Big Education Stories Brewing in NJ
Looks like the Garden State is taking center stage in the education world. Two of the biggest stories in the nation around schools are happening right here.Start with this astonishing story in Cherry Hill:
After receiving reports that his son had become prone to violent outbursts, Stuart Chaifetz sent autistic 10-year-old Aikan to Horace Mann Elementary School with a recording device.Akian came back with 6.5 hours of tape filled with verbal and emotional abuse from his classroom aide and teacher. Stuart Chaifetz documented the tape and published it in a YouTube video.
According to Collingswood Patch, Chaifetz replays portions of audio with his son's special education teacher Kelly Altenburg and aide Jodi Sgouros. In the recording, voices tell Akian that he is "such a bastard," order him to "shut his mouth," and tell the child "no" when he asks for reassurances that he will see his father soon.
Stuart Chaifetz has started a website, a Facebook page, and placed a petition on Change.org asking New Jersey legislators to enact a zero tolerance policy for bullying by teachers or