Teacher 'taped boy's mouth'

BBC News ^ | Tuesday, 10 February, 2004

[presidio9]

Education officials are investigating a claim by an 11-year-old boy with learning difficulties that a teacher taped his mouth to stop him talking in class. Ben Deacy alleges his mouth was taped during a lesson at Llanrumney High School, in Cardiff, last Thursday.

It is also claimed that the teacher involved in the incident wrote in a school report which the boy took home: "Excellent work - once I taped his mouth up!!"

The boy's mother, Kay Morgan, said the teacher's alleged actions were "stupid" and added that she was now keeping Ben, who cannot read or write, home from school.

Ben's mother Kay Morgan

Cardiff Council has confirmed that an investigation will be carried out.

The school's headmaster, Don Barnfield, told the South Wales Echo that the incident was "grave error".

He is reported to have said: "What seems to have happened is an inexperienced member of teaching staff has made a grave error. The pupil was talking a lot during the lesson and a piece of masking tape, a very small piece, was put on his lips.

"It was just a symbolic piece, if you like, to make the point that he needed to work quietly. It wasn't appropriate and goes against all our codes here in school.

"It was a very, very silly thing to do and I can understand Ben's family being very upset by this.

'Appropriate action'

"The tape wasn't put the long way over the mouth. It was a small piece going from the top to the bottom lip and wasn't blocking his breathing.

"It was totally inappropriate and I will need to take appropriate action."

Ms Morgan, 45, said her son had become "a bit quieter" since the incident.

She claimed the tape had been placed across Ben's mouth and he had been taken to see a doctor after getting an allergic rash.

Ms Morgan added: "He wants to go back to school because he does like it, but he doesn't want to see that teacher.

"If a parent had done that they would have the social services on to them.

School report

"Ben has a tendency to talk a lot but to tape his mouth up is just wrong.

"No teacher should be doing things like that to children - especially children like Ben who have special needs.

"He brought his school report home at the end of the day and I couldn't believe my eyes."

Ms Morgan added that she would make a complaint to Llanrumney High School.

A statement released on behalf of Cardiff Council said: "Prompt and appropriate action was taken following existing procedures and relevant actions are now being considered.

"Investigations will be carried out but it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage in accordance with clear procedure."

A South Wales Police spokesman said no official complaint had been made to them about the incident.

[presidio9]

[presidio9]

[Blood of Tyrants]

When I ws in grade school the teacher would have simply grabbed them up, marched them outside, and given them three swats from the "Board of Education". I don't care how "learning disabled" you were, very few people needed more than one "lesson" of this type. (Gasp! Shock! The HORROR!)

[EggsAckley]

Heheheh!

[OldFriend]

The best teacher my son ever had was a former Marine who had a four ft. long shade roller. He called it his 'attention stick' and would walk up and down the aisles of the classroom and if anyone was not properly engaged that stick slammed down on their desk. Oh yes, it certainly did get their attention.

Some parents complained and some kids were transferred out of the class.

It didnt' take long for order to be established and it was the best learning experience ever! We were thrilled that our son got to experience that man's teaching skills......and he will never be forgotten.

[Iron Matron]

"Excellent work - once I taped his mouth up!!"


LOL! Can we institute this in all schools? Could we also teach them to read and write?

[Marty]

Something is wrong here--the kid is 11 and listed as high school? What ages are in high school in that area? And, if the kid is 11 and can't read or write, he needs to be in a special ed environment where his particular problems can be addressed. If he's in mainstream classrooms, he is creating a problem and should be removed.

As for the tape--shouldn't happen, but the teacher should be able to have the student removed from his/her classroom so as to keep him from keeping others from being taught and learning. Disruptive students cost a lot as they hold others back by making the classroom inhospitable to those who want to learn.

[Ruth A.]

"It was just a symbolic piece, if you like, to make the point that he needed to work quietly. It wasn't appropriate and goes against all our codes here in school.

The official's reaction is a problem. The parent's reaction is the bigger problem. Let teachers teach. Kids don't listen can face some consequences of the parents can send them to a private school or homeschool.

He's quieter and produces excellent work after the tape. What does his mother want? Someone who fails in life.

[DeepInEnemyTerritory]

I just taped my 8 year old daughter's mouth last weekend because she was not doing her homework. I was also babysitting her 7 year old friend and taped his mouth as well. I used 2 inch thick packing tape and taped them up from ear to ear. It worked, they did their homework and they thought it was very funny. I guess I should be investigated. LOL

[Exit148]

"Teacher 'taped boy's mouth'"

Sounds good to me!

Aaaand --- how much better for the other kids in the class!

[Sloth]

Something is wrong here--the kid is 11 and listed as high school? What ages are in high school in that area?

This is from BBC -- the British have different terms for describing grades and schools.

[Xenalyte]

11 and can't read or write? Whose fault is that? Parents parents parents, anyone?

[Our man in washington]

Hey, watch that! If you make them do their homework and be disciplined, you run the risk of them growing up to be responsible adults. Then how can we guarantee they'll vote for endlessly increasing social programs that keep so many bureaucrats employed?

[TheSpottedOwl]

That teacher kicks butt! Too bad she's going to get in trouble. I would fully support a teacher's efforts in disciplining my kids, since if I do it, it's child abuse.

[Xenalyte]

Separated at birth?

[Sloth]

Looks like an improvement to me.

[presidio9]

Did you, by chance, see post 2 before you posted that sweetie?

[r9etb]

Education officials are investigating a claim by an 11-year-old boy with learning difficulties that a teacher taped his mouth to stop him talking in class. Ben Deacy alleges his mouth was taped during a lesson at Llanrumney High School, in Cardiff, last Thursday.

True story: when my wife was teaching, one day a kid wouldn't stop talking so she called him to the front of the class, and with great ceremony taped his mouth shut and sat him back down.

Another kid asked if she could tape his mouth shut, too. She agreed -- and soon every kid in the class had his or her mouth taped shut. The kids kept the tape on for the full hour -- the class was wonderfully silent, and she got a lot of teaching done... ;-)

[Xenalyte]

I did not, being a devotee of the Laz Posting Method, which requires me to avoid reading the article until after my first post. Eeeeeerie!

[presidio9]

Wanna bet some adult taped Laz's mouth shut a some point in his early history?