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Mom Considers Suit After Class Voted to Expel Her Autistic Son

Posted May 27, 2008 12:01 PM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Updated: A Florida woman is considering a lawsuit after a teacher allowed students to take a vote on whether her misbehaving autistic son should remain in class.

Melissa Barton said the teacher made her 5-year-old son, Alex, stand in the front of her classroom after he returned from the principal’s office, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Each classmate was allowed to say what they disliked about Alex and then the class was told to vote on whether he should remain. The school is in Port St. Lucie.

Alex lost the vote 14 to 2. He is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism.

Alex has not been back to school since the incident, and he starts screaming when his mother takes him with her to drop off his siblings at school. The other night, Barton said, he kept repeating "I'm not special" over and over.

A police spokesman said no criminal charges will be filed in the matter.

Since initial reports of the incident, the school district has reassigned the teacher and Barton has received hundreds of supportive e-mails, ABAJournal.com notes in an update on the story. She also received a call from Phil McGraw, who asked her to appear on Dr. Phil, and from the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights, reports TCPalm.

Alex brightened when he received a call from a classmate Tuesday evening who discussed SpongeBob SquarePants and squirrels with him. Their mothers are planning a play date for them this summer.

Barton says she has heard from many parents of special needs kids who have had problems in school for behavior that isn't their fault. “It’s not something you can correct with some sort of demented behavior modification program,” she said.

Barton and her son gave an interview to CBS News, and she is considering the Dr. Phil invitation.

Updated at noon on 5/29/2008 to add information about the aftermath of initial reports of the incident.

Comments

1.

MSG
May 28, 2008 7:54 AM CST

I think what that teacher did was horrific and she should be fired immediately.  I think that not only did she harm the autistic boy but the other children by asking them to engage in such terrible behavior.  However, there is a larger issue at work here and that is the issue of streamlining developmentally disabled children into classrooms with children with no developmental problems.  This is not a good solution for either group of children.  The children who are developmentally delayed do not get the special education they need and it slows down and disrupts the teaching of the other children.  Parents of dd children understandibly do not want their children stigmatized but it is unfair to other children to disrupt their education.  There our other ways to overcome the fear of being stigmatized.  They can share in other school social events, etc.  Both children require totally different teaching methods, that is a fact, not a discriminatory statement against any one class of children.  The sooner the DOE and school systems realize this, the better off, our children will be.

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2.

JENNIFER
May 28, 2008 10:47 AM CST

IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A WHITE TEACHER DOING THIS TO A BLACK STUDENT NOT ONLY WOULD THIS TEACHER BE OUT OF THE JOB BUT SHE WOULD PROBABLY ALREADY BE IN JAIL. TELL ME WHY THIS WOMAN STILL HAS A POSITION. GOOD WORK RECORD OR NOT YOU DONT TREAT 5 YEAR OLDS LIKE THAT. THE KIDA PROBABLY FELT NOT ONLY “SAD” BUT ASHAMED OF HIMSELF AND FRIENDLESS. A WOMAN LIKE THAT SHOULD BE KEPT FAR AWAY FROM CHILDREN. HOW BOUT THEY VOTE HER OUT OF TEACHING? THATLL BE A VOTE SHELL REMEMBER!

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3.

Josh Kantrow
May 28, 2008 12:20 PM CST

The teacher’s actions are disgusting and she should be fired immediately.

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4.

msg
May 28, 2008 12:23 PM CST

I think we all agree she should be fired.  But this is not racial issue.  Why do things always get tied to race?

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5.

Cindy
May 28, 2008 1:40 PM CST

It was just a matter of time before the news gets out that Ms. Barton wants to sue.  Every time something doesn’t go the way we think it should, the first thing we think of is SUE.  America’s sue-happy society is out of control.  There are better ways of handling this without suing.  I hope Ms. Barton’s lawsuit gets thrown out of court.

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6.

Timmay
May 28, 2008 7:33 PM CST

Hmmm….maybe the autism community should put this “teacher” in an enclosed room and ask each parent of an autistic child what they don’t like about her “compassion” toward our kids and then take a vote as to whether she should be tarred and feathered.  What an ignorant, naive woman!  I pity her!

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7.

Rajesh
May 28, 2008 8:07 PM CST

You are the weakest link.  Goodbye!

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8.

