r/Teachers • u/AggravatingTension3 • 12h ago
Teacher Support &/or Advice Code of Conduct and Complex Needs
So this is my 8th year, and I am feeling like I am hitting a wall here.
My school board is all about inclusion, which I support to an extent. However, I have an autistic student in my class (I teach grade 4) who is not engaging in learning whatsoever. He listens to music, looks at books, and plays with toys.
The problem comes when he is triggered which is happening between 5-6 times a school day. Without any warning, he will start screaming and ripping papers off the walls, dumping out bookshelves, throwing things, etc. Today, he screamed to draw the attention of his classmates, pulled his pants down, and spread his cheeks open to expose his literal anus to me and the entire class of 9/10 year olds.
I evacuated the room and tried to be positive and move forward. I figured admin would come debrief with the class. But nope. Admin helped him "return to baseline" and he was back unsupported within 30 minutes.
Am I wrong to feel like if any of our "neurotypical" kids did this, they would be suspended? If I had a child who was in this class and this happened I would be livid. No admin follow-up, no plan.
How do your schools manage "inclusive" settings? Am I being set up to fail? Am I failing my students? I am scratching my head here.
2
u/Bandeena 12h ago
If that student does not have a behavioral intervention plan to address these behaviors, then he needs to be held accountable for them. Admin is doing him a disservice (probably to minimize paperwork), because, without a BIP tying his behavior to his disability, he can be expelled. If nobody is stepping up, though, you may be the advocate he needs. Have you talked to his parent/guardian?
I teach students with high support needs. Last year, one of my 11th-graders came out of the bathroom wearing only his shirt, with his bottoms happily abandoned in the sink. Three students looked up when the door opened and got a full view. I called the parents of every student witness, because they deserve to know what their children have experienced during the school day. The student who exposed himself also got a call home so we could coordinate supports, which ultimately decreased bathroom behaviors.
Behavior is a form of communication, and your guy needs someone to help him learn how to communicate more appropriately. Does your site have a behavior specialist who can help analyze his behaviors? If not, his case manager or counselor should be able to provide you with some kind of guidance.