Back in August, we first told you about 3rd grader Mason Fowler who has Autism, and how his parents say a teacher at a Livingston ISD elementary school mishandled his condition.
The parents now say that the same teacher took it even further and put him in the hospital.
“It’s just been a nightmare,” said Jason Fowler, Mason’s father.
Fowler says his frustration with Livingston ISD’s administration and staff at Creekside Elementary School is only growing.
“Yesterday when Mason was on his way home from school, he was very distraught the bus driver pulled over to give us a call, he was crying I couldn’t understand a word he was saying,” Fowler said.
Fowler says the same teacher who took the video KPRC 2 showed back in August of Mason crying and ripping up paper, which he does to calm down, has now gotten physical.
“He was eating his lunch and doing a puzzle. The teacher had told him lunch was over, he said ‘I need a little more time I’m almost done with my food,’ she didn’t like the answer from what we got,” Fowler said.
That’s when Fowler says the teacher snatched Mason’s plate and threw it in the trash.
“He then called her a ‘B’ word upset. She took the food out of his mouth, he had a jacket… Yanked him up out of the desk and slammed him to the ground,” Fowler said.
Friday, we met the father and son at St Luke’s hospital in Livingston where they say they spent most of the day because of Mason’s bruised ribs, body pains, and lacerations.
When asked, how do you feel now? “Still hurting bad,” Mason replied.
Even though Mason has been released from the hospital his father says they have to monitor his neck pain and that if it persists, he may need an MRI. Mason’s parents are calling for the teacher and now the principal to be fired. They want the teacher to face criminal charges.
Livingston ISD released the following statement on Saturday:
“Livingston ISD seeks to provide our students with an exemplary education in partnership with our parents. In our professional judgment, attempts to sensationalize a student’s disabilities or challenges via the media are counterproductive to the long-term success of the child. Currently, news media is accusing Livingston ISD of failing to provide appropriate education to our students. This is false. LISD makes instructional and programmatic decisions in partnership with our parents and appropriate experts through the Admission, Review and Dismissal Committee process detailed in federal and state law. To date, the Parents of the subject of the news story have not consistently participated in the program development process, nor have they engaged with the campus or administration in the district’s formal resolution process to address their concerns. LISD has requested parental consent to comment with regard to the specific provision of educational services to the student at issue; however, to date, no release has been provided. Without permission from the parent to discuss the student, state and federal confidentiality laws prohibit LISD from presenting information that demonstrates the district is providing its students with Free Appropriate Public Education. Nevertheless, LISD is committed to the success of all our students and welcomes all parents to work with our staff to best serve the children of Livingston ISD.”
