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 Alas, the teacher (a nun) rescinded the impeachment.
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.
the NEA’s celebration of diversity!!!!!
How horrible for this poor kid. I think this teacher watched one too many episodes of Survivor.
We are only hearing one side of this. This teacher was found to not have done anything terribly wrong, so I think there is another side. Maybe no discipline at home, and the kid can not handle it when it is necessary.
I understand the argument that one child should not be allowed to hold back the achievements of others. But I do not believe that is the issue here.
There are diagnosis and procedures that need to be applied then followed. This is the educational equivalent of “The Rule of Law”. Much like evidence must be gathered and a trial held in a legal case.
This teacher has done a scaled down version of Rev. Al getting a bunch of like minded animals to burn down a store and kill someone.
Without “The Rule of Law” democracy is nothing but demagoguery, anarchy, and mob rule.
This teacher was a bully. There was absolutely no point to this exercise besides trying to look popular to her other students and belittling a possibly mentally disabled child that may not be responsible for his behavior.
‘nough said.
Of course, this would NEVER be taught in a government indoctrination center.
Mark
This incident shows how difficult it is to fairly handle children with disruption-causing disorders.
The teacher obviously wanted to get her students back in order, and Alex wouldn’t/couldn’t let that happen. He was obviously in the wrong classroom.
The vote was a complete act of cruelty and, I think, revenge from a teacher who had had it and just didn’t want any more to do with Alex.
“I’m NOT special. I’m NOT special.” I have tears running down my cheeks as I think about the despair that young boy was feeling. Five years old.
Teacher watched too many reruns of “Survivor”.
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?
She’s not allowed to spank him.
She’s not allowed to get the Principal to give him the cane.
She’s not allowed to single him out for special treatment.
She’s not allowed to use harsh language.
She’s not allowed to make him stand in a corner.
And she has 14 other energetic 5-year olds to contain: a challenge at the best of times, even if none of them are autistic or have Aspergers Syndrome. Or hyperactivity. Or dietary allergies. Or... or... or...
That’s quite alot to expect. She’s a kindy teacher, not a babysitter and not a surrogate parent or a miracle worker or a horse whisperer.
Her chosen method of a vote wasn’t right, obviously. But what would have been the correct thing to do?
It is false that all children can be treated the same in the same learning environments. Some kids cannot and should not be integrated into the main educational pool. And it is foolish to make them try to fit in because they cannot.
The Parents are clearly at fault for putting Alex in this position, and for putting this teacher in this position. And the school was clearly at fault for allowing this situation to develop.
We have become a nation complete whimps! What the teacher did was over the edge, she should be told it was wrong to do, send her back to class, end of this ridiculous story!!!
No lawsuits, no disciplinary action, just a "Don't do it again," is fine!
No wounder were beginning to lose our freedoms in the country because we're become a bunch of self-serving, loser whimps!
Yes, that was sarcasm.
Ms. Wendy Portillo
portillow@stlucie.k12.fl.us
Wendy's not hot. Guilty!
This whore of Satan, Wendy Portillo, belongs in a classroom with children about as much as Ted Bundy belonged in a woman’s dormitory.
Whatever evil befalls her, she deserves.
I remember when I was in school, I was disruptive as well, though I did not have a disability. When I was a group of students chose to ostracize me for being a jackass, I felt bad as well. I think though that it helped me realize that the world is not going to revolve around me, and that if I want to have better relations with people, I will need to learn to properly behave myself in social situations.
In retrospect, I am grateful for the learning experience, but with regard to this child having a disability, part of me feels bad for him.
Democracy...
Why we have a republic.
If the boy had problems, deal with the problems, but public humiliation when the kid has a disorder is just cruelty.
If the class cannot function with him in it, pull him out, but this is an obscenity.