“Knowledge and human power are synonymous.”
- Sir Francis Bacon
No one enjoys paying taxes. We are told that is part of what we do as a society – we pool our resources to create programs and services for the common good. We are frequently reminded that we all benefit from a well-educated society. And who can say no to more money going to children or law enforcement of any sort.
Like throwing a buck at the homeless guy on the corner, we vote, we pay, we feel good. We’re proud of ourselves, and we tell our neighbors how good we are. Feel-good taxes are designed this way – a sort of societal penance. Nothing wrong with that, but let’s look at what actually happens to that feel-good money we are all obliged to pay.
Your taxes fund public education*.
Your taxes fund the Texas Education Agency, charged with oversight of public education*.
Your taxes fund state schools.
Your taxes fund DADS, the agency charged with oversight of the state schools.
*If everyone had access to appropriate public education, fewer people would need institutions like the state schools – more people would have the skills to live independent, productive lives.
Some really horrible things have occurred in state schools. Your taxes fund agencies to oversee the state schools to make sure these types of things do not occur.
Your taxes fund Adult Protective Services, part of the Department of Family and Protective Services, which you also fund.
Your taxes fund the police departments that investigate when horrible things occur.
Your taxes fund the district attorneys charged with prosecuting people who carry out horrible deeds in state schools.
That’s a lot of money.
Michael Nicholson was murdered in the Lubbock State School over clothes. To date no one has been prosecuted, and the Lubbock D.A. has stopped talking.
State School Death a Homicide
Improving Care Environment Proves Difficult for Lubbock State School
Officials Say They Started Making Changes Right Away
From Michael Nicholson’s mother:
“I am Michael Nicholson’s mother, he had an obsession with his clothing and would only wear one set (they had all his other clothing locked in a closet) and got agitated when they were being laundered. That is what was happening on the morning he was killed. Mr Smith decided to put other clothing on him and Michael would remove the clothing as soon as he could. Mr Smith was restraining him while other staff members dressed him and Mr Smith got violent after about two hours of abuse where he choked him with a towel while restraining him. MICHAEL WAS NEVER TO BE RESTRAINED DUE TO A REPAIRED BROKEN NECK , for some reason that was left out of this addition of the story. The State School had inserviced all staff a couple of weeks earlier that Michael was never to be restrained. Michael was not fighting back he was trying to get away from the three staff that were torturing him, he was cornered in HIS bedroom with no way out. I have the reports from Adult Protective Services, the Lubbock State School and the Medical Examiner’s autopsy report. The reports prove that Mr Smith laid across his torso until he was asphyxiated, blue and not breathing, the staff finished dressing him and then went to get an oxygen bottle (which they could not figure out how to use for a while) before CPR was started. He never recovered. The DA in Lubbock has informed me that a decision will be made this week about charges sent to the grand jury. So far the only punishment for the staff has be losing their jobs.”
In San Antonio a state school employee physically forced a resident to perform oral sex on another resident. Although this happened nearly a year ago, there have been no charges or arrests. A pervert was fired, and that was that. When the City of San Antonio received a public information request for information related to the police reports in this case, the city went straight to the Office of the Attorney General for a ruling. San Antonio State School Worker Fired for Sexual Abuse
Haseeb Chisty was beaten so severely by a Denton State School employee that he went from being able to walk, talk and eat the cheeseburgers he loved to a life confined to a wheelchair and fed by a tube. Although Chisty’s abuser confessed his crime to a drug counselor who then reported the confession, investigators still refused to issue a finding of abuse. Obstacle Hinders Family’s Quest for Justice / State School, Where a Retarded Man was Beaten Severely, Has Legal Immunity
In Corpus Christi state school employees used cell phones to film staged fights between disabled residents. Corpus Christi State School Investigated after ‘Fight Club’ Videos of Residents Found
So much money from hardworking Texans – your money – is going to fund people who do not do their jobs. It is going to fund and protect murderers.
When Hannah Overton’s disabled foster son, unbeknownst to her, got into the pantry, she was charged with murder when he died from salt poisoning. She sits in prison awaiting appeal while true murderers from the state schools walk free. The Wrongful Conviction of Hannah Overton
The obvious lesson is to be sure you work in the right environment if you get that itch to murder. If you are an exhausted tax paying adult with a disabled child, paying and paying and getting no respite, no access to appropriate education, no response from the agencies responsible for oversight… When these things happen, you’d better not go to sleep. You’d better not collapse from exhaustion. Texas government protects Texas government, and it comes after you, the sugar daddy, if you make a mistake.
Your taxes also fund the prison where this mother sits, charged with murder.
Still feeling good?
Vote carefully. Call your representatives. Demand answers from the Lubbock D.A. with a quick call to 806-775-1118 – ask them who is being prosecuted for the murder of Michael Nicholson in the Lubbock State School. Who has been arrested? A bad ass dude walks in to a disabled man’s room and puts a towel around his neck until the man turns blue and dies. Five witnesses, NO CHARGES FILED. A mom takes a nap and is in prison for MURDER.
Michelle Garcia Winner is holding workshops in Houston February 9 and 10. Does anyone know if the ESCs have parent stipends? There is a state law mandating that schools have to spend a certain amount of money on parent training. If you don’t get anywhere asking nicely, send the request in writing to the SPED director and be sure to request an answer in writing. Good luck! They send teachers to NELI conferences, so I’m not sure how anyone can object to paying for this. Transportation, lodging, meals, registration and funding for appropriate childcare would be an appropriate request.
