have a special needs daughter in Texas. We have been fighting the school all this year to make sure she gets the treatment required by law. We had to get a lawyer before the school administration took us serious. It shouldn’t have to be that way.
Now a bureacrat takes a child from his home without parental consent using intimidation to get compliance by the child. That is wrong!!!
This kind of crap is why so many children are enrolled in private schools and others are being home schooled. Parents are sick and tired of the public school system with it’s intimidation of parents and students to get compliance with what is best for the school’s statistics without regard to what is best for the child. Then to top it off, after 12 years of putting up with this crap the kids graduate without being able to read, write, or do math. Isn’t that the whole point of an education?
Teachers should be allowed to focus on teaching and not the socilaization of our children. I’ll socialize my children to my Christian values at home.
This mother has every right to be angry and I hope she sues the school and wins enough to take care of her son for life.
Jerry Orange
Husband & Father of 5
Fed up with the existing system.
Comment by Jerry Orange — April 9, 2008 @ 3:03 am
This is an unbelievable story but I believe it. I agree that this is kidnapping, intimidation, bullying of a student. The school official should be prosecuted, lose his/her job and be sued civily along with the school district.
I have also had problems with Clark County School District and their interference with students.
About 5 years ago I proposed to Clark County Superintendant of schools to allow a trial student non-punitive judicial system, in conjunction with the student government where students, nonstudents who have been pushed out, parents, teachers and and even neighbors could take grievances or ideas to a student run court system and be heard. Clark County School System refused to hear of it.
If a child or teacher or parent was having a problem or felt they were being treated unfaily or just had a good idea, they could file a petition to be heard by the students. The students would act as judge jury and defense lawyers with help of adults. This was proposed as an alternative to violence. It would help understand and eliminate bullyism. The jury would give a nonbinding, nonpunitive voluntary verdict to help children see the inside of other peoples feelings and issues and provide a relief valve for tense situations. It is a great idea and should be implimented but the Clark County Superintendent of Schools would not hear of it.
CCSD needs to be more concerned about their student “pushout” rate.
Comment by Bruce — April 9, 2008 @ 5:21 am
This is a suppliment to blog 23. I thought about this more and became even more infuriated. I hope this parent finds a good attorney and sues the crap out of CCSD and all people involved.
These tests really stress out children. My grandson got a terrible headache and was very upset and when I talked ro him I found he was only stressed about the test. I explained to him to just do his best and not stress, the test was testing the school not him. After that he never had a problem and did well on his tests. I believe the CCSD is couter productive and pushes students out rather than provides them with a good education that we are paying for. There are many improvements that could be made if only CCSD would listen, learn and become “educated”.
With that said though I would never let anyone from CCSD be with my chld alone. That is totally inappropriate by itself let alone kidnapping the child. No test is that important. CCSD has a very bad record of child sexual abuse by teachers that they need to be working on. The real question is: Who is testing and monitoring CCSD? They sure aren’t passing. The criminal/prison industry is their report card and CCSD is a failure.
Comment by Bruce — April 9, 2008 @ 5:47 am
Note to Felicia Philips:
Please find a good attorney and allow him to negotiate a settlement for you and your son.
Also ask him to include in the settlement the Student Judicial System that I briefly outlined above in post 23 and 24. This would be a great asset for students who are being bullyied by adults and teachers and principals. In this case, the school rather than having direct contact with a student, they would file a case before the student course and you would be allowed to come in with your son and even an attorney if you wanted to. You would then be able to hear the schools charges and prepare a defense just like in a real court except it would be stress free. It would be there where anyone can vent and resolve problems in a reasonable and civilized manner. It woould essentially be a non-punitive, non-binding dispute resolution forum. Possibly your son really stresses over these rediculas tests that the government is imposing on our children.
