Sticks and stones may break your bones, but some words might get you canned. That's the lesson an Oxford, Pennsylvania high school principal learned after allegedly calling a student with bipolar disorder a "psychopath."
Apparently, during a meeting with the special needs student and his mother, Dr. David Madden was caught sending a text message in which he called the kid a "psychopath" and that he was worried this student would become another "Hinckley, Booth, or Oswald."
Further investigation revealed he may have also called the kid "the biggest accident waiting to happen" and "the inspiration for the CSI show on school killing sprees ..." in an email.
Now I have no idea what this principal has been dealing with when it came to this particular child. Madden may have been at his wits' end. And he is human and completely entitled to a personal opinion. But given his position, that was not an appropriate thing to do, especially in the middle of a meeting with a parent.
This kind of insensitivity is appalling, especially for a school administrator. Special needs kids require a great deal of patience and understanding and they need staff who are able to provide that.
An even bigger issue? He is the leader of that school and as such sets the tone others follow. Nasty remarks like that can suggest to other teachers it's OK to make snide, hurtful comments as well. After all, if the boss does it, why can't they. And what about the students. If the principal calls this kid names, doesn't it give bullies the green light to do it too?
Ultimately the school board decided to reinstate Madden with one condition -- he can no longer work with special needs students. Stories like this should be a warning to all parents -- not just those with special needs kids. We need to watch the messages and behaviors our children pick up from everyone in their lives. Clearly bad influences can come from adults as well as peers.
Do you think this principal did anything wrong?
Image via zalouk webdesign/Flickr
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Comments 31
He can think and say whatever he wants.
If he hadn't been "caught" then this wouldn't have effected anyone.
It was inappropriate for him to be texting during the meeting, which already makes me think he's a jerk. But as far as the content of the text, it depends on who he was texting. If it was other teachers at the school, then yes, it's a problem - that kind of leadership doesn't belong in schools. If it was his personal opinion expressed to his wife or a friend, then fine, he's entitled to an opinion. Though any teacher who thinks that sort of thing about a student with a mental illness is probably not very good at his job and has no business educating kids..
the4mutts- you are absolutely correct. Yes, it was incredibly wrong for the principal to be texting DURING the meeting, and the way he expressed his opinion was a little crass. But he is entitled to have one. Dr. Madden is the principal, and his job and primary concern is to be concerned for the safety of all of his students, not the feelings of one parent. If the principal feels the kid is a danger to his school, then he should be allowed to say so without be crucified.
Bi-polar people need meds and CAN be prone to violence. We don't see what it is that prompted this statement(s)
Also, I seriously doubt that the teachers hadn't noticed the kid was acting up.
4mutts - It's probably special needs so the school can get more money. Honestly, I just looked your question up and many of the items to facilitate a good environment for these kids should be used on ALL students. Smaller classrooms, allowed to go to bathroom or nurse as needed, allowed to have water bottle in class, etc.
Have you ever met an unmediated bipolar person in one of there 'episodes'? They ARE freakin psychopaths! And sense he didn't add the kids name, or say it to them I don't see the problem, it's his opinion. We are still allowed to have those aren't we? Or have you Nazi's banned those as well?