February 09, 2004
Minister orders inquiry into school's caging of boy
Full story: The Australian
THE West Australian Education Department will investigate the case of a 12-year-old boy who was repeatedly locked in a cage at a Perth school, as experts yesterday denounced the practice as "child abuse". The department's announcement came as the behavioural expert who advised the school distanced himself from the incident, saying he played no role in the design, construction or operation of the enclosure. As revealed in The Australian yesterday, Perth woman Sheila Simons has waged an ongoing battle with the department since discovering her intellectually disabled grandson, Neil, had been locked in the enclosure at Kenwick School. The department recently agreed to remove the enclosure but has refused Ms Simons' requests to stand down the teachers involved and provide an assurance outdoor enclosures will not be used again. State Education Minister Alan Carpenter said he had asked the department director general Paul Albert to undertake a "complete investigation into all aspects of the issue". Assistant director of student services John Brigg said he was not aware of any outdoor facilities of that type being used at other WA government schools but could not rule out that possibility.Posted by stupefied
09:30 PM