If you happen to read this, and would like to contact me, it’s Bruce at bdt5@cox.net
Comment by Bruce — April 9, 2008 @ 6:02 am
Also see
Las Vegas Principal’s ‘Code Z’ Discipline Under Investigation
www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=7305149
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Evidence Mounting Against Clark County Teacher
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=4241579
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Second School District Music Teacher Arrested
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=6595655
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Many, many more. Search for “teacher OR principal charged”
You will be disgusted with CCSD
Comment by Bruce — April 9, 2008 @ 6:22 am
Wake up parents of students enrolled in CCSD!!! What this Vice Principal did was kidnapping, plain and simple. Metro should handle this case as it was>>>>> KIDNAPPING!! There should be charges filled with Metro, not the school district Police or administrators, they will try to cover it up, as they do most things when they know they are wrong. I worked with Special needs students for many years at CCSD. If this boy only functions at a 3-4th grade level, what good would it be for him to take the test anyway ? The Mother should be upset, and think what it did to the student? He was scared and did not know what to do. Why wasn’t he allowed to call his Mother before the Vice principal forcefully took him from his home? It doesn’t matter how many days he has been out of school for illness or other reasons.CCSD thinks they own you and your family if you have a child enrolled and if you work for them also. I hope the Mom takes this to the highest court there is to have this school offical fired and prosecuted. Don’t give up Mom, keep fighting the CCSD!
Comment by Sharon — April 9, 2008 @ 7:23 am
One simple question on this subject??? Did the VP or others from that school go to every childs home that wasn’t at school that day and forcefully take them to school? Or was it done because he was a “Special Needs student” and knew they could get away with it?
Comment by Doug — April 9, 2008 @ 7:35 am
At this very same time on TV they are showing a group of girls beating up another girl. The excuse is YouTube, the internet, yatta yatta, but the fact is it’s bullyism, power and control over another person, like what this principal did to this child. She was simply a big BULLY.
Bullyism is taught to children from top down, schools employers parents who are bullied at work bully their won children and they grow up to be this principal. Kids aren’t born bullys nor are they born bad. It’s people like CCSD who lead and teach by bad example.
Comment by Bruce — April 9, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Were are we living China!!!, that’s kidnapping!!! that assistant principle should be in jail. Parents would go to jail for less of a crime and YES that is a crime!!! Wake up people!!!
Comment by Lisa — April 9, 2008 @ 10:53 am
I love how many of you just say to sue the district or the school, as if that will help anything. The CCSD is in a crisis as far as funding and testing scores. Sueing the district for a problem that did not cause any harm is stupid. This student obviously stayed home so he did not have to test. The principal should not have picked the child up without permission from the parent, so yes, they were probably wrong for doing that, but was anybody really hurt? The answer is no. No principal would return phone calls from the media in this situation, as that is what they are told to do. The school district never gets a fair rap on these issues, because they are not allowed to stand up for themselves and maybe give insight to why things were handled the way they were. I have never lived somewhere that is so suspicious of the schools as if their desire is to harm the children or put them down. There was a comment i read about schools not replacing parents. I agree with that, but in order for that to work, the parents have to do something other than blame everbody else. PARENTS should do their job and send their kids to school with some sense. How about knowing that that day was a testing day and sending him there for it instead of staying home playing Xbox all day. I could go on forever but I am obviously in the minority on this thing.
Comment by leroy — April 9, 2008 @ 11:43 am
GIVE THESE ADMINISTRATORS AN AWARD FOR CARING ABOUT EACH AND EVERY KID!!!!
The kid should have been at school; the school should not have talked with the media about a specific student so they could not defend themselves; the mother is just another nut who wants some $ for nothing–isn’t it just like Vegas to be on the make and want something for nothing? We gripe about horrible schools, but when a school takes a stand and tries to do what is right for high standards, there is always some nut who will slam the school. Yes, if your kid is not @ school, then someone should go out EVERYDAY and get them and bring them in. Why do you think we have a 16% college degree rate and a 50% dropout rate–because of the idiots who think it is their right to do anything and everything that they want with no rules or regulations to govern them. Sweet Vegas, home of the scum and land of the ignorant.
Comment by Thomas Arnhlods — April 9, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
Just another example of NCLB, No Child Let Behind, gone bad. This administration was desperate enough to go “kidnap and threaten” a student to have them take a test that isn’t even reflected in the students grade, ONLY THE SCHOOLS GRADE (AYP). The administration of every school in CCSD has lost focus of what’s important and based it all on one poorly structured test. It’s sad that these students are being cheated a real school experience, instead of where the teachers and administration’s only seemed focus is how a student does on this CRT test. I wonder how much attention is placed on this particular student on other days. How much they really focus on his own goals, his own individual progress. It’s a real shame and CCSD should be held equally responsible for this mess. Although this administration’s actions were extreme, there are many examples of these shortcomings all over the district.
