Teacher lets Morningside students vote out classmate, 5 (berates disabled kid in front of class)

TC Palm ^ | 5/24/08 | Colleen Wixon

[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.

[latina4dubya]

I’m curious to know what would have been the correct way for this teacher to re-establish Law & Order in her classroom of five year olds, disrupted by young Alex?

well, i think sending him out of the classroom was fair... but she should not have left it up to his 5-6 year-old classmates... she should have just done it... let his parents complain about that if they feel they need to... but don't give them more to complain about by having his classmates take a vote on the issue... that was her mistake... in my opinion...

[tickles]

Have you hugged your child today? Have you talked to God about him/her? He will gladly help you... and give you everything you need>>>>>>>>>

Sure I love my special needs child very much. (she also drives me nuts. lol) Tell me as you sit in your church service do you offer help to the parent who’s special needs child is having difficulty sitting through the service? Does God direct you to come to the parents aide so they can come an worship? Have you volenteered or helped organize a way to help families still be able to come to your church and be part of it? Or do you just sit there and wonder why that parent lets her child disrupt your worship? Do you just sit there and wonder why some people no longer come to service? Exactly how has God asked you and your church to help families for children with behavioral problems? Sure they brought them into the world, have you asked God how you might be able to best serve Him in helping them?

[John D]

In the meantime, the child will remember this the rest of his life. If he isn't fully anti-"socialized" by now, he is probably well on his way at the ripe old age of five.

The kid was already anti-"socialized". The so called parents had already taken him out of another school. If the parents are not willing to help him why should the school be forced to put 14 other kids at risk, just to please these parents?

[pilipo]

And yet, here on Free Republic, the premier place where compassionate conservatives come to express themselves, you see some posters persist in mocking retarded people.

And when ask to desist, refuse to do so.

Mods, to my knowledge, do not admonish the mockers.

And so, of course, it continues.

Cool.

[Bommer]

Damn, you’re fast! Very good!

[Smokin' Joe]

Actually, I was not backing the parents, either. I could make all sorts of wild eyed speculation about them, but I will not.

I AM, however opposed to what the teacher did to the kid.

I think it was a really sh*tty way to treat a five year old, especially coming a professional who should be up on all the self-esteem crap.

There had to be a better way to handle the situation, some alternative to that sort of bullying and humiliation.

Apparently the parents were working on getting the kid help, but that does not happen over night either.

If the parents are not willing to help him why should the school be forced to put 14 other kids at risk, just to please these parents?

If the other kids were "at risk" (At risk of what???), then it might have been a really stupid idea to have the other kids gang up and humiliate the kid.

If there is a disciplinary problem, handle it as such.

As for the school, this is the job the state has taken on. This is what they tyrannically demand our tax money and the presence of all the little darlings out there. If that does not go well, punishment might well be in order, but this went above and beyond normal punishment.

This isn't some gangbanger in 'group' at the pen, it is a five year old, and apparently, one who is not even as well developed mentally as most.

But what no one seems to have noticed is that there were two kids in the class who apparently voted to not kick him out. Wonder why that was?

[Sue Perkick]

But what no one seems to have noticed is that there were two kids in the class who apparently voted to not kick him out. Wonder why that was?

Because I believe we are born with a sense of right & wrong. It should be human nature to have compassion for people. It sets us apart from the animals & savages. Those four legged as well as two. And I honestly believe we for the most part are born with that. But something goes awry along the way for some (apparently MANY).

[Amelia]

So where were these kids placed prior to the mainstream rush that's taken place in the last several years?

When I was a child, most of the ones who couldn't function well in a regular classroom were, I believe, either institutionalized or kept at home.

By the time my children were in school, many of these children were in school, but spent all or much of the day in special education classes, rather than with the "general school population."

Not all children need to be in a smaller setting all day long, but some need the extra assistance, and/or the less distractive environment.

[Sue Perkick]

You know there probably was a bit more of a “stigma” attached years ago. I do remember the occasional special ed classroom. They were not available in every school I attended. The whole system needs an overhaul. In some places a diagnosis of autism makes mainstreaming mandatory, sometimes overruling the desires of the parents. It can be so frustrating. We have to accept that these kids are going to grow into adults & be part of society. They need to be as educated & prepared as possible. But it needs to take place in the proper setting for each child on a case by case basis.

[BfloGuy]

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?

That's more non-judgementalism than I could muster. I don't doubt but what the boy was a little monster, but an adult teacher asking 5 year olds to vote on expelling him from class? Please. It's absolutely inexcusable.

[ktscarlett66]

What, no one paid taxes so you could go to school?

[WVKayaker]

Does God direct you to come to the parents aide so they can come an worship?

