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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A father is suing Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) after his 7-year-old son was taped to a chair last year by an elementary school teacher.
Tennessee schools are required to tell parents and guardians of any incident where restraint has been used with their child but the boy’s father says he was not notified.
After his child came home from school with what he called an “odd emotional response,” the father later learned what happened, and found out that another teacher found his child taped to his desk and cut him loose.
The child’s father is seeking damages of at least $300,000 to compensate for his son’s emotional and psychological injuries saying that the district was negligent and failed to properly care for his child or supervise its staff.
First grade teacher Donielle Rhone, a former caseworker for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), was placed on leave following allegations that she inappropriately restrained the child at an Antioch, Tennessee, elementary school.
An investigation into the incident was opened by both MNPS and the Metro Nashville Police Department at the time which a spokesperson for MNPS said was in accordance with the district’s policies and procedures.
In taping her student to a chair, Rhone violated district policies which state that children cannot be restrained as a means of punishment or retaliation, and “mechanical” restraints such as straps, lap belts, or ties are forbidden.
Under state law, restraint is defined as limiting a student’s freedom of movement by holding the child or by physical contact between teacher and student and is to be used as a last resort when there is a threat to the physical safety of the student or others.
Rhone, a graduate of Antioch High School in 2011, holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University and graduated in 2017 with a double major in Mental Health Services and Health.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