Comment by Greta — April 9, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
This is about “NO SCHOOL LEFT BEHIND”
These tests can create a lot of stress for kids. The emphasis is sipposed to be on the kids getting an education and not the schools and teachers making a living. If the chld stays home becaus eof fear of tests, it means the schools are not doing their job and they’re not.
CCSD is doing a poor job along with public schools all over the country. The answer is: I hope the parents sues like hell and gets enough money to get her child a good private education. If we had vouchers, CCSD would have to stand up to the plate or go out of existance. They, CCSD is a failure.
Another way to say it is: apparently the teachers and administrators are being paid too much money and drawing too much incompetence in their ranks and files.
It’s not a 50% dropout rate, it’s a 50% pushout rate.
Comment by Bruce — April 9, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
1. Did Mom notify the school about her son’s absence?
2. Would you leave a 2nd grader (or the education level of one) home alone? CHILD ENDANGERMENT!!!!!
3. These tests are proficiency exams mandated via the state. Students are required take and pass these exams to receive their diploma. California, New York and other states perform the same type of tests at a much more challenging level.
4. Not all teachers are monsters! Some actually care about the kids in Las Vegas like the administrators at this school.
5. If you don’t like the system, then VOTE, take civic action, write elected officials, or take a bigger role in your child’s education.
6. KLAS - Report the ENTIRE story and stop your negative bias against the school district; report good aspects about the educational system. No wonder your viewers, as the posts above have clearly pointed out, have a negative feeling of our schools.
Comment by Concerned Citizen — April 9, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
CCSD: “NO CHILDS BEHIND LEFT”
[This has got to be from one of those wonderful CCSD employees who wrote this:]
37. “GIVE THESE ADMINISTRATORS AN AWARD FOR CARING ABOUT EACH AND EVERY KID!!!! The kid should have been at school; [says you?]
the school should not have talked with the media about a specific student so they could not defend themselves; [Simple: don’t kidnap our children and you won’t have to defend yourselves]
the mother is just another nut who wants some $ for nothing [really? that’s your determination?] isn’t it just like Vegas to be on the make and want something for nothing?
We gripe about horrible schools, [for good reason yes?] but when a school takes a stand [Kidnapping is a stand? It is a crime, a felony to be exact] and tries to do what is right [right? kidnapping is right?] for high standards,[CCSD? high standards? isn’t that an oxymoron?] there is always some nut [that would be “working taxpayer” to you sir!] who will slam the school. Yes, if your kid is not @ school, then someone should go out EVERYDAY and get them and bring them in. Comment by Thomas Arnhlods
[Sir, can you please show us where you find that rule in your CCSD book of rules and behavior? Why not just have the State farm and feed them like so many cattle in a feed lot and send us the tab when the State gets fat enough.]
“Why do you think we have a 16% college degree rate and a 50% dropout rate–because of the idiots who think it is their right to do anything and everything that they want with no rules or regulations to govern them.” Comment by Thomas Arnhlods [I don’t want to bust your bubble but I can tell you exactly why CCSD has such a failing score . . . . ]
[and rules and regulations you say? What a concept, you seemed to have CCSD confused with someone who gives a dam! And with that said, why would you try to mix CCSD’s failure statistics with your fantasy of how great they are? Can you please point to that particular rule and regulation you refer to sir? Is this behavior the example you want for the children to follow? The “follow the bully” example?]
“Sweet Vegas, home of the scum and land of the ignorant.” Comment by Thomas Arnhlods — April 9, 2008 @ 2:14 pm”
[Talking about Scum and ignorant and rule violators, yes CCSD does fit that in many ways however I wouldn’t have chosen those words or were you refering to the taxpayers?]
Mr. Arnhlods, out of curiosity are you a teacher or an administrator with CCSD?
