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.

[DelphiUser]

The autism & sleep issue is rough. She can go on next to nothing most of the time. Not fun.

Now that depends on your perspective, I still only sleep five hours a night, Grin, it may be a blessing to them in the future.

BTW, we found a Chelation therapy (mild enough for kids) that helped my son with this, he used to have high levels of mercury, now he tests low, sleeps better too.

FM me if you want more info on what we did.

DU

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

Retards and nutcases do NOT belong with normal kids.

You speak from experience. So how was the short bus and the special class?

[DelphiUser]

I said: “There is an old quote, it is better to remain silent and have other think you are ignorant than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

You said: You’re absolutely right. You should remain silent. Your post has left no doubt in my mind, and I don’t have time for your ignorance and rudeness.

Well, I knew the Hitler comparison would make you mad, good to see my human behavior algorithms still work. But really an "I'm rubber and your glue response?"

If you are going to insult me and min and advocate criminal charges for a child aged 6 for a teacher's screw up...

Well, have a nice life, don't let the door hit ya where God Split ya.

[VxH]

[Tell me VxH, what is it like to be perfect?]

 

It's not about perfection.

 

Why should someone on the far left of the bell curve be allowed to take resources away from those on the far right?

[DelphiUser]

Why should my reproductive resources be diverted to benefit your offspring?

I gotta ask, where did anyone ask for a sperm or egg donation?

[New Perspective]

Oh, I see, you are now the bell curve referee. Tell me what you would do if you find yourself on the far left of the bell curve?

I second my motion for you.

[MEGoody]

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.

Uh. . .what? Did you mean to phrase this statement the way you did? If so, please explain how I would 'damage' your child?

[VxH]

[That is a good question.]

 

Yes, thanks, it is.

 

 

[Ask your parents.]

 

ad hominem, that's your answer?  Tsk tsk.

[Graybeard58]

Margaret Sanger and Adolf Hitler had a solution for “imperfect” people, there are members here who would advocate those same solutions if it wouldn’t get them booted from this forum.

[DelphiUser]

Why should educational resources be taken away from non-autistic children for the benefit of autistic children?

Not that this is on topic, but why must I pay for your kids to go to school when I am sending my child to a special school so he can get the help he needs but can't get there.

The logic is simple, if you are going to force everyone to pay in, you have to be available for every one.

I am ready right now for them to cut my taxation for the School, and let me pay my own way (all my other kids are in private school which I pay for out of pocket, so I am a net plus for you)

Now back tot he topic, is the Six year old the responsible person, or is the Supposed adult?

[DelphiUser]

And the assumptions as well. And you can’t spell assumptions....

I said my son was good a spelling, me, I fit Mark Twain's adage" Anyone who can only spell a word one way is limited." I am an unlimited individual, Grin.

[DelphiUser]

One word "Clueless" just about sums it up.

How about this pic...

[Mrs.Liberty]

More on this case

Interesting read..including comments from those who claim to know the teacher.

[DelphiUser]

I wouldn’t say the are “dumb” or “idiots”. What adjective would you use?

How about Human?

We mere humans do dumb stuff all the time, get used to it, it's not likely to change soon.

[Sue Perkick]

LOL

[VxH]

[Tell me what you would do if you find yourself on the far left of the bell curve?]

 

Well, I might rely upon the charity of others in assisting me to correct the deficiency - but I would certainly not demand that the government force them to give their charity to me.

[DelphiUser]

Uh. . .what? Did you mean to phrase this statement the way you did? If so, please explain how I would 'damage' your child?

Simple, you are worried that my son might give your son a black eye and you want to keep my son from seeing how normal kids behave.

I'll buy the steak to put on your son's eye, it'll heal.

keep away from my son he needs exposure to normal people and you are not one of them.

[VxH]

[How about Human?]

 

Finally.

[We mere humans do dumb stuff all the time]

 

Certainly I have made mistakes.   But I was brought up to take responsibility and accept the consequences of my own actions.

 

Should the government mandate that you pay for my indiscretions?

[RightFighter]

Just for clarification, I don’t see anywhere that it says that the parents demanded that the boy be mainstreamed. In fact, it seems to imply that the parents might prefer specialized classes - they made a statement about the teachers not being prepared to deal with a boy like this.

I can tell you all, I have a friend at church who has an autistic 3 year old, and he is very difficult to handle. She is a single mom and is doing her best to raise him and teach him, but “NORMAL” methods of discipline and training do not work with him. A spanking doesn’t really teach him anything - you can see it in his eyes - it just doesn’t really register with him why he’s being spanked. That’s not to say there are not times when he gets one, but it just doesn’t have the same effect on him that it does on other children.

The sad thing about autism is that so many people think that the parents are at fault. I’ve seen this girl try to handle this situation, and she’s doing the best job anyone could be asked to do, but there are times when it just overwhelms her and it makes me very sad to see it.

[DelphiUser]

I Said: [How about Human?]

You Said: Finally.

I Said: [We mere humans do dumb stuff all the time]

You Said: Certainly I have made mistakes. But I was brought up to take responsibility and accept the consequences of my own actions.

Then do you accept the responsibility you have here for ticking off people with handicapped children by coming here and saying offensive things?

(Not holding breath for the apology that would prove you are not a hypocrite)

You Said: Should the government mandate that you pay for my indiscretions?

This is way off topic for a criminal charge for a six year old under the supposed supervision of a supposed adult, but no, I would love to see all federal and state school funding cut.

You pay for yours, I'll pay for mine. I could afford a private tutor for what they are taking from me in taxes for the School system, and my other kids are not in public schools. I'd really win on a deal like that.

Are you ready to cut all public school funding and let communities take care of their own? I am. IF not then you are just advocating taking my money and kicking me off the education boat (more like raft, but...).