Special needs boy misses graduation ceremony due to clothing

Henderson, N.C. — The Vance County mother of an 11-year-old boy with special needs says her son was forced to miss his fifth-grade graduation because of the clothes he was wearing.

Jack Morgan said Friday that he was disappointed over not being allowed to attend the graduation and awards ceremony on Thursday at Aycock Elementary School in Henderson.

“I feel like a fool for not being able to attend my school graduation,” he said.

Jack's mother, Susan Morgan, said a dress code required all boys to wear a button-down shirt with a collar and dress or khaki pants to the event. It was a simple request for some, but not so easy for Jack.

“Jack can't wear those types of clothing because of his disability,” Susan Morgan explained.

Jack has numerous physical and mental disabilities, including severe Aspergers syndrome with which he struggles to wear certain textures. Instead, he wore sweatpants with a Polo shirt to school.

Because he did not meet the dress code, the principal sent him home.

“To have to leave school crying and miss his fifth-grade graduation, I think it could have been handled differently,” Susan Morgan said.

The mother said she talked with the school superintendent and he signed off on Jack wearing the outfit to an end-of-the-year dance.

She said he wore the outfit to the dance with no problem, but when it came to Jack's graduation ceremony, administrators had a change of heart.

“I feel it was discrimination,” Susan Morgan said.

The mother said she wants an explanation and apology from school administrators.

“I just think it was awful," she said. "I just think it wasn't fair to him."

Schools spokeswoman Terri Hedrick said Friday that the incident was handled at the school level.

“Vance County Schools does make any comment about any incident involving kids in our school system," Hedrick added.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Norman Shearin Jr. said Tuesday that the school's records show no documentation of Jack having Aspergers syndrome or autism.

“The mother (also) made no mention of this young man having Aspergers syndrome or Autism to anyone in the school or school system until the issue of the pants came up last Wednesday," Shearin said.

According to Shearin, the school principal offered to buy Jack the correct type of pants for the graduation ceremony, but his mother refused. The superintendent also said the school didn't send Jack home, but that the mother came to pick him up.

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Enough is enough. Not one single person that has posted a comment knows all the facts - 100% for sure and for certain. There are only a handful that work in the school system that do, plus Jack and his mother. He was not rejected, mistreated, or any other word you chose to use in your comments, only treated with kindness by folks willing to help. As far as the inconsistencies some of you mentioned, you can thank the media for that; they should not have been involved. Again, this would have been handled in a mature and professional manner within the school system if given the chance. For Jack's sake, let it rest...from one who knows.

sasha52
June 22, 2010 6:32 p.m.

Also, don't forbid a child with a disability to participate in a school activity. No matter what the excuse (and I agree we need to hear more from the school's side), we know too much about Autism and Aspergers for this to happen in this day and age. The repercussions of this can be tragic, as many kids with Aspergers especially don't necessarily have the coping mechanisms to handle rejection like this.

If Jack's family would like info on our adaptive clothing line for children with Autism, Aspergers and Sensory Processing Disorder, please email me at info@softclothing.net.

jessicaralli
June 18, 2010 10:27 a.m.

I am a special educator from NYC. I think the complexity of this issue makes it a difficult situation for both the school and the parent, and especially the child. Tactile Defensiveness, which it seems is part of Jack's Aspergers diagnosis, is a real and quite common problem. I created an adaptive clothing line to address this problem, and I receive hundreds of emails from parents every week with similar stories--their children were kicked off sports teams, might not be included in a school assembly, can't be in the church choir, a family member is disappointed in the family holiday picture because the child couldn't properly dress up. There are many ways to work with this problem, through occupational therapy, adaptive clothing (which there is not enough of), and more. The community can help by being understanding--and asking questions if they do not understand a problem. Parents of children like Jack have to go through a lot of judgement--so before you judge, ask.

jessicaralli
June 18, 2010 10:23 a.m.

The inconsistencies in the report raise serious red flags with me. It sounds like the Principal vetoed the decision of the Superintendant (if the report is accurate). The immediate question I asked on Friday when I first saw the report is "Why." The answer I came up with is perhaps there are two stories being told that are not consistent. One story being told to the school. Another story being told to the Superintendent.

The inconsistencies raised by the edit to the story (at the tail of the print story) makes that hypothesis seem even more likely.

Was there ever a dialogue between the mother and the administration before the dance and graduation?

What is the status of the childs developmental condition?

Why did the mother go to the Superintendent of Schools, bypassing the Principal?

Why didn't the mother approach the child with a choice, would you rather wear these pants and go to graduation, or not go and wear the sweat pants? Then it would be the childs choice.

mromnek
June 16, 2010 6:17 p.m.

and to finish it up...Because of the media, most Americans are programmed to migrate toward the 'bad news' - it's as though they're eager to hear the worst. This story, indeed, has had an impact on us. We, as educators, will not give up - we're here for the children.

sasha52
June 16, 2010 6:10 p.m.