Comment by Bruce — April 9, 2008 @ 10:42 pm
This is ridiculous. Should the AP have spoken to a paren/guardian first? YES. Kidnapping charges? Come on! Many schools use this practice on test day, but it is customary to get permission first. Spring Valley erred there, but what was the intent? Were they trying to harm the young man? Even special education students must take the NHSPE or it counts against the school. Only MCS, nonverbal and/or very low functioning students don’t count. This child functioning on a 2nd grade level would be factored into AYP. Oh and if he is a minority or on free/reduced lunch that is another ding to AYP.Look at what happened at Freemont Middle School and that tells you what happens when a school doesn’t make AYP for 5 years. Instead of crucifying the AP, how about looking at the idiots in DC that wrote NCLB? The pressure placed on testing is extreme. The school owes the mother and the child an apology, but there was no malice behind the school’s move. Dumb move on the AP’s part, but I have two questions that concern me as a veteran educator: Why couldn’t mom be reached by phone? Why would a concerned parent drag her special needs child through this media scrutiny? Looks like some one is looking for a CCSD settlement check or is mom special needs too?
Comment by Roach — April 9, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
This isnt an outrage yes the administator should have asked for permission from the mother. But it seems like the mother is making a big deal over nothing.
It was a huge testing day which has been reminded to the students over and over for the past 3 weeks. So it seems sort of suspisious that the boy was “not feeling so well” on a testing day. All i think is that this lady should leave this alone.
Comment by annonymous — April 10, 2008 @ 6:26 am
This comment is for all the morons who are blaming the parent. If you read the article you would have read that the student was a special needs student and reads at a 2nd grade level. He was not going to pass testing anyway and you did not know what he was home sick with. He could have had the flu or been throwing up. Would you want your child who was testing exposed to a sick student?
Comment by Jamie — April 10, 2008 @ 10:10 am
You people don’t understand. Yes, the mother was wrong, keeping her son home(That was also the mothers choice). You do receive flyers from the school telling everyone about testing dates, but to have a government agency (schools, etc.) to come to your home and physically take (son, etc.) is not what this country is about! You can’t come into someone’s home and take anyone unless there is a police officer and he has given you your rights or is taking you out of an unsafe enviroment.
Comment by Lisa — April 10, 2008 @ 11:57 am
much ado about nothing
Comment by thomas simpshons — April 10, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
Do any of you know that every school must have a 95% attendance rate for that day? And if that school doesn’t reach the 95%, the school does not reach AYP? The school then loses funding. All CCSD school admin. does the same practice that day. If you want to point fingers, direct them to the state.
Why is KLAS the only station to pick this story up?much ado about nothing, is right!
Comment by Howie — April 10, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Houston we have a problem!
FYI: Every parent has the right to keep their child home for whatever reason they feel is important. It could be a teacher or principal molesting the child. CCSD should be more concerned about that than anything. The CCSD, the school, and its employees have no authority off the school grounds under any circumstances. If they suspect the child or parent is doing something illegal, they may only take their case to the applicable authorities and they must use due process of law, not make up the law as they go. This is an example of how far out of whack CCSD is and these people writing in defending the school and condemning the parent and the student without due process of law and equal protection under the law. I am appalled that CCSD, their employees and some of these readers do not believe in following the law and think violating the law is better than the child not taking some test. This is very telling about CCSD and I know I have dealt with the slugs before.
They are supposed to treat every child and parent (I know they don’t) with the same respect they want themselves. Teach by example in other words. CCSD does not own our children like they act like. If they are so damned concerned about their test results why don’t they just cheat like they cheat the kids and parents constitutional rights and the same way they cheat our children and the taxpayers out of the education that we pay for. That doesn’t seem to bother them so why does a test bother them? Why not give all the kids the day off and let the teachers, AP’s and principals take the tests and falsify the results. (That’s if they know the answers themselves).
I wouldn’t let my kid go if he just said he was anxious, I don’t give a dam about continuing to play the game by supporting this failed school system only to make it appear to be acceptable when it’s not.
We should have voucher so our schools and their employees have to compete like everyone else. Then you would see the real teachers stand out, they would draw more pay for their value and the slugs would become apparent and be weeded out, as they should along with the administrators including the Superintendent and his lame Assistant Superintendents.
