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.
This is the result of the ridiculous, politically correct policy of “mainstreaming” special needs children into regular classrooms.
You probably have something there...
What else could she do? Continue to have a potentially daily problem, that she is not given the authority or tools to deal with, while the distractive nature of this childs episodes are also [likely to be] detrimental to other children's early learning experiences???
Institutionalization would violate this child's rights. Even though the mother suggested the teacher's aide was large enough to "defend" herself...defending herself against an assault would probably violate his rights, too.
Generally speaking...how do you protect yourself and other students from a child who can't be restrained, isolated or punished for exhibiting inappropriate behavior towards others? It's a sad situation.
Criminally charging the kid is just a technicality to CYA from the parents being able to sue. Parents nowadays can sue if the teacher looks crosseyed at the kid. The schoolboard has to protect itself. And what if the kid assaulted another student and the school knew the kid was a threat and did nothing? Another lawsuit?
“There are places for people who have these conditions.”
“She is no small person, she can defend herself,” said Cathy Darnell.
The problem with this statement is the lawsuit Mrs Darnell would file after the teacher “defend(s) herself.”
He may be a six year old mentally but a 9 year old physically. He is getting older and bigger, and nobody should have to put up with violence be it someone else’s child, or spouse or whatever.
YEAH - sure she can defend herself - and then get crucified in the media and lose her job for "assaulting a disabled child".
This child apparently is dangerous and should not be in in the general population.
HE IS 6(SIX) YEARS OLD!
That is younger than the age of reason at 8 years old.
Criminal charges? What is wrong with you people?
WRONG! 6 year-old children know it is wrong to assault someone (heck, even my 3 year-old is starting to figure that out). This child will not end up in the penal system for this offense, but just maybe the child will be placed in a more suitable environment.
Of course, if the parents do not teach the child that assault is wrong....
Nonsense. This "teacher" should not be in charge of autistic kids. She's not competent with them. Simple as that.
Wow! My husband was a teacher’s aide in order to take care of issues like this.
Now a good spanking, behavioural therapy, segregation from other children, that’s a whole other discussion.
Really. Are these people nuts? The kid is 6 FREAKING YEARS OLD! And autistic. And mentally 3 years old. Criminal charges against a 6 year old? Not only is the school employee nuts but his defenders are for the looney bin too. They oughta be ashamed.
I think a lot of people on this forum don’t understand autism.
I have an autistic child relative who acts out like this. I can tell you “tanning her hide” doesn’t make a drops worth of difference. She just doesn’t “get it”.
Mainstreaming is a crime against the rest of the students, but it is a phenomenon in step with all the rest of the PC crap where the victims, less able, etc. are getting their way over the majority. One more symptom of the demise of public educatiion (I almost wrote pubic education, corrected it, but now think it might be fairly descriptive.)
vaudine
My husband loved working with autistic children. One was a large 11 year old boy who had previously pushed a piano on one of his teachers during one of his fits. But, my husband always had this certain magic with them.
“This is the result of the ridiculous, politically correct policy of “mainstreaming” special needs children into regular classrooms.”
You are absolutely right! For the sake of one child, 20 other students in a class suffer. And the schools have to accept these children because the parents want a “normal/average” atmosphere for their special needs child.
"...Teachers are not to be assaulted. It IS a criminal matter."
Do you really think that the actions of a six year old child --- that's has a mentality or development comparable to a THREE YEAR old, should first be, a "criminal matter"???
How many children have you raised? Did they ever do anything "wrong"? Did they ever bring any of their little friends over?
Have you met your neighbors? Got to know them?
“Despite being autistic, Nathan is integrated with all kindergartners at Taylor Elementary.”
Big mistake. Retards and nutcases do NOT belong with normal kids.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.