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.
Seems to be the common theme on this thread unfortunately.
They(the teachers) are looking for a judgment that says the kid is too dangerous to be at the school, that way they can cut the kid out of the school and perhaps have him at some
type of institution.
“....she should have known not to turn her back on him when he is stressed.”
This is rather scary. You’re saying the adult should know better? Then who is responsible for the safety of the children in the classroom, cafeteria, or on the playground? Does every child in the school have to be taught to recognize when these special needs children are stressed....and not to turn their backs on them?
I have two grown children who are considered “normal.” That’s difficult enough to raise “normal” with all the hopes and dreams a parent has for a child to grow to be responsible adults in society. And, of course, a parent will always be concerned for the safety of their child.
Believe me, my heart goes out to you and to parents of children with special needs. That has to be one tough road! I do wish the best for you and your child.
But I still believe special needs children should not be thrown in with other children. To me, it’s saying to the child, “Sink or swim...I wan’t you to be normal.” And they can’t handle it. I don’t think it’s fair for them, and it’s especially not fair to the other children who are in school to learn! The other children (and parents) should not have to fear for their safety because they can’t turn their backs on a “special” child.
I met the family of the child I described in my post. They are wonderful! In fact, the mom was a good friend of my daughter’s. When my daughter told me they were moving this year, my thoughts were, “How sad...she’s losing a fun-loving friend, but at least my grandson’s class won’t be disrupted every single day.”
Also, your child should not be watching cartoons. Yes, they are violent! 30 years ago several of us parents and concerned teachers did a study and found that small children do not discriminate between cartoon characters and humans in an act of violence...smashing each other on the head with a bat...getting flattened by a car, a rolling rock, etc. They see the cartoon character getting up from the accident without a scratch. They associate this with a human.
Of course, we wrote to the TV channels, to no avail. In fact, I see there are more violent cartoons and programs now than ever. And what makes me shudder is that most people in America think it’s horrible that nudity is shown. We should be more concerned with violence....on TV, in movies, and in video games.
Obviously, filing criminal charges against this kid is a huge over-reaction on the part of this teacher. However, when mom said: "She is no small person, she can defend herself," she forgot that teachers are not permitted to 'defend themselves' because the school is afraid of lawsuits.
Such a child should not be 'mainstreamed' into a regular public school class. Such a child should be in a class with a teacher who is trained specifically to handle them.
“Not true. The system forces it on the parents. The mainstreaming of autistic kids is mandatory.”
I didn’t know that. Years ago, didn’t they have special classrooms within the school for these children? Is it up to the school to provide these certain classrooms, or is mandatory that the child be placed in a regular classroom?
Believe me, I sure wish they would come up with a “cure”....better yet, how can it be PREVENTED! I really am concerned for these children and their parents.
Did you see Jennie McCarthy on TV a few days ago? She changed her autistic child’s diet, and said it has made a world of difference. It was then I googled a “cause.” With autism on the rise, yes, I am interested.
Maybe a little reading on autism would be in order.
Wow...what an interesting post!
And I would have thought the Japanese would have a strict, very disciplined school system.....much more so than the USA.
“Seems to be the common theme on this thread unfortunately.”
There’s a number of Freepers who believe that any malady involving the brain or behavior can be solved simply by willpower or strong discipline. It’s a pretty sad sight when they speak up on threads like this.
There are special education classrooms & even special education schools. The problem is the diagnosis of autism has been singled out for mainstreaming by someone who should have left well enough alone. Autism covers so much territory. No two are really alike. One may be highly functioning to the point you would be surprised that they are in need of special education & another completely non-verbal & unable to function in a classroom setting of any kind. Yet both are autistic. My daughter was attending a special education school where the staff was trained & committed to their jobs. Great dedicated people. But this was prior to the diagnosis. I tried to keep her there & was denied. I knew the PS would not work. The system barely operates as it should in the best of circumstances. I ended up taking her out because her teacher was poorly equipped for the job. She was released by the school shortly afterward. These things should be decided on a case by case basis because there are some who should be in the “regular” classroom & others whose needs would be better met by special ed.
I know Jenny believes it was the vaccines in her sons case. I doubt the reason will ever be found because I don’t believe there is any “one” reason for it. I do believe the vaccines may play a part in a child who is possibly predisposed for some reason. But the pharmaceutical companies will always be protected. So I don’t expect to ever see any headway there. Sounds like Jenny is trying the gluten-free diet. Some people are having success with it.
God help the children should they perhaps wave a crayon in the air!
“Shoot him! He’s got a weapon!!!”
Anyone who works in a public school should know that he/she will encounter autistic children. Working with autistic children comes with some amount of personal risk. This woman should never have been in the classroom if this is the way she reacts.
I worked with autistic preschoolers. You cannot take their behavior personally, or let it make you angry. I usually did pretty well with our kids, but I got the occasional kick in the shins, and a few shoves.
One little boy would just wander around pinching people. He didn't seem angry or upset before he did it. He'd get me most often when I was involved with another child and his immediate presence wasn't on my radar screen. One time he walked over to me and smacked my glasses right off my face. He didn't touch me at all, but my glasses went flying.
It's rather like holding an infant on your lap and they suddenly lurch back and head butt you. There's no point in taking that personally or being angry over it.
I have to agree ...she was either not trained properly or incapable of dealing with the demands. Either way she was unqualified and over-reactive. My worry is for this child.
“In such a case, the school may have no option. Teachers are not to be assaulted. It IS a criminal matter.”
You’ve got to be shitting me. A criminal assault charge for a child of six? What the hell is wrong with you...
Summed up in 3 sentences :)
No, I don’t think that. You must have me confused with someone else.
“Teachers are not to be assaulted. It IS a criminal matter.”
Then why aren’t YOU in jail? I mean, I guarantee you that at some point in your crayon years you touched, tugged, pulled on, or pushed a teacher, maybe you even threw something. I can’t believe FR allows felons on this web site.
After I graduated with an ed degree, I worked half a year in a public school, special needs preschool class. We had about a dozen classically autistic children.
I've been substitute teaching for a year and have never seen a classically autistic kid in class. I sub for special ed teachers too and still have only seen pretty high functioning kids.
I wonder where the heck they are going? I'm going to have to ask someone.
Tony should fix his child before inflicting him upon others.
That’s the problem with this whole scenario. Too many parents think it’s the responsibility of the government and skools to correct the behavior of their children. It’s NOT.
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