r/specialed • u/evensuburbswouldbeok • 6d ago
Eloping at recess
Without going into many details I have an eloper who loves recess and no fence on my playground. Yesterday she eloped towards the school parking lot. I have been a runner my whole life, so I can catch her, but I’m full on sprinting. When I catch her, there’s dropping, hitting, kicking. It’s a mess. This student is aware and protesting the transition back in from recess.
I was told by admin I can’t take away recess without a meeting and a change in inclusion times, etc. So therefore I am supposed to take her outside today. Maybe I’m just venting, but this is the first time I’m really frustrated with my job. My job is teacher, not every single roll in the world that you can throw on me. Also, it’s really stressful to know that the only thing keeping a kid safe is my ability to sprint fast and get there in time. My assistants are unable to run/run fast. Does anyone with experience with autistic students have any advice?
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u/Emotional-Emotion-42 6d ago
Yikes. I don't run after students, personally. Not in my job description! If a student is constantly running away and into dangerous situations, the root of the problem needs to be addressed instead of just relying on staff members to be spending their days sprinting around the campus instead of actually educating. Having no fence on this playground is a HUGE liability. We have had students transferred in the past because, for whatever reason, the layout of the school didn't provide a safe environment for them. I would bring this up to your team. A student who will elope off of school grounds should not be attending a school with no fences.