Well its a new day and I'm feeling much more stable.

I went to the doctor and the knee is fine. A sore muscle but otherwise the knee is O.K. The doctor, however, insists that I take the week off. This is how he explained it to me. When a situation like this occurs, the body is flooded with adrenalin, hormones, endorphins and a host of other chemicals. He says it takes about a week before the body returns to normal. He also said that if I return to the same environment, anything in that environment could trigger me and I might react in a way that could jeopardize my career. Sooo - I'm off for a week. The principal has been very kind and understanding (this may be because he witnessed the whole thing).

I realized by your posts that I left out alot of information. The boy does have an assistant working with him 1:1. As far as my qualifications? I have both the training and experience in special ed., although I am presently employed as a classroom teacher. He has an IEP and does not need behaviour modification (this was an isolated incident). The incident occurred partly because his assistant was absent that day and there was a substitute. Autistic kids do not like changes! He has had substitutes before and I have always been able to
explain the change to him and while he doesn't like it, he has never reacted violently.

I would also like to say that I went into class yesterday to reassure my students that I was O.K. and to read them a story. The little boy in question sat on a chair next to me and stroked my forearm the entire time. I interpret this as an apology and that he has the capacity to feel remorse.

I am still angry. I am angry with his family. I am angry that they have never acknowledged that his behaviour has improved dramatically, that I have successfully integrated their son in class, that I taught him to read, that he is at grade level in math. I am angry that they permit him to misbehave at home and give him anything he wants to keep the peace. I am angry that they make and break appointments regularly. Mostly I am angry that they do not communicate with me and that they dump him in my class and treat me like a babysitter. I need their support and the little boy needs consistent behavioural expectations.

I am fortunate that I have the training (most teachers don't), that I have great support in class and from the administration. I just wish his parents would feed him properly, get him to bed on time and provide consistent expectations at home. I'm sure the reason the older sister was so "snarky" was because she would have to care for him at home (the parents work).

Oddly enough, I had been talking to the principal the day before about the possibility of teaching the next grade next year so that I could keep this boy in my class. I have, of course, withdrawn the request. Not because of the boy but because his parents have insulted me and treated me with no respect.

My remaining doubts are regarding the other students. How can we protect them? If he had kicked another child, the kick would have landed mid-section. Where has he learned this behaviour?

So what now? R&R!

Thanks for your thoughts. I will survive.