Essays

I Had to write an essay for my PLS class and it was based on supreme court cases. I choose to do my report on the mentally retarded and handicapped. I choose this topic because I currently work with the mentally handicapped and thought I would better understand what I was writing about. I got into this one case, Pennhurst versus Halderman, It was about a federal-state funded school for the mentally retarded. The school was being accused of many diffrent aspects of abuse. If you are interested follow the link posted or google the name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennhurst_State_School The more I read about this case the more I realized that too often this kind of abuse goes on. YOu would think that there is no such abuse like this today, but I am here to witness that this is not the case. I can honestly say that I have never myself ever taken part in any kind of abuse but haqve often heard bits and pieces of situations that have taken place right where I work. I wonder where it is that the line is drawn on abuse and insanity?? Let me tell you these people are often not the easiest people to deal with on a daily basis. There is one guy whom I care for and He will carry on about how the kitchen has piosined him and he is not eating because of it. I can say with alot of confidence that I would not believe anyone in the kitchen would have the means or time to piosin him. Staff eats out of the same pan as he does and plates are made right before my eyes. So what piont do you believe tht there is abuse? Because there are other instances where I do feel very much like some of the treatment is not as well as it could be, should be, or maybe even would be if someone else was to run the facility. I do nut understand the finances of caringf for these people in mental facilities, but I do know that It cant be very good if you can put over 120 residents in a facility and charge them rent, feed them and take to and from doctor visits, but cant afford anything much beyond that. Anyhow.. I could go one about this subject but my main piont was to read the Pennhurst case just to inform yourself what kind of treatment some of your taxes do pay for.