I find it a bit embarrassing to discover I have to read 56 posts in FR before I finally stumble onto an intelligent post. Many thanks.
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.
FYI ping.
What could be an option is to make sure their kid has behavioral therapy before he enters the school system.>>>>>
It would be nice to know if the child have BIP in place and if the staff bothered to read and follow it before things escalated.
“Despite being autistic, Nathan is integrated with all kindergartners at Taylor Elementary.”
Big mistake. Retards and nutcases do NOT belong with normal kids.>>>>>>>
You know, while in some ways I do agree, I do not agree with calling those with mental retardation ‘retards’. I have a child with mental retardation, being called a ‘retard’ is an insult and has been for many many years. I do hope that you never have to face the reality that life can throw any of us a child or family member that becomes mentally retarded or emotionally unstable. But life being what it is, you are no more protected from that fate then I. Have a nice day.
With all due respect, why don't you get rid of your TV if it's teaching him violence? Or maybe put in DVDs/Video's that teach better values?
I find it a bit embarrassing to discover I have to read 56 posts in FR before I finally stumble onto an intelligent post. Many thanks.
Nothing that a six-year-old does is a criminal matter, IMO.
Maybe it is because I havent finished my morning coffee, but I am having a hard time with alot of the responses posted here.
Obviously many do not understand Autism and thats a shame because its numbers are growing. Most disturbing to me is that it is the child who is going to be hurt by the actions of the supposed adults in this situation. They expect an autistic child who has a 3yr old capacity to behave appropriately and then over react themselves?
This child from the sounds of it may not be ready to be mainstreamed...or the school is not ready for mainstreaming special needs students. Either way it is NOT the childs fault but the fault of the adults who are supposed to be guiding his life.
My mom worked with autistic children and we finally talked her into retiring at age 70 largely because the children would act out on occasion and we were afraid for her. She would have never even entertained the idea of pressing charges against any of them. She loved these kids and did wonderful things with them. But at the end of the day they were still autistic and needed more than the usual classroom could offer. These children do not need to be institutionalized, many have the potential to live “normal” lives.
I am appalled at some of the comments made on here...shakes head. Who are the children?
That's like letting a pit bull run the hall. When it attacks someone, you say "What do you expect? It is a pit bull".
If the child is violent or disruptive, pull them out of the school.
From the sounds of it, this child shouldnt have been there to begin with. The responsibility for that decision lies at the hands of the parents and administrators and whoever else allowed it.
If I allowed my pit bull to run the hall ...then shame on me not the pit bull.
True. People unfamiliar with special needs kids & autism in particular have no clue (which is evident). In many states a diagnosis of autism means the child HAS to be “mainstreamed”. The parent has no choice in it. People who don’t like it can complain to their lawmakers or homeschool if it’s possible. But to believe criminally charging a 6 year old autistic child makes me wonder who has the real “defect”.
These kids are placed with teachers who are poorly trained & too inept to handle it.
Not true. The system forces it on the parents. The mainstreaming of autistic kids is mandatory.
Absolutely. But the system as it is will not allow that. It’s frustrating for everyone. But until the regulations change nothing else will either.
God bless you. It’s a long hard road not made any easier by the cluelessness that comes from the profound internet experts.
I’ll keep you in my prayers. I don’t even have to ask if you need them. I already know. You, as I have gotten a crash course & learned the hard way. Hope you continue to find things that work for your child. He is important too. Just as much as the “normal” ones ;)
I agree. A six-year old child still hasn’t reached the “age of reason” when he knows the difference between right and wrong, when he knows that something is right per se or wrong per se. Therefore, a six-year old, especially one who is developmentally disabled, cannot be held to be morally or criminally responsible for actions.
However, it is clearly a mistake to “mainstream” a developmentally disabled child such as this into a regular classroom, especially when the child is disruptive. He can’t learn anything in a regular classroom and he prevents the other children from learning anything. He should be in a special ed class. Unfortunately, some parents are more worried about “stigmatizing” their special needs children by putting them into special schools than are about meeting those children’s needs.
The way I see it when people speak this way they are displaying their own level of intelligence.
He lacks the capacity for mens rea, most children do at that age regardless of any underlying medical condition.
“Maybe a trip to the woodshed isn’t a bad idea. Clearly nothing else is working.”
Which would teach nothing at all of any value to an autistic child.
“WRONG! 6 year-old children know it is wrong to assault someone (heck, even my 3 year-old is starting to figure that out). “
You don’t know much about autistic children, do you?
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