By Tony O’Reilly-
Ireland- A teacher is under investigation for alleged aggressive behavior towards an autistic student, triggering a fitness-to-teach inquiry.
The accusations, lodged by a special needs assistant (SNA), involve incidents in February 2019 where the teacher purportedly acted aggressively, including “reefing” ear defenders from the child’s head and shouting at him.
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The SNA claims to have witnessed these events while assisting the child, who is pre-verbal, during a jigsaw activity. The child, diagnosed with autism, wears ear defenders due to sound sensitivities.
The inquiry has directed that the names of the teaching staff, the pupil, parents and the school remain anonymous.
The pupil, who has very limited verbal ability and is acutely sensitive to noise, was in an autism class of six pupils with one teacher and two special needs assistants (SNAs) at a large mainstream primary school.
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The inquiry heard that when the child became frustrated during the activity, the teacher allegedly forcibly removed the ear defenders, shouted at the child, and threatened to deny him lunch. The SNA, who reported the incident to the deputy principal, contends that the child experienced distress as a result.
Further accusations involve a separate incident where the teacher is alleged to have lifted the child from the floor by pulling the child’s arm. The SNA claims the teacher’s actions caused further distress to the child.
The fitness-to-teach inquiry, examining allegations of misconduct and conduct contrary to upholding the profession’s reputation, also evaluates the school principal’s handling of complaints related to the incidents.
During the hearing, the child’s mother testified, detailing her son’s use of ear defenders due to sensitivities and the impact of the alleged incidents on him.
The Teaching Council panel heard that the teacher refutes the allegations, and the inquiry also includes an examination of the principal’s response to the complaints.
Eoghan O’Sullivan BL, counsel for the director of the Teaching Council, said if proven, the allegations against the teacher were “very serious indeed” and amounted to “disgraceful or dishonourable” conduct.
He said the principal’s response of not informing the boys’ parents about the alleged incidents and failing to interview the SNA as part of a disciplinary procedure following her complaint, if proven, amounted to poor professional behaviour and misconduct.
Mr O’Sullivan said the principal’s explanation – that he did not initially inform the boy’s parents due to his understanding that the process had to remain confidential – was “incorrect” and “absurd” in the eyes of some.
Helen Callinan- a consultant education trainer- acting as counsel for the teacher and principal, disputed the claims stating that many of the SNA’s assertions lacked credibility, she said, and were not endorsed by any other school staff.
Ms Callinan said the school’s vice principal had regular contact with the SNA about the allegations and that the SNA had later meetings with the school principal, despite her claims of feeling unsupported.
The inquiry heard that the principal would give evidence to say that he acted in a “wholly professional, fair and appropriate manner” and followed school policies for dealing with the issues at all times.
Ms Callinan said there was a close relationship between the SNA and the pupil’s family, with whom she served as a support worker, and that she had stayed in the family home, went on holidays with them and attended events organised by the pupil’s mother.
She also said that, contrary to not being asked to take part in the disciplinary investigation, the SNA was absent from school on the day the interview was due to take place.
Ms Callinan added that, as part of a “wide-ranging investigation”, teachers and SNAs in adjoining classrooms said they had never heard shouting and noted that the teacher kept the doors open to the classroom at all times.
“So, you are the only person who complained that the teacher raised his voice at all,” she said.
The SNA responded that she was the only other staff member in the classroom when each alleged incident occurred, and insisted they did happen.
“I have nothing to gain from making this up,” she said. “It’s bizarre that we’re at this point.”
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