Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Pete Olson Votes Against Safety in Public Schools

I keep wondering whether my congressman, Pete Olson, will ever be able to find the “YES” button on that voting box that he uses to cast his votes in congress.

Come to find out, my congressman, Pete Olson, voted against safety in public schools last March 3rd. Voted against public safety in a bill known as the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act.

I want to ask why, Pete? Were you beaten as a child? Does that make it OK to afflict physical or chemical abuse on children in public school?

Is it because what was good for you is good for all kids?

I swear, Pete, have you lost your mind?

Here is the first paragraph from bill summary found here:

“Keeping All Students Safe Act - (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Education (Secretary) to establish minimum standards that: (1) prohibit elementary and secondary school personnel from managing any student by using any mechanical or chemical restraint, physical restraint or escort that restricts breathing, or aversive behavioral intervention that compromises student health and safety; (2) prohibit such personnel from using physical restraint or seclusion, unless such measures are required to eliminate an imminent danger of physical injury to the student or others and certain precautions are taken; (3) require states to ensure that a sufficient number of school personnel receive state-approved crisis intervention training and certification in first aid and certain safe and effective student management techniques; (4) prohibit physical restraint or seclusion from being written into a student's education plan, individual safety plan, behavioral plan, or individual education program as a planned intervention; and (5) require schools to establish procedures to notify parents in a timely manner if physical restraint or seclusion is imposed on their child.”

This was pretty much a bipartisan bill, yet Pete Olson thought it was a bad idea. But just because it is a Democratic idea doesn’t make it a bad idea. Just because we don’t want our children to be physically abused in schools doesn’t mean Pete Olson needs to vote against it so Democrats don’t have a win in their column.

This is getting a little tough to take.

4 comments:

Floridamom said...

It's hard to believe that anyone would vote against a bill to protect children from being abused.

Please take a few minutes to leave a thank you note to Rep. Miller & Rep. McMorris Rodgers for their hard work on the federal bill for our children.
http://www.facebook.com/EdLaborCommittee

Next stop is the Senate HELP Committee and the the full Senate vote.

Regards,

Phyllis
Families Against Restraint and Seclusion
http://familiesagainstrestraintandseclusion.blogspot.com/

Troy Sim said...

I love you Morgan, but I'm thinking, what is Congress doing legislating laws regarding schools, which have been the exclusive domain of the state. Let Texans determine laws for Texas schools, not some politician thousands of miles away.

Hal said...

Ordinarily I would be all for that. States have traditionally regulated themselves in education and it has all worked out. However some states have fallen short and abuse has occurred as our society gets coarser and coarser. This bill sets minimum standards of conduct that are completely reasonable.

Voting against such a bill is inconceivable. Let's keep child abuse in the home where it belongs.

Delezzia said...

Texas does not have a great track record with schools, whether it's the the course of study or student safety. Hell, we have the lowest graduation rate in the country. Pitiful.