Posted on 05/25/2008 1:36:54 AM PDT by LibWhacker
PORT ST. LUCIE — Melissa Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class.
After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.
By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted Alex — who is in the process of being diagnosed with autism — out of the class.
Melissa Barton filed a complaint with Morningside's school resource officer, who investigated the matter, Port St. Lucie Department spokeswoman Michelle Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said.
Port St. Lucie Police no longer are investigating, but police officials are documenting the complaint, she said.
Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident took place.
Portillo could not be reached for comment Friday.
Steele said the boy had been sent to the principal's office because of disciplinary issues. When he returned, Portillo made him go to the front of the room as a form of punishment, she said.
Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism. Alex began the testing process in February at the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marcia Cully.
Children diagnosed with Asperger's often exhibit social isolation and eccentric behavior..
Alex has had disciplinary issues because of his disability, Barton said. After the family moved into the area and Alex and his sibling arrived at the school in January, Alex spent much of the time in the principal's office, she said.
He also had problems at his last school, but he did not have issues during his two years of preschool, Barton said.
School and district officials have met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan to address his difficulties, she said. Portillo attended these meetings, Barton said.
Barton said after the vote, Portillo asked Alex how he felt.
"He said, 'I feel sad,' " Barton said.
Alex left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said.
Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office.
"He was shaken up," she said.
Barton said the nurse told her to talk with Portillo, who told her what happened.
Alex hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school.
Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special" over and over.
Barton said Alex is reliving the incident.
The other students said he was "disgusting" and "annoying," Barton said.
"He was incredibly upset," Barton said. "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this."
St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment.
Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside but said he could not elaborate.
Lord of the Flies, with "adult" supervision.
Homeschool - believe in it.
I do not believe public school is necessary for socializing children. THIS incident is an example of why that is true.
Could the teacher had handled it differently? Perhaps, but there may have been a reason she did it the way she did? Perhaps she was trying to reach the kid, by letting his classmates speak out, and then maybe he would learn and change his behavior. Who knows?
Alex
In eighth grade, our class had a trial and actually impeached
the class vice president. One kid made up a button on a Vac-u-Form that read: “Impeach Joey” and wore it to school that day. Alas, the teacher (a nun) rescinded the impeachment.
The child has an IEP. An IEP should address behavior issues and how do deal with them. Frankly if a teacher had done this to my disabled child who is protected by her IEP I would be taking serious steps to get this teacher disaplined. Yes perhaps the child does need a more quiet place, but the parents WERE working toward getting the diagnosis needed to possibly get a different placement. This teacher has overstepped the bounds. There is a time to get kids who have violent tendencies put into other prgrams but really kindegarden is not that time. Exactly how fast do you think a diagnosis of aspergars is made? Overnight?
To let the whole class denigrate this youth with supervision from the teacher is wrong Don't you remember what it felt like to be picked on because you were different?
Nice looking kid, but is he an Iranian? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019906/posts
I never said the teacher was right, so you are wrong for accusing me of that. Get down off your high horse!
This “teacher” needs to lose not only this job, but her teaching credentials as well. I don’t understand Autism or Asperger’s, but I’m pretty sure a group denunciation is not an effective treatment method.
If I were the kid’s parent, I’d be doing more than “considering” legal action.
You are right and rawhide is wrong. I am outraged at how this child was treated. I have one grandchild who is severely autistic and one who is possibly Asbergers. I cannot imagine either of them being treated this way.
The severely autistic child would probably not understand the punishment, and the Asbergers one would be devastated. The teacher needs to go back to school.
It's kindergarden! This is where they are supposed to develop social skills before moving on. If the teacher is not up to the task - and obviously she is not - then she needs to find another line of work.
Actually, finding another line of work should not be her choice.
Dear tickles,
What's an IEP?
Regards,
I’m interested in homeschooling. Regarding socialization, don’t homeschoolers get together so that their kids can interact?
Also, there are some classes, like taikuando, that I’m also interested in that provide opportunity for kids to get together.
What are your thoughts on this?
What is the Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) describes the educational program that has been designed to meet that child’s unique needs. Each child who receives special education and related services must have an IEP. Each IEP must be designed for one student and must be a truly individualized document. The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel, and students (when age appropriate) to work together to improve educational results for children with disabilities. The IEP is the cornerstone of a quality education for each child with a disability.
“His parents really need to find out why he is acting up the way he is.”
He is acting up the way he is because he’s likely an Asberger’s syndrome, which means he lacks the outward interests that many kids display. These children are often socially awkward and may come across as self-centered. They try to speak with others, but usually end up in long monologues about a subject that interests them. They have difficulty responding to the emotions of others and need to be coached this regard. These children will be clumsy. They will be very geared towards organization and the arrangement of objects, and will not exhibit normal social interactions.
There is very little that can be done to amend this situation outside of behavioral and speech therapy. These kids need emotional support, as well, as they are often victimized by their peers.
As for a teacher who allows her children to say hurtful things to a child as a collective effort and then allows them to vote him out of her class, she deserves to be thrown out of the school on her ear and never allowed to return. That kind of childish nonsense is unfitting of any professional, much less a teacher. Let her wait tables, where her unprofessionalism will at least be rewarded by meager tips. If a teacher wants to discipline a child, it is her job to do so individually. Opening some kind of trial by one’s peers can only be devestating emotionally.
I might not fire this woman, but I would sure put her on the shortest imaginable leash.
I should add that y post wasn’t directed as vehement disagreement with you; just another voice. I see where you’re coming from in that there are two sides to every story. Certainly this could be a case of, “Johnny, tell your friend why what he did hurt you.”
And while that may not be the perfect way to deal with things, I could see that as acceptable.
That said, if any kind of vote to expel this kid occurred, there’s simply no excuse for that in my book. It’s abominable and a disgrace to the teaching profession.
the NEA’s celebration of diversity!!!!!
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