A mother’s secret recording of a teacher ranting at her six-year-old boy with autism has gone viral.
Lisa-Marie Quinn, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, posted a recording of her son Aodhan’s treatment at St Teresa’s Primary School on YouTube and Facebook.
Mum and son: Lisa-Marie Quinn and Aodhan, who wore a secret recording device that picked up a teacher yelling at him
The recording lasts 3 minutes and 20 seconds. In a Facebook post Quinn says the treatment at the Belfast school amounts to emotional abuse.
She says it left her son scared to go to bed at night because he knew he would have to face the same treatment the next day.
Secret recording device
Quinn says she approached the school several times over her son’s distress before sending him in with a secret recording device.
After Aodhan takes off his shoes the teacher is heard yelling, “Get that shoe on as fast as you can! That is an absolute disgrace. Why are your shoes off?”
As her rant continues she tells the boy: “Well, you’re going to have to grow up and do what you’re supposed to do in my school.” He was only five years old.
Quinn says her son was locked in a classroom at breaktime with a second teacher, who ignored his distress.
Why don’t you know I’m here?
Towards the end of the clip Aodhan repeatedly tries to attract this teacher’s attention. He pleads: “Why don’t you know I’m here?”
By yesterday (22 June) the clip had achieved almost 200,000 viewings on YouTube.
Quinn, 29, said she immediately removed her son from the school. She said the teacher who locked her boy in the room went on sick leave before retiring. However, she said the teacher heard yelling remains at the school.
Northern Ireland’s Education Authority said it was working with the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools on the complaint.
To listen to the clip click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjDxzfdiOEU.
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Published: 22 June 2017
