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.
[there are 2,000 special needs children in my district. The $5 million allocated to provide them services is a part of the $70 million total amount it costs to educate children. All children.]
What $ were allocated to special ed prior to IDEA?
What’s the total number of children, non and special combined?
I’m not judging if $5million is too much. I’d just like to see the numbers.
I belong to numerous local, state and national autism groups and know of no such anecdotal evidence.
Genetics, vaccines, age of parents at conception, and far fetched ideas such as airborn toxins or other environmental factors — all I have heard of being studied as causes for autism.
Boozing and drug use? yeah not even once.
Autism is my life, so pardon me while I roll my eyes are your comments.
IDEA was passed back in the 70s, so sorry — not going in search of that archived information.
I provided the amounts. There are 7,200 students in the District, of which 1,000 are on IEPs and 1,000 are on 504s.
Very true. The brilliant children I see everyday in my son’s school (my son being very bright himself) amaze me.
Intolerance, cruelty — these are things that are taught children at home unfortunately. Sorry Johnny, put you can’t play or go to school with “those” children, they aren’t as good as you ...
[than a high functioning Autistic.]
I think part of the perception problem is that the `Autistic` label is way too ambiguous.
Just saying “he’s autistic” is not adequate to describe the associated condition of a specific individual.
Clearly not all autistics are equal. It appears a broader, more descriptive, vocabulary is required to comprehend the complete range of conditions that are labled with the word Autistic.
One last notation — take the $5 million away from the SpEd kids, and it is not going to be redirected back to the typical children. The budget would be instead $65 million.
The typical children are not losing out on anything, if they need funds for programs the budget will be increased to meet that need.
The study you quoted only shows data for half of the study group. It shows performance numbers for the special-needs students but is missing the performance numbers for the others.
Where’s the rest of the data?
If you meet one child with autism you have met just one child with autism. They all present differently. There is no boilerplate treatment. It is individualized to the child, which is the entire concept of an IEP.
The study was not meant to show the affects of special needs children on typically developing children.
Why don’t you produce evidence that supports your theory that it is detrimental to them?
I would also like to share with you his medical opinion that he Freeped me in my mailbox. Here is his quote
From VxH | 09/24/2007 11:32:04 AM PDT replied "You don’t really want to engage in a public discussion of how “dumb” parental behavior is often a significant factor in the incidence of Down’s syndrome, do you? Stupid is as stupid does."
My son's genetecist's is gonna love that one.
A detailed diagnosis of each child is not necessary for you. Once you hear "Special Needs Child" you drag your children away from them as if they had the plague. What's wrong, are you afraid they are going to catch "Down Syndrome or Austim"?
""You don’t really want to engage in a public discussion of how “dumb” parental behavior is often a significant factor in the incidence of Down’s syndrome, do you? Stupid is as stupid does."
That is quite possibly the most offensive thing I have read in a quite some time. I am so sorry you were the recipient of that.
I would like to share a story with you. I took a week long advocacy class that was moderated by a parent who spent her entire life advocating for her son who has Downs Syndrome to ensure he was included in his school and received the supports he needed to do so. Well that young man is taking classes at a community college this year and is doing amazingly well. Mom really kicked ass year after year, battled SpEd director after SpEd director, to get her son the services he needs and deserves, and the results of that brings tears to my eyes.
You fight for your little guy. The rewards in doing so are immeasurable.
[funds for programs the budget will be increased to meet that need.]
They can’t just wish money into existence when the budget gets increased.
Where does the money come from?
I care for him as much as every other kid, but his disruptions truly are unacceptable, yet I can’t do anything about them.
The best I can do is send him next door to cool off, and only when he starts shouting F bombs.
I am doing the best I can for him. Forgive me when I have 50 other IEPs that are 10 pages long, and I have to remember every little detail about every kid.
Why don’t you try it instead of attacking those who are?
Where does the money for the school budget come from? Local real estate taxes, state and federal funds.
Find another line of work.
You are pathetic. I will keep my job, thank you very much.
Again, I ask you to try it. Of course you won’t, as it is not as easy as you think.
I will say though, today was a good day. I was able to get the other students focused on their work finally enough to give him the one-on-one attention he needed.
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