I have spent many Sunday mornings with OPC's. I was an associate pastor, and music/worship leader for years. But, you are trying to make this about me, not my question.

One of faves was an 8yo girl with CP. She was totally spastic, but totally aware of her world. We shared God's blessings. I have been there, done that!

I am not posing hypothetical questions. I am trying to see how people justify the reliance on the state. Most of those families with "special needs", require much more than their share. Not only require it, but DEMAND it as a right. Sorry, I am not in that school.

What do you do with your kids, when the gum't goes bust? If you think we can keep going down this road, you should take off your blinders...

Speaking of which... There was a man that sat by a pool, waiting for it to "stir". Rumor said that there was healing in the water there. He was there a long time, waiting...

[CajunConservative]

photobucket has a poster creator now. :D

[tickles]

Sorry, but no I did mean you and your church. My experience with churches is most really don’t do much to help parents who have kids with speical needs. Tho they do teach that life is precious, all life, they tend to come up very short in assisting parents with those children. (and assistance is not just needed for church hrs, many parents could use some time to just go out for a couple hrs together).

I have read many times here how non goverment entities should help. But experience from many of us parents is that many chuches fall very short of helping. We found a church that will actually except that our daughter may not understand what communane(can’t spell sorry) is about but the pastor was willing to sit and talk to her about Jesus’s love and how she is one of his children and was welcome at His table. To me that is much more excepting then the prior church where they seemed to think that she was to understand. God knows her limitations and like myself excepts them. Do you or your church do that? I know of Catholic families who’ve been shocked to find that their child with Down Syndrome is not execpted into the Catholic schools that thier siblings attend. But the Church insists that the children are all God’s children and their life is precious....this is helping parents with ‘different’ kids? I could go on but you get the drift.

Should the state be the only option. NO. And keeping these kids at home and assisting their families actually saves the taxpayers money, because 24 hr care that would be given in an institution (and I believe a mom I know on another site said the state she in still has instititions and can’t get rid of them for group home settings because of unions).

I will keep my child in school for another 3 yrs at least. This means the state will be off the hook for finding her housing with support for at least that long. If not longer, because I’ve heard many horror stories and really don’t know if I want to subject her to uncaring staff.

Anyway, I do hope that something I’ve said will help you and you church assist those families with special needs, not just during the church time, but maybe if you know they have an anniverary or something coming up offer to help out so they can have a short date, just the two of them.

That said this teacher went way over board.

[WVKayaker]

Your experience with "churches" is more likely with individual people within them. You cannot depend on them, either. Unfortunately, "selfish" is still in fashion in a lot of them.

My original post has to do with taking responsibility for your own family!I won't bemoan my own travails, but gladly lift yours in my prayers...

If I can be of service, I would gladly be there to Help. In the meantime, I wish you well!

[GAB-1955]

Why should she be anyone’s burden? Would you have the same beliefs if a child was born blind? It’s a disability, but one that can be changed if she is properly educated. You are thinking of your pocketbook—but the money my niece will pay in taxes over a productive lifetime will make up the expense she goes through now.

As a fellow Christian, I ask you to think of the words of Isaiah 58.

[raybbr]

Go back, read my post, and apologize. I specifically said that the parents were attempting to get him into a special needs classroom, which is where he belonged.

Nowhere in the article does it say they are trying to put him in special needs classroom. If YOU say it it doesn't make it true.

Of course, logic tells me that they are trying to mainstream him because he IS in a regular class.

[CaspersGh0sts]

"Nowhere in the article does it say they are trying to put him in special needs classroom. If YOU say it it doesn't make it true."

Oh?

"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."

Know what you're talking about before you start with this again. I'll give you a pass on accusing me personally of being all for this kid staying in a regular classroom. But the US Department of Education has a series of steps that a child must go through in order to be placed in a special needs classroom. This child had not made it through all of them to this date:

http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html

"Participation with nondisabled children. The IEP must explain the extent (if any) to which the child will not participate with nondisabled children in the regular class and other school activities. "



None of this excuses the conduct of the teacher in above circumstances.

[raybbr]

Well, I don't speak "autism rules". Sorry.

Look at all that just to accommodate one child. No wonder the schools are putting us out of business.

[WVKayaker]

...You are thinking of your pocketbook

I am so glad you figured that out. It seems from your post, that you are also thinking of MY pocketbook.

I can quote Scripture all day. The Bible never says "come unto gum't, all ye that travail. You are confusing Christian charity as opposed to reliance on gum't confiscation. In your post, you presume she will earn enough to compensate for her disability. Maybe, but maybe not. She may remain dependent.

Yes, it is MY pocketbook! I am often willing to share it, but charity comes from the heart, not the IRS!