BrandonP
May 28, 2008 9:29 PM CST

I agree that the lawsuit may not be the best answer.  Instead if she did this to my son I’d have been thrown in jail for beating that teachers ass.  Short of that, even though I’m not a fan of lawsuits I have no pity for this teacher or this school since it hasn’t already fired her on the spot.  Absolutely horrible.

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9.

Sharon
May 28, 2008 11:04 PM CST

Suing is probably the only way the parents can get the school to do anything about it.  Have you noticed how things have changed since the formation of the NEA?  School boards don’t answer to parents any more…they answer to the bureaucrats who give them their federal funding.  I loathe frivolous lawsuits but I don’t think this suit is frivolous.  Without being sued the school won’t do anything and that teacher will never be held accountable.  Do you want her to continue teaching?  This woman should not only lose her job but her teaching certificate as well.  She should be banned from teaching in all 50 states.  Clearly she is not someone who should work with children in any capacity.  Whatever has to be done to hold this hag accountable is fine by me.  I’d like 5 minutes alone with her…give her a chance to pick on someone her own size and she how she fairs.

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10.

Scott
May 28, 2008 11:15 PM CST

Have any of you ever been with a child with Aspergers Syndrome?  There are 16 students in that classroom who are not getting the education they deserve and need because of the continual disruption an out-of-control behavior by Alex.  Yes, the teacher was callous and handled it in the wrong way.  She was possibly at the very end of her rope after all of the acting-out and disruption that she had to face, while still having to provide a proper teaching environment for the rest of the class.

Until you have lived through the horror of the disruption she faced daily, and how the other children are being cheated out of an education, you need to cut her some slack. It’s all well and good for you.

Alex needs to go to a special school that is able to handle the very real challenges he brings.  An ordinary teacher is not equipped to deal with such disruption.

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11.

julie
May 29, 2008 12:00 AM CST

You are all very naive if you think that a child with Asperger’s is holding up a class of 5 year-olds. Children that age without any developmental issues “disrupt” the class for a number of reasons. Children at this age are still learning what is appropriate behavior. and many have developmetal issues that haven’t even been diagnosed yet (ADHD, hearing and speech impairments, and others). This boy is still in the process of being diagnosed. What did he do to compromise anyone else’s eduction? The law is actually in favor of inclusion, not segregation. Check Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, enacted in 1974, people. You really need to understand the law before you speak.

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12.

Mike
May 29, 2008 12:11 AM CST

I have a son who was diagnosed with Asperger’s which is considered very high functioning on the autism spectrum.  These kids are often more intelligent than the other kids - however, they miss the social cues and have a hard time making friends.  They are not disruptive monsters as Scott implies.
The teacher was cruel, stupid, insensitive and should be immediately fired.  I think the trail lawyers should assist the mother in sueing the school district and the school since it is apparent they are wasting their money anyway by hiring idiot teachers.  She might also press hate crime charges against the teacher.  How incredibly sad.

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13.

Scott
May 29, 2008 12:15 AM CST

We have an Aspergers child in our family.  Do you? Do you understand that their brain is wired differently? Do you understand that Alex is going through a sensory overload when he is around more than 2 or 3 people? You are correct… the Disabilities Education Act made some broad requirements that are great on paper and an utter failure in reality.  You speak like a person with an opinion but no actual experience.  You obviously haven’t been around an Aspergers child.  If you had, then you wouldn’t have to ask what he did. There are schools and teachers specifically for “Special Needs” children.  That is where he belongs… not as a continual disruption to the other students who need everything the school system can offer.

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14.

Parent of an Autistic Son
May 29, 2008 12:17 AM CST

Mainstreaming will almost always be cheaper than an alternative “free appropriate public education” . While the teacher should have been more sensitive and should not have treated even a “normal” student in that manner, I also wonder if part of the blame should not rest on the district if it sought save money by mainstreaming this child without the necessary supports and trained staff.

I easily achieved a district paid expensive residential placement for my autistic son, but I have always wondered if it went so easy because they knew I was an attorney (i.e. my son’s attorney was present at every conference) , and they thought that s.o.b. will sue at the drop of a hat.

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15.

Ann
May 29, 2008 12:18 AM CST

How much good she could have done had she asked the class what was right with this child. Ask them about his strengths, the things they admire. Defending this teacher is inexplicable. There is no defense of verbal abuse.  She needs to leave the field of education and this boy needs to be immersed with people who can appreciate all he brings to the table.

