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.
“That’s what makes it anecdotal.”
That’s more along the lines of “made up”
“Can drugs and alcohol be toxic?”
Can dogs and cats be crossbred to make a dat, or a cog?
I have this cousin who has a friend who bred a dog and cat, and I read about it in a book (of course it was a children’s make believe book, but still). I’m not pointing to you exclusively, there have been more than a few on this particular thread, who are woefully misinformed.
If the kid can communicate ,and he is able to sit quietly in his desk . He should be in some normal classes even if he just auditing.
The special teachers aren’t able to give all that much attention .Usually they only teach the the most basic literacy, and they certainly don’t teach electives. If he is verbal ( if he can complain about how he is being treated he is verbal)it would be a waste of his time, to keep him in special classes.In order to find a skill or a talent he will need to leave the special class.
From what I have seen, children are cruel to special education students. So I can believe the student was being harassed.
This child had no supports, which is why inclusion failed. The comments she made were in no way pointed that out, hence the reason for my posts. I understand the system only too well.
you still have me lost. I am not sure why you are addressing this to me.
But I will agree that if the child can communicate and he or she is able to sit (doesnt even have to be so quietly, as most children do not sit long quietly) that child with the proper support should and can be a part of inclusion. And then and only when all ducks are in a row...so to speak...it can be a win win for the class.
My problem is when ...as in the other posters case...no support is given. For the teacher or the child. The other children rightfully get upset, the teacher gets frustrated and the child that is supposed to be help becomes the class “problem”. And yes I said rightfully....as it is their education process being disrupted too. You cannot just look at one....
I had this discussion already...Each action results in a reaction. So before there is inclusion for a child the parents and teachers and administration should make sure the support is there and the child and system are ready.
Adult egos should not get in the way of that.
sighs...The child OR the teacher had no support. and that is why the inclusion is failing. I heard her frustration...but I also heard her trying. I think she came for more friendly support than was given by “people who understand the system all too well.”
sorry but if thats the case then you would also understand her predicament.
one more time
Adult egos should stay out of the way.
If you were making a point in here I don’t see it at all.
You made a statement previously in this thread that excessive alcohol and drug use causes autism. Then state in this post that it is the drug/alcohol abuser that claims to be autistic. You want to get your story straight?
Denial? uh no. I have not seen anything anywhere that backs up your statements regarding the cause of autism. You can’t produce anything either other than the comments of a friend.
Austism is my life as my son is autistic. A “cause” such has global warming is hardly a valid comparison.
Bob, cmon, the toxic effects of drugs and alchohol are common knowledge.
I apologize if you are being sincere.
Does dysfunctional behavior cause abuse of drugs and alcohol, or do drugs and alcohol cause dysfunctional behavior?
I do understand her predicament and I would have given her sympathy. However she chose, as an educator no less, to attack the student, ridicule his aberrant behavior, and then take a slam at IDEA while she is at it.
She is immune from response to that for some reason?
perhaps you are too sensitive.
You are just making it up as you go along here aren’t you? Do you know what autism even is?
Hey I was in a parent group a few weeks ago where they were talking about Baby Einstein videos causing autism, so I am going to float that anecdotal evidence theory now....
“The child OR the teacher had no support. and that is why the inclusion is failing. I heard her frustration...but I also heard her trying. I think she came for more friendly support than was given by “people who understand the system all too well.””
No one person can just “decide” to mainstream a special needs student. Here’s how the process goes. Each special student has an ARD committee (admission, review, dismissal). The committee is made up of the parents, a representative for the administrators, a rep for the special ed dept. and anyone else that’s deemed relevant (speech therapists, behaviorist etc.) This committee decides on the students IEP (individual education plan) If a students IED includes mainstreaming, the committee determines what’s required to make it happen (an aide,more training for the classroom teacher etc.) The district is then mandated to provide this. The teacher on here should attend the students ARD meeting, talk to the students parents, asked for more training etc. Not publicly complain about how hard the job is, that’s not helping anybody. The district is mandated to provide what’s required. This teacher should get whatever is required, and remember if the ARD committee deems it it necessary the principal can’t deny it, but you will sometimes have to stand up and demand it.
Not at all, just have no patience for ignorance from educators.
thats a two sided field. i usually have no patience for ignorance period.
Amen to that. Of course most teachers just sit there and don’t say a word at these meetings as they are more interested in collecting their paychecks then stepping up to the plate and stating the child needs supports.
Show me the STUDY or shut up.
One is 15 and the other is 13. In my family, my brother has triplets. One boy and identical girls, one of the girls is autistic. I swear to you as a baby she was perfectly fine. She laughed, reached out for you, hit all the baby milestones such as sitting up, crawling and walking right on target. At about 14 months old it became noticable that she would just go off by herself instead of interacting with the other kids and she would not respond to her name.
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