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.
“Why should someone on the far left of the bell curve be allowed to take resources away from those on the far right?”
I guess it’s just simple compassion, that’s probably the same season you’ve been allowed to live so long.
In all seriousness you do seem rather obtuse. You’re going out of your way to be offended. Do you suffer from a disability?
Uh, I never posted anything about anyone giving anyone a black eye, so I don't know if you were hearing the voices in your head or what.
What I DID say (and you agreed in your post 148) is that a nonverbal low functioning autistic child who can't speak, doesn't understand English, and doesn't recognize an individual as a person should not be 'mainstreamed' into a regular public school class.
keep away from my son he needs exposure to normal people and you are not one of them.
If that's what you are after, he obviously needs a different parent, because you aren't doing too well on the 'normal' scale yourself.
[I guess it’s just simple compassion]
Exactly - Compassion, and should the government mandate compassion?
“Exactly - Compassion, and should the government mandate compassion?”
The government doesn’t mandate compassion. If it did you’d be in violation now. It does however mandate that these kids (and all kids) get an education, to whatever degree they can be educated. You can not like it, but that’s how it is. When you first started posting, your posts weren’t about the taxes it takes for these classes tho, that came from you later. You seem to be stuck in that mire of how you wish things were as opposed to how things really are.
It must suck to be you.
Nothing here but the sound of applause.
Meow!! From the quotes in the article, I get the impression both parents are snotty jerks. I can only imagine what the staff at the school has had to put up with, between the very difficult child and his demanding, "our precious darling can do no wrong" parents.
“”our precious darling can do no wrong” parents.”
I’m sure they know their child has autism.
There’s no right or wrong, he’s just autistic.
To be criminally liable, the prosecution must prove mens rea. I seriously doubt they will be able.
Thanks for the link.
“Yes, some at the mandated expense of others.
That’s S O C I A L I S M.”
Ok, and what does that have to do with an autistic 6 year old being criminally charged?
It was the socialist policy that mandated he be in the classroom to begin with.
“It was the socialist policy that mandated he be in the classroom to begin with.”
I’m not sure what your point is here, is it that this kid was forced to be mainstreamed? (I’m not sure if that in fact is true) Or that this kid was even in school in the first place?
Either way it’s not much of an argument. You seem to like typing socialism, but all forms of public works are socialism to some degree, and anyway that’s a different topic.
I don’t think you have a real argument, or even understand the topic here, and you are certainly tedious, so I’ll say goodbye now. Have a nice day.
I don't see how they could. It's downright impossible.
Really...........hmmmm. I bet you would when you ran into people who act just like you are, selfish and uneducated with a total lack of understanding of the day to day struggles to do the most basic things that most everyone else takes for granted.
Frankly, you couldn't walk a step in my shoes or anyone else's who are parents of special needs children.
Don't sweat it, you are doing just fine serving coffee or pumping gas. You leave the heavy lifting to us.
Well stated. Huzza
Excellent. Thanks for posting it.
[Frankly, you couldn’t walk a step in my shoes or anyone else’s who are parents of special needs children]
Well, I hope the coping skills you’re teaching them are more constructive than those exhibited in your posts.
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