Manteca, Calif. — A special education teacher was forced on a paid leave and banned from being near children after being accused of ‘inappropriate behavior’.
Leo Bennett-Cauchon was accused of exhibiting ‘inappropriate behavior’ towards his student, an 8-year-old with autism, after hugging the young boy when the child allegedly asked him to. According to Bennett-Cauchon:
“I’ve been trained, if a student asks for a hug, you give a hug. I admit completely that I hugged him and let him sit in my lap when he said ‘sit.’ I picked him up when he said ‘up.’ This is a child that needs that physical contact.”
Bennett-Cauchon is protesting the sanction imposed against him by holding a sign that says “Let me teach. Bring back joy” outside the school district office.
School District representative Clark Burke says that they are merely trying to ensure that both its moral as well as legal obligations to protect students is in fact being exercised by the office.
The mother of the child with autism involved said that she supports Bennett-Cauchon, but police are still currently investigating the incident.
Source: Autism teacher protests removal for hugging