Schools Chancellor To Look Into Handcuffing Of Special Needs First-Grader
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The city's schools chancellor is looking into the handcuffing of a special needs first-grader in Maspeth, Queens.
Police handcuffed seven-year-old Joseph Anderson after he got upset while decorating Easter eggs in his class at P.S. 153 in Maspeth on April 13.
The New York Daily News reported that teachers had tried to calm him down, and when they couldn't, they called police to take him to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
Both the New York Police Department and the Department of Education say the action was taken for the safety of the boy and the other students.
Police also say the boy had a pair of scissors.
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said on Thursday he is planning to talk to the school's principal.
"There are occasions where it may need to be done and I think it's the responsibility of the principal and school safety to work together to make that determination," said Walcott. "But there are opportunities that present themselves where a student may be in danger to him or herself or to other students and those decisions have to be reached."
Assemblyman Karim Camara said he plans to introduce a law that would prevent police from handcuffing students until a policy can be put into place.