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16.

Scott
May 29, 2008 12:19 AM CST

My statement was directed to Julie… not Mike. When an Aspergers child is alone with the family, they are sweet, intelligent and high functioning.  When they are around a larger group of people, they are unable to cope with the stress and cannot control themselves.  With proper training, they can function in society.  But that training need special teachers and a different curriculum than a regular classroom.

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17.

nobody
May 29, 2008 12:21 AM CST

Scott: The issue isn’t the child’s syndrome. The issue is the teacher’s abusive attitude, AND her promotion of it in her students. Most 5-year-olds aren’t able to take the long view w.r.t. their actions and choices. Thanks to the callousness of one teacher, 16 other kindergarteners now think it’s OK to ostracize someone for differences beyond his/her control. And don’t bother saying “grow a thicker skin.” That notion has zero meaning to a 5-y-o who was just insulted by an authority figure.

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18.

jodi
May 29, 2008 12:23 AM CST

As a teacher for 5 year old specializing in Autisim, I find this story to be disgusting. With all of the research on Aspergers and Autisim, I would hope that a teacher for 5 year olds would know better than to humiliate any child…typical or otherwise.  Having teaching in a classroom that is inclusive, I find my 5 year old students to be compassionate, tolerant, empathetic, and quite mature toward each other. My students are FAR more compassionate and empathetic than this monster will ever be. She should not be allowed to teach children OR adults. What would this person be teaching adults if she had the chance? She is in my eyes comprable to Hitler.  Are people with blue eyes better than people with brown eyes? How about blondes compared to bruinettes? What happened to tolerance?  Horray for differences!!!!!

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19.

Scott
May 29, 2008 12:33 AM CST

Nobody:  I don’t condone her actions, but I understand the frustration that led to them.  She was wrong in the way she handled it, but the school is wrong to leave a Special Needs child in a classroom where he has a captive audience for his continual disruption.  Those other children need the help of their parents now to understand that compassion dictates the placement of Alex in a place where he can be helped, and also that it is alright to do something about unacceptable public behavior.  Or would you have them just learn that no matter how bad the behavior… they just have to suck it up?

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20.

Brian
May 29, 2008 6:36 AM CST

Scott, you are completely missing the point. First of all, you have no idea what was going on with this particular child. Regardless of the child’s behavior, the teacher’s actions were inhuman. Are we supposed to believe that no other child in the class had EVER misbehaved? Did she ever do this with other children and what purpose does it serve?

Every parent in country should be outraged by this. if this child does have an Autism, she has just taught her class to ostracize anyone who is not “typical”. This is not just an “oops, I made a bad decision”. There is something fundamentally wrong with this teacher and she should fired and banned from ever teaching again.

I think everyone agrees that the child may need a different environment, but that teacher had no right to humiliate the child in that way.

Other’s have brought up race. I don’t know if that’s an issue here, but no one can deny that if this had been a white teacher and a black child, we would already be having congressional hearings and press conferences about how racist America is and the teacher would be sitting in jail. It’s sad that it takes a racial component to get anyone to pay attention to the abuse of a child.

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21.

Ray
May 29, 2008 6:39 AM CST

I feel most of the responses are generally correct. The harm the teacher did to the other students is probably worse, both individually and collectivly, then the harm done to the ostricized child. I feel that the majority of the blame must be placed on the school system that created the invironment in the first place. If improper teacher performance occured it is their responsibility for creating the situation and teacher selection. Clearly the administration was aware of the problem.

The teacher should be disiplined immediatly. I recommend the teacher have their certification be removed for a year. This is both a punishment and a corrective action. After a year the teacher will know if they still really want to teach and in a very real sense have learned the seriousness of their mistake. Remeber, good judgement is often learned after making bad judgements. If this teacher has any real compassion and other positive teaching skills it would be to everyones advantage to have them return to teaching a little wiser and better prepared to teach. Wouldn’t it be something if after all this they made a career change into special education?

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22.

Eric
May 29, 2008 7:39 AM CST

The ostracon is alive and well. Give the children their democracy. LETS SEE HOW FAR IT GETS THEM! LITTLE CAPITALIST PIGLETS!

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23.

Jan in TX
May 29, 2008 8:38 AM CST

To those criticizing the lawsuit - keep in mind - the school and STATE has said - THERE IS NO CRIME.  Emotional abuse at the hands of a teacher - NOT a CRIME?  The teacher was not fired, no punishments - a LAWSUIT is the next logical course of action.  Sometimes that is the only way to penalize the guilty.

