Posted on 09/23/2007 7:43:27 PM PDT by Graybeard58
A six-year-old autistic boy has been charged criminally after an incident inside his school where he allegedly assaulted a teacher's aide.
It's a story you saw first on 9News.
The incident happened earlier this month at Taylor Elementary School in Brooksville, Ky., located in Bracken County.
He is in kindergarten at Taylor Elementary, but 9News was told that due to his autism and other conditions, his mental capacity is the equivalent to a child half his age.
But despite that condition and his age, it still hasn't stopped a school employee there from holding him accountable: criminally.
Whether it's playing outside with his parents, or coloring SpongeBob Squarepants pictures, Nathan Darnell isn't much different than other kids his age.
But two things that do make him different from many other six-year-olds is his autism – and his criminal rap sheet.
"We are not denying that he did what they are saying, but we are denying he is culpable," said Tony Darnell, Nathan's father.
It was just last week when Nathan's teacher's aide, Glenda Schiltz, filed a juvenile fourth degree misdemeanor assault charge against him.
"What human being with a heart would do that to a six-year old?, asked Cathy Darnell, Nathan's mother. "Seriously, who would do that? I know I wouldn't."
According to the affidavit which 9News obtained, Schiltz alleges that on September 5, Nathan grabbed her by the shirt, pulled her backwards and began punching and kicking her.
"He admits to shoving her down, but he says he didn't pull her backwards," said Tony Darnell.
"She is no small person, she can defend herself," said Cathy Darnell.
So what does the school have to say about the matter?
Superintendent of Bracken County Schools Tony Johnson would not appear on camera but did say in a statement, "I believe we followed proper procedures and I have full faith in my staff".
Despite being autistic, Nathan is integrated with all kindergartners at Taylor Elementary.
His parents believe Schiltz and other teachers there are ill-prepared to handle special needs students.
His mother openly questions Schiltz's credentials.
"[She believes] you need to take him behind the woodshed and teach him something," Cathy Darnell, said. "That is her mentality, beat it out of him."
"Most of the time it [Nathan's behavior] is whining and screaming. I am sure that is hard on teachers and stuff, but we find a way to deal with it," said Tony Darnell.
On Wednesday the family went to the county courthouse, where an inquiry was held and it was decided the criminal case against Nathan will indeed move forward.
It's likely then that Schiltz will have to be there.
But until they get a chance to tell her personally, Nathan's family, in the meantime, does have something they want to say to her.
"She is a cold-hearted woman, that she has made every teacher look bad," said Cathy Darnell.
Repeated attempts to contact Glenda Schiltz were unsuccessful.
9News also was in communication with several school board members and none wanted to comment on the matter.
This is all heading to a proceeding scheduled for next week in which six-year-old Nathan will appear in juvenile court as a defendant.
Had your comments included the statements that inclusion cannot work when supports are not given I would have sympathy for you.
However you are just a paycheck teacher. Your comments show just how much you really care about this student. “Ridiculous” should have been directed to the school district that failed to give him the supports he needs. We just won’t comment on your whining about reading IEPs — 50 IEPS you have to read? Your school district is a stellar one isn’t it?
My comments stand, and of course you will keep your job. Can’t beat those summers off can you?
It takes all types.
If VxH is so concerned about money he should open his eyes. When these special needs children receive early intervention and work very very hard to keep up with their peers they save our state an average of $45,000 per year when they are adults. This is from our college program called STRIVU. But what the hell do I know, I only deal with this every minute of the day.
Still waiting for your study from post #553.
He needs a 1:1. Your district will not give him one, yet it is the student you attack.
Hang in there...and dont take those that fall to lambasting to heart.
Everyone needs to start hearing ...not listening but hearing others. We cannot move on to a solution until blinders are removed from all.
Attacking each other isnt helping anyone.
Get a grip people at least shes trying...and those of you that have been high and mighty in your responses to her ..maybe could have offered some suggestions instead of flames.
And until anyone has walked in the others shoes ...they should not be so judgemental and nasty.
Theres alot of you that should be ashamed of your behavior on both sides of this issue.
all this ranting has solved nothing ..much less given any kind of understanding.
I am not a paycheck teacher, nor am I about the summers off.
I am so offended, I think our conversation is over.
I am glad you are offended as you have no idea how much your comments about this child have offended others.
Direct your frustration to where it belongs and that is the school district, not the child. You may be doing the best you can, but hello? SO IS THAT CHILD. Recognize that. He needs supports. Period.
