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.
[you must be blind.]
Perhaps there is a spec in my eye. Thank you for pointing it out.
“””I believe it was. The pre-pregnancy genetic counseling my wife and I went through was part of the prenatal process. Our behavior in proceeding to get pregnant after that counseling was of our own choosing. Were we “Dumb”? “””
Prenatal care is done after conception and before birth. If you are suggesting that NP should have secured the services of genetic counseling before conceiving a child, and a lack of doing so, or going forward with conception when you know the chances of Downs is high is “dumb”, then I will just sit here amazed at your ignorance on this matter.
The risk of Downs Syndrome does rise with age of the mother due to egg quality issues, not genetics. If Downs had run in NP’s family, then perhaps it would be prudent (and covered by insurance) for him to explore that option. That said, if I were told my yet unborn child would have Downs that would not change my feelings at all for the child and wanting the child. Genetic testing to ascertain information on passing life threatening conditions is certainly warranted. Using it to select your offspring is just disgusting IMHO.
Your comments regarding parents of children with Downs Syndrome are scattered and really follow no course of solid reasoning.
“There are reasons Pride is one of the seven deadly sins.”
You are not proud of your children?
The accusations are what is ridiculous, not him or his disability.
You know not what you do.
Then, being an ignorant male, I may technically be using the wrong term. Discussions with my wife’s gynecologist, who is also our pediatrician, led us to the understanding and perception that prenatal care begins with making an informed decision to prepare to become pregnant. A woman's eggs are alive prior to conception. The same is true for men’s sperm. We think our health prior to conception has an impact upon the outcome.
[You are not proud of your children?]
I love them and rejoice at that they are.
>>rejoice at that they are.
Should be:
rejoice that they are.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Your last post is number 666 the mark of the beast how appropriate!
Please copy and paste where I ever said that. Oh, that's right, you can't. I never said such a thing.
Your posts were at the same time, and tone as several others here who were very rude,
LOL If this isn't the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is.
if this is not your position, please explain where I got it wrong
You got it wrong by jumping to conclusions and letting your emotions run away with you. I have no problem mainstreaming kids who are highly functioning, meaning they are actually able to get something out of being mainstreamed. I also expect that the parents will be ready to have their kids disciplined just like any other kid in the class. That means, if an autistic child lashes out at a teacher, then the child will be punished just like a non-autistic child would be.
Um, now a missed post is a cause for medical intervention? Pulease!
All your posts to me have been on the hysterical side. Perhaps you did miscopy, but it's interesting that it was so far down into your post to me. Strange how that would occur.
The beauty of Karma is we all live in the world we create. One of the fruits of allowing people to steal the tax money of the families of the disabled and in return give the disabled shoddy services, is that when we are old we will be treated as the disabled are treated. Those of you who are satisfied with the forgit about em attitude of some educators will not like it when that attitude is applied to you.
your bitterness is showing ...and you are exactly the kind of person I referred to when I said the adult egos need to get out of the way.
How dare you put down teachers the way you do and then want from them? You have done NOTHING to encourage anyone or anything. You dont hear what people say, you operate on your own “I hate most teachers” agendas. I have never seen anyone so onesided and bitter as you.
Maybe you need to take a deep breath and get some objectivity.
I have never met a teacher that thinks that special kids should die and the sooner the better. OMG...what an awful thing to even say. And I have NEVER seen the ever ever popular opinion “Let’s put them weird kids someplace were our normal kids will never see them. It’s for their own good I tell ya.” among the teachers or administrators I know.
And for you to say such a thing is a travesty. You are your own worst enemy. Get a grip.
you need to heed your own advice about Karma
Do you consider yourself to be an agent of Karma.I admit I’m no Angel ,but I doubt I have hurt you. You are awfully bitter for someone who claims to have no dog in this fight. Are you an educator?
ROFL
Am I an agent of Karma? Twist it once again. YOU are the one that brought it up.
Me bitter? I am not the one saying such disparaging things about people.
And what do you know of me?
You never do answer to what you have said...you deflect...and push your disgraceful tirades on the responsibility of others.
Have you hurt me? NO People like you dismay me because YOU are the ones standing in the way of progress with your tirades and attacks. But hurt me? You only hurt yourself.
somehow I dont think you will understand this post either ...as yet you have not read anyones posts for what they have said...but have interpreted them into your own little agenda.
Each time you post a reply like the one you just did to me...you prove what I have said all along. Good job.
A Utopian such as yourself giving advise on how to deal with all the evil in this world is like having a horse as a running coach. Your advise is not of much value to me.
Maybe instead of projecting arrogance on others, you should focus on humility. Virtue begins within not without.
You seem to have an insiders perspective on the public schools.
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