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24.

Lenore Hamrick
May 29, 2008 8:40 AM CST

Just look at how many the comments this NEWS has brought on, and I will add one more!

Sue the school system? Starting there is not the FIRST place to got.  Sue the teacher PERSONALLY!  But, instist that the school system pay for 24 hour secruity for the callous ‘creature’ as well. 

Alll of the previous commments are right on regarding the this teacher’s firing, and the yanking of her license to teach children or adults. 

How many years has she been teaching?  How many other children has she taught to effectively ostricize those in front of them that are different?  How many other children’s ego/inner person has she marred and scarred before doing this to this one little boy, however disabled he may be? 

Sociopaths, who are one step away from the psychopaths, is what this school system has hired !

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25.

Jan in TX
May 29, 2008 8:42 AM CST

While it may be true that a teacher is not equipped to deal with a special needs student - HOWEVER - she should be equipped to deal with young children, emotions, cruelty, etc.
There was an IEP in progress, I can guarantee she knows that process.  Those who are defending this action should stay away from young children AND small animals.

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26.

Celeste
May 29, 2008 8:59 AM CST

Jennifer, why did you bring race into it.  It is moot w/an issue like this.  The bottom line is that the teacher is a professional and should know better than to humiliate a child like that.  Regardless of his behavior problems, no child should be treated like that.  Maybe you are a white teacher that mistreated a black child, lost your job,  and now you are feeling some kind of way about it.

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27.

susie
May 29, 2008 9:29 AM CST

I think the point about race is that this teacher was black and that might be areason she has not been punished. The schoolmight be afraid more afraid of her than of the white parent.

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28.

Martha
May 29, 2008 9:29 AM CST

To Celeste:  the race comment by Jennifer appears to point out that ANY white authority figure treating a minority child this way would have brought outrage, protests, Al Sharpton, and such to the school board and the media.  Asberger’s doesn’t have an activist backing and pre-printed signs that turn up at the smallest slight to an affected child.  Understand the perspective Jen’s comment brought to the debate, not only that it involved race.

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29.

susie
May 29, 2008 9:33 AM CST

I am concerned I have a child who is two, pretty normal as far as i can tell, but I don’t want him going to a school where there are teachers like her. Lets see, my son can be sent toschool not to learn reading and math skills but rather he can either be the student that learns he is worthless or he can be taught that it is alright to make other people feel worthless and that parents have no power at all to protect their kids fromt his type of horrible behavior on the part of the educators. Makes me look so forward to sending my son to school.

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30.

A
May 29, 2008 9:47 AM CST

How about the teacher stands in front of *US* and we tell her how we feel about her and her blatant bigotry, disrespect, and ignorance… and then we can vote to blacklist her from teaching!! (...no pun intended.)

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31.

Karl
May 29, 2008 9:50 AM CST

Some of the comments on this story are interesting. I am a parent of a son who is diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. He is also streamlined in a classroom full of ‘typical’ children. He does get distruptive at times, but the whole idea of streamlining these children is part of the LAW. When I read what Scott wrote, I was appalled that he is so shortsighted. Putting these children in different schools is your solution. Do you want to pay for this Scott? The law states that children with these types of disorders are to be put in classrooms that will help them socialize with typical children, as well as learning the three R’s. Teachers need to be TRAINED to handle this and this particular teacher was not fully trained nor did she understand. Her behavior and solution to have the students vote this child out if the classroom is not only humiliating for the child, but next to criminal. The teacher should be fired immediately and find another job where she is not around children with special needs. Scott, you should also be ashamed of yourself.

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32.

A
May 29, 2008 9:52 AM CST

Additionally, I completely agree with the fact that this IS a race issue. If the teacher were white and the child were black, as mentioned earlier, it would be treated as such. WHY does the child deserve LESS respect just because it is a less visible example of discrimination? My heart goes out to both Alex and his family. This teacher’s actions are absolutely appalling. It doesnt even matter whether he should have been placed in a special needs classroom. The teacher is TEACHING HATE. Disgusting.

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33.

Bob
May 29, 2008 9:53 AM CST

I think the teacher watches too much Survivor.

Also, I think the parent should sue.  This is the only way to get the school to change policy.

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34.

