Six year old who shot teacher in Newport News Virginia update:

[phylny]

71. If I am recalling the information correctly,

the child’s behavior plan/IEP or 504 plan stipulated that the parents had to be in attendance with him at school. This day, they were not.

I used to work as a speech-language pathologist in public schools, and it is very difficult for 1) parents to agree to an alternative placement for their child and 2) for the district to justify/agree to pay for it. Many times, they wait until it’s too late for an alternative placement for such a behavioral problem.

I don’t agree that this child was necessarily abused. Sure, his mother/father left the gun unsecured and the school was negligent that day and seemingly other days as well, but I’ve worked with children who had severe behavioral issues from a young age who have exhibited violent behavior. Hell, our own granddaughter is 19 months and she has never been stuck in her life but her go-to is to smack you in the face when she’s upset and she laughs when she’s disciplined. This is a new experience for me.