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.

[toldyou]

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

You are paranoid.

Nobody has ever called you names, but you have belittled, you have been rude, and you have been vicious to others here.

[snarkybob]

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

In this particular case the charges weren’t filed by the school, but rather by an aide acting independently form the school.

[Lovebloggers]

Sure they do, it’s called behavior modifications via ABA protocols formulated by a BCBA and administered by competent personnel.

He’s autistic. You clearly know very little about autism, but for some reason that hasn’t stopped you from having a strong opinion on this.

[VxH]

Stealing ["Reproductive resources"]

 

From a sociobiological perspective, that is exactly what you are doing. 

 

 

 

 

[DelphiUser]

I said: [The centralized educational system was developed by Communists]

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

I agree, you don't think, So? (Punctuation... makes a big difference, don't it. Grin) You are forcing a comparison, that is not valid, water is required for life, government run education is not, we won two world wars without it (and maybe because we didn't have it), but now it is as essential as water? NOT!

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?

The Army national Guard is among other things all volunteer, Schools are not, you pay into them no matter what.

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

Great, how well would that work if schools were all run by local towns?

You pointed out that Utah was a state...
I said: [And this came up why?]

You said said: 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.

There are taxes I think we should pay, and taxes we should not, property tax flies in the face of the right to own property guaranteed in the constitution, that said, I pay mine because legal or not they will still put me in jail if I don't. (Tell Elian Gonzalez we obey the constitution...)

Graduated income tax is specifically not allowed, but we have one anyway. Stamp taxes, tariffs, fees for federal land and service use, all perfectly fine in my book. I also think we should fund the military and I support some kind of structure for that, but let's make it something that is simple with little or no bureaucracy attached, and while we are dreaming, let's go through all the laws and abolish all the laws which are either unconstitutional, outdated, or cannot be understood by someone with a sixth grade education. Wow, we might just return to a constitutional government...



<PINCH>



Dang, it was just a dream.

As for the empire stuff, it was a bit before my time, besides, I moved here from Illinois (Liberal bastion of corruption) just seven years ago.

[perseid 67]

Oh! I am deeply sorry. Was the correct response ,that you should never be allowed spend above a certain amount of money trying to help your loved ones or yourself?

You must believe you are so altruistic to think you would want to save tax dollars if your life depended on spending them. You are not an altruistic person ,nor are a cheapskate when it comes to your needs. You are a hypocrite.

I hit very close to home reminding you how close you are to being in the same position of the parents of the autistics. Think of Hillary Clinton as the school marm telling the parents of the autistics she will not educate their kids. They should just accept that their kids will never be independent. That is fine with you ,but mention Nurse Hillary Clinton telling you that the medicine you need to live is to expensive, you become angrier than a six year old throwing a temper tantrum.

[DelphiUser]

How to much do you pay in taxes?

Does anyone ever answer this on an open forum? Too much.

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

Before my son was born, I built four homes, lots of sweat equity, etc. Pryramiding to get into the house i am in now, Property taxes are a killer.

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

One of many... Isn't that why we are all on this forum?

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.

I am managing it now, but it is not easy and retirement? What's that?

[Lovebloggers]

Special Education. Ronnie Reagan had this crazy idea that children with special needs should not be institutionalized (and newsflash, the Federal government, i.e. taxpayer paid for that). They should be educated in their schools with their neighbors. He wanted to live in a world where there was no such thing as special education, just plain old education, and if an autistic or downs syndrome child needs support to access the general curriculum then the school district will provide that as that is what it takes to educate children.

GHWB agreed with him, as did Clinton, and now GWB.

Save for these moronic school districts that make the news, inclusion works. These children are learning and becoming active and productive members of their communities.

I am very thankful to Ronnie for showing these children the compassion you completely lack.

You know, I have a better idea. Why don’t we just refund your taxes then we don’t have to listen to you complain about it.

[DelphiUser]

Stealing ["Reproductive resources"]

From a sociobiological perspective, that is exactly what you are doing.

From an intellectual point of view...

I have pointed out here many times that all my other kids are in a private school (I have Five kids)

I have pointed out her that I have placed my child in a Private School for the autistic children, until they could not help him any more.