CCSD is a failure by their own admission and test scores and by their master report card: The “pushout rate” and the “prison enrollment rate”. Those cannot be denied.
I’ve never seen a child who doesn’t have some value, some potential, some quality, but for some reason CCSD cannot find them and pushes the students out. Hell if the kid can’t do anything else he/she can surely get a job at CCSD as a slug or AP.
CCSD could begin by cleaning their own house before going to a special needs students house:
Evidence Mounting Against Clark County Teacher
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=4241579
Second School District Music Teacher Arrested
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=6595655
I-Team: School Bus Drivers Checked For Criminal History - Part 2
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=7322171
CCSD Teacher Under Investigation
http://blogs.lasvegasnow.com/nellis-sunrise/2008/01/23/7761327/
Families of Allegedly Abused Autistic Kids Sue CCSD
http://blogs.lasvegasnow.com/downtown/2008/01/30/7799391/
New Math Test Results Show Alarming Number of H.S. Students Failing
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=8079511
School Investigates Grade-Fixing Allegations
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=7845212
Nevada Gets Low Grade in Education
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=7601724
Las Vegas Teacher Suspended
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=4954021
Cops nab principal with teens
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2008/04/09/grace.principal.sex.cnn
Comment by Bruce — April 10, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
To 46 Howie — April 10, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
I am fabbergasted Howie. What CCSD did is illegal without question. If the rules are wrong then the rules are wrong and CCSD should be challenging the rules in court not in the students front yard. I cannot believe the people who try to justify breaking the law.
To 45 Thomas Simpshons — April 10, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
I understand your point so let me ask you this, is it alright for your employer or client whatever to come on your property and demand you report to work right then or you will be fired?
I’m interested in your response.
Comment by Bruce — April 10, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
I seriously cant believe how this community is. They elect a governor who has put this states education at the bottom of the list, cut the budget for education across the board. Yet then when a CCSD employee does what they have to me the FEDERAL law, its a crime.
I don’t see you crying foul when 1 or 2 of those “Special” needs children miss this test, and fail a school. That cuts funding to the district, and puts other kids education at risk. But this is a crime because a kid who by law is suppose to be at school was forced to be there.
I guess the CCSD should be suing the parents of those kids for million in lost education dollars. But then you would be cry about how pour and mistreated they are. Come on Vegas. No Child Left Behind has left so many children behind with education. It has forced schools to teach kids to pass a test. But you blame the schools for not giving the proper education. This is the law that Mr bush gave us, and this state helped elect him, so everyone in it has to pay for it.
BTW, the school has the right to RPC the mother. They gave her son a choice, to come to school, or his mom would be brought into school.
Comment by John — April 10, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
Bruce, if you think that you are all knowing about how CCSD should be run, then run for the School Board! Or volunteer at a school, so you can make a difference. Better yet, take your “Hurricane” knowledge and put it to good use and teach science to our students that will one day be taking care of you. Bruce, try and be the difference maker rather than the complaint department.
Comment by Howie — April 10, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
50 Howie — April 10, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
This is a matter for the Police and DA to investigate since CCSD employees broke the law. I don’t recall that a teacher was involved unless you have better information. I’m going by the news report.
A civil suit should also be filed because that is the only way these people respond and correct their wrong doings. You seem to take a defensive position to the idea that a crime has been committed and must be investigated. That leads me to believe that you have an interest in the outcome of the matter on the CCSD side. I can appreciate you wanting to protect them as you probably work for CCSD in some capacity yourself. Is that correct and do you have additional information that needs to be submitted and checked out? This would be the time to do it now that you are aware that it is a crime.
Comment by Bruce — April 10, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
I do not work for CCSD, but i am a grad from the system, and i have seen what teachers have to deal with everyday. From Students throwing chairs at teachers, to coming to school so drunk they pass out during class. yet people like you, and there parents blame the schools, and the system.
