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Teacher’s Aides Accused of Abusing Students with Special Needs
Two teacher’s aides from a Montana middle school are facing felony charges of assault on a minor and endangering the welfare of children. Parents of five children with special needs are accusing Julie Parish and Kristina Marie Kallies of severely abusing their children, at least one of whom could not speak. There were twelve children in the class altogether, so it’s possible that other parents may come forward as well.
(I personally don’t like to hear the details of child abuse, so I’ll spare you specifics. The video below shows parents testifying about the abuse their children suffered if you want more information.)
“This is my worst nightmare come true,” one mother tearfully told the court. “I trusted these people.”
I believe that implicit in “these people” is not just the despicable teachers, but also the district that hired them and let this abuse go on as long as it did–a failure that also speaks to a system in which people charged with monumentally important jobs are overworked and underpaid. The average salary of a teacher’s aide in the U.S. is less than $20,000. This in no way excuses the abominable and criminal behavior of these two aides, but it does make it more understandable how a district hired teacher’s aides who have no business being anywhere near children.
Parish and Kallies face a maximum of five-and-a-half years in prison, which seems to me like a surprisingly lenient punishment. I think the school district should also be subject to an independent investigation.
I wish the families and their children strength throughout the healing process.
Photo: KFBB.com
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Knitty commented on Oct 26 09 at 4:43 pmMy god. I know this sort of thing is *extremely* rare, but it gives me pause about ever sending my non-verbal autistic daughter to school.
GP commented on Oct 26 09 at 5:04 pm5K bond and max 5 years in prison? That’s ridiculous…I am always a little shocked when I learn of the penalties for abusing children. They are not stiff enough.
Manjari commented on Oct 26 09 at 8:25 pmThis is so horrifying. They definitely deserve a longer sentence.
KS commented on Oct 26 09 at 10:28 pmAs the wife of a dedicated, masters-educated special education teacher who is a tireless advocate for children with disabilities, I’d like to ask something. Could you please make sure your headline matches with the actual story. You headline implicates teachers, when in fact the accused are teacher’s aides. For the multitudes that only read the headline, the take-home is very damaging to teachers. There is a vast difference in education level, behavior management expertise and experience between teachers and teacher’s aides. To neglect the difference is unfair to say the least.
dandhbeach commented on Oct 27 09 at 1:25 amThis is disturbing..why are they even hurting those with special needs? this is absurd..they should be charged!
Rosana commented on Oct 27 09 at 11:16 amThe sentences are not stiff enough and I do not think any sentence will be enough unless these so called people are banned from working with kids for life.
Hannah Tennant-Moore commented on Oct 27 09 at 4:00 pmKS, Thanks for making that important point. I’ve changed the title.
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