Special Ed Teacher Charged With Abuse

March 23, 2009

Teacher Accused Of Keeping Student Strapped In Restraint Chair For Hours

WJXT-TV

updated 12:15 p.m. ET, Fri., March. 20, 2009

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A Duval County special education teacher removed from the

classroom after incidents in her classroom in September was arrested Tuesday and

charged with child abuse.

Rhona Silver, 53, was an exceptional-student teacher at Kernan Trail Elementary.

" Obviously, we're very concerned. Safety is our No. 1 priority here, " said Duval

County Public Schools spokeswoman Jill . " Immediately upon finding out,

we removed the teacher in order to do a thorough investigation. "

said Silver was barred from contact with students in October after

officials were told she kept an autistic student in her care strapped into a

special chair all day.

According to a police report, several class aides told investigators the teacher

" used physical restraints to keep him in a chair and he would sit with his pants

down for the duration. "

They reported the student was kept in the chair from 9 a.m. until the end of the

school day for three or four days in a row, allowing him out only for lunch.

When confronted by staff, Silver told them she was using the chair to

potty-train the boy. Detectives said the victim was one of seven students in

Silver's class at the time.

Parent Edgin said her son was in Silver's class last year, and she said

the teacher treated the parents and children well. However, after hearing the

recent allegations, she said she doesn't know what to think.

" I didn't expect that at all. It was heartbreaking, especially for all the kids.

Plus, my son was in there. The first thing I did was worry about mine, thinking

what if something happened to mine? " Edgin said.

One of Silver's neighbors told Channel 4 the teacher's arrest was also a

surprise to her.

" She's friendly. I feel like if I needed help, she would come over and help me.

It does surprise me. I feel like she is a good person. I have no reason to think

otherwise, " said neighbor Marilyn s.

Silver, who has been employed by Duval County schools for about 30 years, is in

a position with non-student contact pending the outcome of the criminal

investigation.

On Thursday, Silver was out of jail on bond. She is facing a charge of child

abuse -- a third-degree felony.

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