Then when a school fails is AYP, people like you Bruce jump on the district saying you pay to much money for them because they cant even do their job. I don’t know you, but i know your kind. People that think the public school system has failed, and is a waste of money. You listed a bunch of new reports about Nevada schools. Yet you refuse to list the fact that CCSD is one of the largest districts in the country, yet the state is either 48 or 49 in terms of spending per student. This is before that wonderful 4% cut. ARE YOU PROUD OF THAT FACT????? Are you proud to know that its not the district that is failing the students, its the people of this community that are failing them. You want so much, but when they say ok, to do that we need money. Then you say, not my money. Its the double standard that this state lives by.
Was it right for the school administrator to come get the student. Not my call, nor is it yours. But it is the responsibility of the parents to make sure there kids get to school everyday, is it not???
The question that should be asked. Why is a student with the mind of a 2nd grader at a high school. it is not safe for them. You cant put them in separate classes, because parents like this mother sue for because the school is segregating them. But really, if they only have the capacity of a 2nd grader, it cost you and I more to keep moving them up. Then you have to hire a personal teacher that goes class to class with them. I saw it when i was in high school. 1 student had her own personal teacher, that went to all classes from her freshman year to her senior year. You and I pay for that.
Comment by John — April 10, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
Response to 49 Comment by John — April 10, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
John with all due respect, you appear to be somewhat knowledgeable by quoting the schools rights, are you saying that the CCSD employee had the auhority to approach this underage child at his own home, on his own property without a warrent, without a parent or legal council and then tell him what he should do back by a threat? And then carry out the act by placing the child in the CCSD vehicle? What if there was an accident? What if the child has a mental illness or any illness unknown to CCSD? Are you sure this is the standing you wish to defend?
You don’t see the crime? Are you too just making up code off the top of your head like this CCSD employee did to fit her own personal agenda at the time?
And what happened to the other 5% of the students who were absent that day, were they also harassed and intimidated or just this one special needs child? It will be easy to find who was and was not contacted and who followed and who didn’t. That will be a nice piece of information for the plaintiffs side.
Additionally, do you feel that the student or any student has the same rights as adults, including teachers and administrators? Or do you see them as subservient? It seems several of these responses are coming from a group of individuals who favor CCSD above student rights which is one of the major problems with CCSD today. That has been my experience with the Superintendant of Schools. If CCSD has no respect for the students, then why should any student reciprocate? Lead by example is the rule.
It seems a lot of these CCSD people are climbing on board to CCSD’s defense? Are you a CCSD employee yourself? Just curious, you don’t need to answer that.
Comment by Bruce — April 10, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
John,
“What the teachers have to deal with” as you say gives them no right to break the law. We are talking about a felony. The teachers have plenty of recourse for resolution and I do sympathize with them if they are abused. And you have accused me of something that is untrue. I do not condone bad behavior from students against teachers or anyone. That didn’t happen in this case though so you are wrong. This case is the opposite, bad behavior by the adult against the child.
If there is abuse or property damage or an individual hurts an individual or becomes out of control, disruptive or violent, that’s what the 911 buttons are for. No adults or students should be subjected to any abuse or fear or intimidation or bullyism.
I have done something myself though to atempt to improve the school situation to prevent another Columbine style massacre. Several years ago I had an became aware of an incident with CCSD and as a result I proposed a simple Student Judicial System to CCSD where students and teachers alike could resolve brewing issues and hopefully defuse tensions. CCSD refused to hear it and refused to try it even in one school on a trial basis. There was no cost to it. It could be done after school and using interested students. You may even like my concept. I have no sympathy now for CCSD now that it has backfired in their lap.
Sometimes there are simple differences in opinions or hurt feelings or misunderstandings, a Student Judicial System can resolve a lot of problems before they become major problems. It would be a form of mediation, venting, pressure relief. but run by the students just like the student council. CCSD should have tried it. They’ve had many years to think about it.
The schools system has been failing since my time. It failed me, I know and that was back in the 40’s and 50’s. It hasn’t improved since then. It’s as much of a failure as the American Automobile Cartel in Michigan and the Oil Cartel who is still building cars with cast iron drive trains and fossil fuel internal combustion engines. It’s a profitable Industry just as the Educational Industry and the Prison Industry is. “No need to fix it if it’s profitable right?” Or so they think.
