6-Year-Old Autistic Student Criminally Charged After Alleged Assault

WCPO.com ^ | September 23, 2007 | Lance Barry

[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.

[PLMerite]

“How about not teaching if you can’t even handle a six year old.”

How do you expect a teacher to “handle” a retarded child with no emotional control? It’s like trying to reason with someone from MoveOn.com.

Anything you do would get you thrown in jail for abuse.

[VxH]

[Risperdal saved my sanity]

That is debatable but if it gives you comfort to believe so, who am I to shatter the illusion.

[Sue Perkick]

Thank you Tom Cruise.

[hulagirl]

I am sick and tired of people not understanding mental DEFICIENCIES such as Autism. Until you have a child with it, you’ll always just think that it can be “disciplined” out of them. “Behavioral Conditioning” appears to be the only way to even half way get through to Autistic children and it takes a ton of training of teachers to be able to do this. The answer is probably not to mainstream the children but to get them the help they need and then put them into the population.

[snarkybob]

Thanks for the good word. He also takes clonadine to lower his blood pressure enough for him to sleep. He’s moderately autistic, non verbal. It just is what it is. What i find funny are all the geniuses on this board, who know exactly how to deal with an acting out autistic kid. I bet most of them couldn’t walk in our shoes for an hour. Now that said, I wouldn’t walk in our shoes...if i could get em off.

[VxH]

[any malady involving the brain or behavior can be solved simply by willpower or strong discipline.]

In many cases, if the prospective parents that produced the child had exercised willpower and discipline with regard to their consumption of drugs, alcohol etc. the problem wouldn’t exist in the first place.

Bottom line: It’s the parent’s responsibility.

[New Perspective]

Big mistake. Retards and nutcases do NOT belong with normal kids.

Congratulations, you have made the most "Idioc Biggot" statement of the day.

I bet if I kicked you in your heart I would break my toe.

[DelphiUser]

I said: Assume that I am a nonverbal low functioning autistic child, I can't speak, can't understand English, and don't recognize you as a person.

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.

That was my child when I started intervention with him (thats what it's called) and you are right, I started him in a private school where there were twelve teachers for every eight kids. We worked our way up to where my son was top in the school because we went and spent time at the school and learned how to keep the training going at home. Now he is eleven, it's been six years, he is in a classroom that does main streaming for Gym and Recess and spelling since he is up to speed on spelling. Has he ever acted out? Yes, he ends up in a time out room and the teacher sends a note home and we remove privileges here (Like computer time) he does this maybe twice a year. All the teachers at his school have been trained and have refreshers twice a year. We have been trained and are certified to work in his classroom with the other kids (me and my wife) You have no idea what you are talking about and you would damage my child far more than mine would damage yours, so please, don't go try to help out at my son's school.

Thanks.
DU

[New Perspective]

I think you presented the most educated and informed response on this subject. It was stated in a clear and polite manner. Although I do not totally agree with your mom’s stance on mainstreaming I appreciate her efforts for a difficult situation for many families who are saddled with a lifetime of difficulties and challenges.

[DelphiUser]

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.

With the right intervention, you can work wonders, my son started out a nonverbal classic case, considered to be very low functioning. Now it would take a trained eye to spot it in less than half an hour. he talks and reads and plays games like most eleven-year-olds. Of course this does not work for everyone, but most can be helped in amazing ways.

[New Perspective]

As the Father of an autistic Child, I feel it incumbant upon me to say "You have no idea what you are taking about."

Well said. I stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Check my tagline.

[DelphiUser]

They are dysfunctional and other children should not be subjected to their problems.

Why should we be subjected to your obvious ignorance on this issue?

[New Perspective]

Wonderful response. It is a struggle everyday but with rewards the majority of people will never know. When I hug my son I feel so close to God I could just cry.

[DelphiUser]

With all due respect to those with autistic children, they do NOT belong in a mainstream classroom.

With all due respect you do not belong on a conservative forum.

Conservatives usually only speak about issues when informed.

[VxH]

[Thank you Tom Cruise.]

I actually think he does have a valid point regarding the subject of pharmaceuticals.

Is junior going to be a pharmaceutical cashcow for the rest of his/her life?

 

It's amazing what people believe. 

 

For example, the whole "Oooh, the sun is baaaad - Buy sunscreen." hype. 

 

Got Vitamin D?

 

 

[Your Nightmare]

I am absolutely astounded that there are people on this forum who believe that a 6-year-old autistic child should be criminally charged with anything. It's pure idiocy.

[ladyjane]

I think we are in agreement. Autism cannot be ‘disciplined’ out of a child. It is a terrible burden for the child and the whole family. The behavioral conditioning has been shown to be helpful. Some of the earlier practitioners were dragged into court, weren’t they, before people really understood?

My question is: Why do they add to the child’s burden by trying to mainstream him into a class with unprepared teachers? Schools have funds available to have professionals deal with special needs kids. Why don’t they take advantage of them?

[Your Nightmare]

Have you had your mental capacity checked? From what you’ve displayed on this thread it’s severely deficient and I’m not sure the “mainstream” is the appropriate place for you.

[Scotsman will be Free]

My state has a legal presumption that any kid under the age of eight is incapable of committing a crime. From eight through twelve - maybe, and over 12 - yes.

[snarkybob]

“I actually think he does have a valid point regarding the subject of pharmaceuticals.

Is junior going to be a pharmaceutical cashcow for the rest of his/her life?

It’s amazing what people believe.”

Then you shouldn’t medicate your autistic child, as for the cashcow for pharma, it seems like everybody turns into one eventually. What’s really amazing is how outspoken so many people are about something that they so obviously know nothing about.