Is it just me being sensitive?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2006
Is it just me being sensitive?
1
Wed, 04-02-2008 - 7:29am

Or is anyone else bothered by the story in the news right now about the 3rd grade students that were planning to attack their teacher? I'm obviously bothered by how disturbing the very idea is, but I'm also really bothered by the description of the children. In every story I've read or heard, it had to be pointed out that the teacher was a "veteran teacher of students with learning disabilities." Great. As if the general public wasn't already weary or discriminating against people with disabilities. Now, the media has gone and given them a "reason." Those kids are dangerous, scary, and able to do harm. If this had been a group of asian students, or african american, or some other minority ethnicity, they would not have described the students in this way..."the teacher, a veteran teacher of students that are predominantly African American..." WHAT? We would have been outraged at the characterization and the fact that the description was necessary to begin with. I like having my daughter's diagnosis so that it gets us services. I do not like her being defined by her diagnosis, however. These students did not do any of the acts the preceded the attempted attack BECAUSE of their disability. What a nice story to put out there on Autism Awareness Day.

So am I just being sensitive or did this bug anyone else? :)

Laura
Isabella 1-4-05
Bryan 12-9-06

Laura Isabella 1-4-05 Bryan 12-9-06
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Wed, 04-02-2008 - 8:16am
I understand what you're saying, but I think the addition of her designation was thrown in there mainly there to drive sympathy for the teacher, not to demonize the kids.