Perhaps you missed this:
“””I am having a rough time with a sixth-grade autistic kid in one of my classes. He constantly claims other kids are attacking him etc., and it is ridiculous. He should not be in class, but thanks to the federal government least restrictive environment regulations, I have to deal with it and my entire class is disrupted.”””
Thanks to the federal government indeed. I am overwhelmed with her concern for this student here.
have you been in her class? perhaps it is just as she has said. are you or have you ever been a teacher? ever been in a class with over 20 kids trying to teach?
yeah we get guidelines and expectations and all too often without the needed support...as in how supportive you are too.
instead of knocking her why dont you help her out? give her some good solid links or suggestions?
as I said earlier ...without lining up all the ducks in a row ..inclusion is set to fail...for the teacher...the other students and mostly for the child who is being included. and more than you would like to admit ..the ducks just arent there let alone lined up.
Good morning, heavy lifter.
When my wife and I went through prenatal and genetic counseling, we were told that, among other birth defects, the incidence of Down’s increased relative to the mothers age.
When I was in High School my dad had a friend that owned a service station. He had an adult daughter who probably had the mental age of around 6. He took her to work with him every day. I thought of him when we were evaluating the information provided by the counselor (including the option of abortion), and I asked myself, "if this goes wrong, Could I do what Pappy (his nickname) did? " Those were some huge shoes. He died, oh, probably 20 years ago now. I have no idea what happened to his daughter. I HOPE someone that loves her as much as her dad did is taking care of her but I know that may not be the case. Dumb?
We accepted the risks, and we went ahead. The first pregnancy ended in a devastating miscarriage at 2 months. Stupid? The second was successful. But the birth was breached and, if not for a C-Section and skilled hospital staff, my wife and child would be dead. Dumb? My wife went into shock in the recovery room from blood loss and recovered only after mass trousers and other measures were applied. Stupid? (Scary? Ohhh yes)
Though we were blessed with a child who has no birth defects, it easily could not have been so - but I would like to think that we would have loved them as much as you obviously love your son and pappy loved his girl.
So, given the risks. Were we "dumb" (Your original choice if words, not mine) to take them? Selfish maybe? Idiots? We're now working on our 3rd. Crazy?
Were you?
I wont ask you to reveal the cause of your son's Down's, but I would ask you to consider your choice of the words "stupid" and "dumb" and "idiot".
"Stupid is as Stupid does" is a double entendre - it illustrates that many people who use the word stupid are themselves stupid, and it also illustrates that even the Forrest Gumps of the world can have a positive impact - even if it's something as simple as leading a fearfull prospective parent into the unknown.
Denial ain't just a River.
This was actually the boozers and users claiming to be autistic. Could be that autism causes a higher incidence of boozing and using I s’pose.
[Autism is my life,]
Global Warming is some people’s life too.
If this subject wasn’t controversial we would be here.
I have to admit that I stopped paying very much attention to your posts, as they seem to not be about any particular thing, but more of wide scatter shot of things that seem to bother you.
However If you’re trying to make the argument that autism is
caused by parental drug or alcohol use, there’s no evidence to support that claim. Since I already know you to be someone who will make up facts (as per our private e-mails, and what constitutes grounds for a lawsuit). Can you by chance provide the names of the studies, or even where you read the information. Or is this more of that “a friend of my cousins has an autistic child” kind of evidence?
“Public speaking is exactly a class from which I would expect problems for an Autistic. This does not mean the kid should be banished to a special education classroom. It means the kid needed a different elective. Art and drafting would have been a good choices for him”
That’s a bit of a stereotype. One of the Autistic kids in the support group I attended, was an excellent speaker, public or otherwise, and my own son can’t do anything with art supplies except make really colorful poop.
The student in rw class should have an aide for the inclusion class, and if rw is having a problem then the school district is mandated to provide whatever is necessary for the child to attend class. Lovesbloggers explained that already.
trying to figure out where that came from.
do you want to tell me where I did that?
this is exactly what I have been saying about people HEARING what others are saying.
At no time did I assume anything about ANY child.
My focus has and always will be what is in the best interest of the child. And one more time ....Adult egos have to stay out of the way.
When they dont ...we get more of people assuming they know what others are thinking.
“The money you personally pay for real estate taxes would pay for a half day Kindergartener - tops, so don’t fancy yourself the benefactor of your neighbor’s children’s education.”
Once again, I never complained. You are one angry, aggitated person. I hope you calm down.
[Or is this more of that “a friend of my cousins has an autistic child” kind of evidence?]
That’s what makes it annecdotal.
Can drugs and alchohol be toxic?
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