Teacher Charged with Abusing Autistic Elementary Student

Rhona Silver

By: Ryan Duffy

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A Duval County school teacher has been arrested on charges of abuse against an autistic elementary student.

55-year-old Rhona Silver was a teacher at Kernan Trail Elementary and was arrested Tuesday.

Police say last September she forced one student to sit on a "self contained toilet chair" in restraints with his pants down for the entire school day and only a short break for lunch.

And police say this continued for three to four days

Two teachers aids and an intern were also in the class of six autistic children at the time and told police Silver was the one that put the child in the chair.

"We take these things very seriously which is why when we immediately heard about the incident we removed her from the classroom while we did our investigation. So the school system takes this very seriously any sort of misuse of equipment," says Jill Johnson with Duval County Schools.

Silver was kept out of the classroom from the time the abuse was reported last year until her arrest.

The district does use the "Rifton Chairs" as they're called, but they are not supposed to be used as punishment.

Thursday parents picking up their children at Kernan Trail were stunned to hear one of the teachers had been arrested.

"Excellent school, both my kids go here, excellent school, never had any complaints and just very shocking to hear that," says parent Melissa Matthews.

Silver is a 30 year veteran teacher in Duval County Schools, she was both arrested and released on bail Tuesday.

Source: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...134174&catid=3

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