You said and I quote “Was it right for the school administrator to come get the student. Not my call, nor is it yours. But it is the responsibility of the parents to make sure there kids get to school everyday, is it not???” Let me correct you. It may not be your call if you don’t want to do what’s right but don’t tell me what to do. I plan to be a witness in court if possible. So it is my call thank you. Now that’s the difference between you and I. You will accept failure where I won’t.
Then you state “the question that should be asked . . . . “. Again you are wrong. There may be aggravating and mitigating circumstance but they in no way allow a crime like this to be committed and go uninvestigated. The Police should do their job and the court will hear the case and factor in the evidence. That is not a determination that can be made at this time.
It’s good you had a good life but all kids don’t have that. The school has an obligation to educate all kids to their best ability not 50% of them and push the other 50% out.
Cheers,
Comment by Bruce — April 10, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
For those who don’t know or don’thave children or don’t know about special chidren with issues I submit the following:
Children are especially vulnerable to bullyism especially when it is done by an adult, someone of authority who they have been taught to respect and depend on. It can do a lot of damage to their being, to their self esteem something most children are in the process of trying to understand their selves and their environment. Children are fragile beings and don’t have the same advantage of an adult, especially a high functioning educated adult. The scale is tipped disproportionately to the adults side.
In this case this adult, while breaking the law, abused her power over this child, a child that already had a disadvantage and questions about the integrity of society, CCSD and the aduts around him. He has that right as a human being. He has the right to examine and decide for himself what role in life he is comfortable playing. He may have a learning disorder as most of us do and feel CCSD is not appropriate for him at this time. Life is not a zoo, we are not caged circus animals being trained to entertain. Everyone has rights as do animals.
We as society have to get ver this idea that we are all destined to work for the State or the Corporation. There are infinite options for children and people and they should be respected to examine those options.
We should be rethinking the role of public education, it hasn’t totally worked for decades. What I mean it is progressively getting more broken, not getting better. That does not mean that all don’t benefit but it means many don’t benefit, many don’t get our moneys worth, many don’t get an equal opportunity at life. That can be fixed and must be fixed. However It cannot be fixed internally by the same people do the same thing over and over - that is, as Einstein said, “is insanity”.
To begin to fix the public school system, first there must be an aknowledgement and acceptance of the failure(s). Continued denial cannot exist in the same room. Secondly many different models and ideas must be put together and tried find the best route for different students and students needs are like a rainbow of colors, they are infinite. Many learning tools may need to be customized for special needs students if we believe they have the right to find happiness and fulfullment in life. Once they can achieve that, they can necome productive people in some capacity. We should never rule out anyone but the schools have been. Everyone has the constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness, our ultimate goal for life.
What this school employee did was shocking and unconscionable for anyone. It shows the flawed mentality, thinking and educational results of this very system. It shows the very core problem of CCSD. The minority of people who have climbed onboard on the side of CCSD, probably employees or benefactors in some way to public education crises, are also indicative of the growing flawed mentality and thinking.
“Blame it on the parent” we can to some degree blame it on the parent except for this: The parent is often time uneducated and does not have the same power or skills or tools as the “person of authority”. Who’s fault is that? The same people who continue to take pay to do a job but still continue to neglect a large part of society.
“Blame it on the educator” Well sorry to say but these are the people who said “yes I can do this job and want to do this job” They are the focal point when the axe falls. They must stand up to the plate and do a self examination. They are in fact taking money to do a job. If they don’t like the job, can’t do the job or don’t like the rules they themselves are teaching, then they must be accoutable because their work is failing and it is showing. That core failure is doing more damage to our society that all the terrorism we have ever encountered as a nation.
As for this lady and her son, they have little power with few options and little knowledge. They are more the majority of the victims of this failure. They are only trying to conform and survive to and increasingly bad situation.
As for the educators or anyone wanting to become an educator: Either change it, fix it, or get out of the way!
There are solutions, simple inexpensive and easy solutions but no one is thinking or listening or caring or trying. Especially not CCSD
Comment by Bruce — April 11, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Bruce,
Get a life!
Comment by Howie — April 13, 2008 @ 8:41 pm
I am wondering what has happened to this incident. Is there any investigation going on? Either by the school district or the police?
Comment by Lisa — April 16, 2008 @ 11:50 am