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]

“Autistic children would be better off being tutored at home..”
I agree.

Great, give me back all the money taken from me for "Publik skool" and I'll pull my son, until then, you have the choice of puttign your kids in a private school.

[snarkybob]

“mine weaned himself once he had a “Chew Toy””

Hahaha. Mine loves going to the dentist. He won’t sit still for a haircut, but the dentist can get him sit for 45 minutes at a time, by pressing on his teeth. We were worried he would be a biter, but he never did that very much.

[DelphiUser]

[”Skool”?] That spelling is intentional. It is commonly used on FR when the intent of the author is to deride the public Skool system.

[And don’t forget his MENSA freepermail to me.]

Why don't you post the text of your FReepmails to me, Einstein?

Here’s a word you can look up in the dictionary: `Profanity`. Is that what junior’s vocabulary consists of as well?

JFTR, I have not freep mailed V_XH and I have not posted or FM'd profanity to anyone.

thanks,
DU.

[snarkybob]

How old is your son? Mine is 13, and he’s just starting puberty. Man this is going to be a circus. We had a meeting this morning with his teacher and a behaviorist from the school district, to address his recent outbursts. His teacher says they’re having a little bit better luck with re-direction than we’ve been having at home, so we’re going to add some things in his bedroom to match the classroom, like a swing with the sensory bag for him to hang in when he’s discombobulated.
The behaviorist thinks the outbursts are a direct result of puberty...kind of a distorted teenage rebellion thing, because he only does it to his maternal figures...his mom....his step mom and the aide he has in his class.

[perseid 67]

I have posted this earlier. If the public school refuses to educate your kid, you should get your money back with interest and you should not be required to pay any taxes to the local school system ever. I don’t consider putting special needs kids in isolated classes where they do not receive individual attention to be education.

[toldyou]

“Great, give me back all the money taken from me for “Publik skool” and I’ll pull my son, until then, you have the choice of puttign your kids in a private school.”

I pay $6,372.28 in taxes to my township annually. 56% of it goes to the schools. My kids are 37 and 32. They went to private schools.

Go ahead....get what you think you deserve...every cent of it...no matter who it hurts. That’s how selfish and self-centered people are.

[perseid 67]

If the family of an autistic, spends a hundred thousand dollars training their child to be independent don’t you benefit. Doesn’t our society benefit when we help people with disabilities to become independent.

Are you one those people who advocate culling those who do not measure up to your standards of perfection? Off topic a little, Mexico refuses to educate deaf and mute people so most of them are forced into prostitution. Is this what you want for Autistics.

If the parents of Autistics, have any resources they should be able to use all of them helping their kids. This is more important than a false sense community which comes of providing a rich dual income family with free schooling, and free babysitting.

[toldyou]

“If the family of an autistic, spends a hundred thousand dollars training their child to be independent don’t you benefit.”

Not anything we have been discussing... but go ahead...spend a hundred thousand dollars training your child. I won’t complain.

[DelphiUser]

So, to sum up your post - Autistic children cannot be held accountable for their actions, including acts of violence against others. It will always be the adult’s fault because they either were negligent or not trained correctly.

No blame on the attacker.

The autism is the icing on the cake, this is a six year old, he cannot be responsible for his behavior because legally he cannot be responsible for anything.

His parents? Maybe.
The school system he was in the custody of? Maybe.
The psychiatrist or administrator that decided he was "Ready"? very possibly.
The Adult in whose charge he had been placed? Probably.

The fact that he was autistic just add to the "Duh" factor of there being no possibility that he should be the the responsible inDuhvidual.

Are we on DemocraticUnderground? I could have sworn this was FreeRepublic...

My mistake...

If you frequent both that may explain some of your posts.

I am all about responsibility, but this cannot be the six year old's responsibility because he is legally a minor and cannot be responsible, Get it?

[DelphiUser]

I’m just glad you’re not a mortarman. :-)

Actually, I drink Fresca, wait... (grin)

[perseid 67]

Well, that is generous of you.

I would not complain if you spent a hundred thousand dollars trying to cure yourself of cancer.

If we ever went to government run health care eventually a bureaucrat would tell you “You are just not worth it”.

[DelphiUser]

Mine loves going to the dentist.

Would you believe I have never had a cavity? Neither has my son, I guess it's genetic...

[DelphiUser]

How old is your son?
11

Mine is 13, and he’s just starting puberty. Man this is going to be a circus. We had a meeting this morning with his teacher and a behaviorist from the school district, to address his recent outbursts. His teacher says they’re having a little bit better luck with re-direction than we’ve been having at home, so we’re going to add some things in his bedroom to match the classroom, like a swing with the sensory bag for him to hang in when he’s discombobulated.

My son doesn't like to be off the ground unless he's bouncing, so we have a trampoline inside and out, so far so good...

The behaviorist thinks the outbursts are a direct result of puberty...kind of a distorted teenage rebellion thing, because he only does it to his maternal figures...his mom....his step mom and the aide he has in his class.

Great, I am not looking forward to that, oh well, I remember what my dad did when we showed "a bit too much energy", he'd take us outside to chop wood or something and work us to the point of collapse, we learned real quick that we'd rather have a spank, or a talk, but don't make dad mad enough to need to work off steam, cause you'd be right there with him...

I wonder if that will work with My son...

[DelphiUser]

I have posted this earlier. If the public school refuses to educate your kid, you should get your money back with interest and you should not be required to pay any taxes to the local school system ever. I don’t consider putting special needs kids in isolated classes where they do not receive individual attention to be education.

Thanks, where do I send the bill?

[DelphiUser]

Go ahead....get what you think you deserve...every cent of it...no matter who it hurts. That’s how selfish and self-centered people are.

I was not the one posting about people stealing my "Reproductive resources", LOL.

I was responding to him.

Paging toldyou, your Crow is ready!

[toldyou]

“I would not complain if you spent a hundred thousand dollars trying to cure yourself of cancer.”

Despicable.

[DelphiUser]

Not anything we have been discussing... but go ahead...spend a hundred thousand dollars training your child. I won’t complain.

I have already spent more than that, but that didn't stop people from calling me names here, did it.

[VxH]

[The centralized educational system was developed by Communists]

 

Hmmm, Communists drink water, therefore Capitalists must not drink water.  I don't think so.

 

The Army National Guard of each of the 50 United States shares, among other things, the training doctrine of the United States Army.

 

Does this make the Army National Guard Communist?

 

Believe me, I am well aware of the NEA and their desire to hijack the educational infrastructure.

 

 

[And this came up why?]

;-)

The information on your home page

+ your stated desire to stop paying federal taxes

+ the historical desire of Deseret to be an Empire and not a State in the Union.

[DelphiUser]

“I would not complain if you spent a hundred thousand dollars trying to cure yourself of cancer.”

Despicable.

I think you misspelled "Reasonable Response" despicable was the post he was responding to...

[perseid 67]

How to much do you pay in taxes?

I bet you could have paid for your kids education out of your taxes.

If the public schools are going to start treating special kids as criminals then the government has broken their contract.

I am not saying don’t pay your taxes. I just think arrangements should be made so you can pay for the services the government refuses to provide your kids.