Parents Voice Frustration in Teacher Accused of Abusing Autistic Child

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Several parents whose children who attended Kernan Trail Elementary are growing frustrated waiting to learn what will happen to a teacher accused of abusing an autistic child.

Rhona Silver, 55, this spring was arrested following an incident that involved a restraining chair used at the school last September.

Police reports reveal that Silver, according to witnesses, restrained a child in the special chair for more than five hours, several days in a row.

"You got mothers out there that we are going to fight for our kids," said one mother, who did not want her name used and says she pulled her child from Kernan Trail.

Another mother who has been involved in the investigation told First Coast News, "These children don't have a voice; nobody is talking for them."

A supplemental police report that's 19 pages long sheds some light what happened in the classroom of preschool autistic children.

The supervisor of autistic serves for the school system, Terrie Bennett, told investigators that no child in Silver's class would have required the use of a Rifton chair.

Silver, in correspondence with the school board, denied any such incident occurred. Her attorney also noted when the alleged incident happened, Silver was "occupied by teaching" and was not a "primary toilet trainer."

Prosecutor Alan Mizrahi, who is supervising the Silver case, said the case is still under investigation. Silver has another court date for arraignment set for Wednesday, July 1.

The school board is moving forward with a termination hearing. That hearing is scheduled for September 2.

©2010 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.