The only reason my son is in a "Publik Skool" is because
a) any private school that will take an autistic child is packed with them (and that won't help him).
b) what he needs is to socialize with normal children and he can't get that with a tutor either.

The fact of the matter is you and yours are suckling from my largesse and then you have the gall to complain about your precious "Reproductive Resources"

Let me be blunt, if they are as observant as you appear to have been on this thread, then "Publik Skool" is way above them anyway, and they are "Full"

[VxH]

[I moved here from Illinois]

 

Ah, Nauvoo.

 

Do they still have tar and feathers out there?

 

[The Army national Guard is among other things all volunteer]

 

The command and control structure and the training standards of the United States Army, of which, state National Guard units are reserve components, are not voluntary.

 

[Great, how well would that work if schools were all run by local towns?] 

 

Like I said, the return to Tribal City-State is not an option for a functioning national Republic.  To be divided and conquered is not acceptable.

[DelphiUser]

You know, I have a better idea. Why don’t we just refund your taxes then we don’t have to listen to you complain about it.

No reparations without repatriation! (I thought I'd never get to use that line again, Grin)

toldyou, where did your ancestors come from anyway? I'll buy the ticket. (One way, baggage class of course)

[pollywog]

We have three special ed children in our family. Our 16year old daughter, our granddaughter,and a nephew. I THANK GOD for the resources that have been available. Those who say we need to ship them off away from the rest of the world, haven’t a clue what they are talking about!!!!
You have to EXPERIENCE it first hand to even have a clue how important inclusion is!

Polly

[donnab]

Inclusion is fine as long as the child and the educational system are both ready for it. If not on EITHER end it will be disastrous for all...the child ...the teacher...and the other students who also have a right to an education.
Too many times I have seen it rushed because the child is yadda yadda age, yadda yadda at the end of this treatment...
its not fair to that child or anyone else.

[toldyou]

“Why don’t we just refund your taxes then we don’t have to listen to you complain about it.”

Where did I complain? Show me! I have NEVER complained!

I could afford to help educate my neighbors’ children. I consider it a real privilege. I really do.

[toldyou]

““Why don’t we just refund your taxes then we don’t have to listen to you complain about it.””

By the way...get with it. Like you have the capacity to refund my taxes. lol

[DelphiUser]

I Said: [I moved here from Illinois]

You Said: Ah, Nauvoo.

Actually, Springfield.

But, Nauvoo does have a nice temple...


You Said: Do they still have tar and feathers out there?

I assume, go ask, I'm sure someone will show you where they are.

I Said: [The Army national Guard is among other things all volunteer]

You Said: The command and control structure and the training standards of the United States Army, of which, state National Guard units are reserve components, are not voluntary.

Well, gee, when I sign up to take drivers ED, showing up is not voluntary either, (you were kidding, right? You didn't actually think this was a valid supportable point right?)

I Said: [Great, how well would that work if schools were all run by local towns?]

You Said: Like I said, the return to Tribal City-State is not an option for a functioning national Republic. To be divided and conquered is not acceptable.

So, are you saying we couldn't have a strong national ties, strong government, strong military without a federally run public school system? Who knew, somebody tell the "Greatest Generation" they did all that without a federal school system, and they did it better.

"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana

You slept in history class, didn't you.

[DelphiUser]

I’m gonna Go play with my kids for a bit...
BBL8R

[snarkybob]

“Too many times I have seen it rushed because the child is yadda yadda age, yadda yadda at the end of this treatment...
its not fair to that child or anyone else.”

Well that must be your experience. Mostly the students I’ve seen in the inclusion program have worked out pretty well.
Not every student of course, but there does seem to be a few posters here that want to hold up the exceptions rather than the rule as an example of why inclusion is a bad idea, and some of the posters here are just blowing steam, having neither experience or knowledge.

[donnab]

it has to be workable for everyone....not just one...not just two...but everyone that will be involved.
And there are viable solutions. Egos of the adults have to stay out of the way.

[toldyou]

Why don’t we just refund your taxes then we don’t have to listen to you complain about it.””

By the way...get with it. Like you have the capacity to refund my taxes. lol