[CCHS] Some fallout from L-S tragedy

[Art Dulong]

Good morning,

	I am sending this so that folks will not allow the public media to propel
them to jump to unwarranted conclusions.

	One of the results of the Lincoln-Sudbury tragedy is that many people are
hearing the term "Asbergers Syndrome" for the first time. Because the
perpetrator of the event is described as having this syndrome and because
his lawyer has made public reference to it some people are incorrectly
assuming that Asberger's Syndrome has something to do with violent
behavior. ASBERGERS  DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. 

	I am not an expert by any means, but Asbergers is a behavioral syndrome
along the autism spectrum that is characterized by an inability to read
social cues, among other things. This results in the child with the
syndrome often saying or doing something in social situations that might
seem out of place. But... the behavior they display is not typically
anti-social, violent, threatening, abusive, or otherwise problematic to
others. There is no direct or indirect link between this syndrome and
violent or anti-social behavior. The event at L-S is tragic and
regrettable, but, despite any "lawyer speak", is very unlikely to be truly
associated with the student's Asbergers Syndrome. I certainly do not know
what caused the boy to act in such a violent manner, but again, this
behavior is not characteristic of the Asbergers Syndrome.

	I would guess that every school in the United States has at least one
student with this diagnosed syndrome. Certainly CCHS has well trained
staff to care for such student issues. Recently Denise Carver, the School
Psychologist, spent a year on sabbatical studying this very illness and
has conducted numerous workshops for our sped staff to help them
understand the students with it and how to work with them. 

	Hope this is helpful.


Arthur Dulong
Principal, CCHS
(978) 341-2490 x7110