Bob Fetter
May 29, 2008 9:58 AM CST

BAD TEACHERS = BAD STUDENTS

If I was a parent of a child at that school, I would pull my child out.  I do not want my kid to turn into a mini-Hitler.

Did this teacher get her degree from an online college?  Does she even have a degree?  A two week training course does not count.

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35.

Mackey Chandler
May 29, 2008 9:59 AM CST

Another good question would be why does the education system put years of instruction into a person like this who is obviously not up to the challenges they face in their job? Why at some point in her first year of seeking a degree in education did someone not tell her bluntly that she didn’t have what it takes and should seek a degree in some other field? It is a huge loss to her and society both.

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36.

Mike
May 29, 2008 10:24 AM CST

After calming down after initially reading the article I will say that even within Asperger,s there is a range of behaviors - from disruptive to very compliant.  My son, with Asberger’s, was desperately lonely as a child.  Fortunately, there were a few compassionate kids that helped it make it through school.  He graduated from high school.

In this case the teacher damaged not only Alex by her incredibly cruel and insensitive actions, but also has influenced the rest of these young impressionable kids to be prejudice against “special needs” kids. 

I agree with Bob that she probably watches too much Survivor on TV.

She should be offered the chance to resign or take intensive rehab training - the damage to the all of children and the reputation of the school may also be significantly harmed.  If the teacher won’t resign the principal should also be disciplined.  If the principal won’t do anything then the school district should be taken to task.  I’m sure there are many attorneys who would be happy lend their services to make certain this does not happen again.

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37.

laarni
May 29, 2008 10:28 AM CST

this brings back a lot of memory.  my child, who was not diagnosed yet, was left by the kindergarten teacher at the principal’s office while they were having a field trip.  she said that my son was the cause of her not sleeping at night and her whacked nerves.  but these type of teachers do not deserve to work in school and handle kids.  i thought i had the worst experience… i feel so bad for this family because very few people understand the pain we are going through when your kid is ostracized.

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38.

BD
May 29, 2008 10:36 AM CST

The Superintendant over the school should immediately fire the teacher. The principal should be demoted for for allowing this to happen (Teacher was not disciplined immediately when this was brought to the principal’s attention). If this does not happen the Superintendant should resign under pressure from the school board.

Since the school recieves Federal Funds, the Department of Justice should launch an investigation.

Insensitive teachers like this do not desrve the place of public trust given them. The teacher taught 17 kids a lesson that day. That different kids do not deserve to be in school.  This is the ultimate form of bullying - “Bullying by Teacher”!!!

SHAME ON HER and SHAME on the school!

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39.

susie
May 29, 2008 10:50 AM CST

The problem is the school has basically said the parent “screw you” we aren’t doing a thing about it - we are backing the teacher. They have dug in their heels. The police won’t send the case to the DA for prosecution. So what can the parent do.

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40.

lab
May 29, 2008 10:57 AM CST

No child should be ostracized like Alex was.  Will he ever want to go back to school?  This was pure trauma for this young child.  As the parent of a child with special needs, I can attest to the fact that mainstreaming has its merits IN THEORY ONLY but in practicality, it has a 1% chance of really being effective.  Special education for varying needs is essential to develop all children’s potential.  Having a child whose behaviour is disruptive is most certainly trying on any teacher.  I experienced a horrible incident with my son when I visited his school in the Cleveland City School District where an emotionally disturbed child in his class became so enraged that he began to throw chairs during a library visit.  I tackled my own son and pulled him under a table to protect him.  This child should have been in a different educational arena.  My son has cerebral palsey and would not have been able to quickly move out of harm’s way.  Should a teacher be allowed to behave in the manner that the Florida teacher did?  Absolutely not.  Firing her and disciplinary notation against her teaching certificate is the only way to let her know that she cannot do that in a classroom.  Oh, and make that nationwide so that she cannot obtain a teaching certificate in another state and traumatize someone else.

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41.

susie
May 29, 2008 11:05 AM CST

Again, everyone is saying “fire her” but the school is not going to dothat.

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42.

Donna Santora
May 29, 2008 11:09 AM CST

Scott, you have no idea what you are talking about.  The news story said very little about Alex’s behavior, so you are just stereotyping him based on his disability. The fact is that if you’ve seen one child with Asperger’s Syndrome, you’ve seen ONE child.  Not every child with special needs is out of control.

On CBS, the mom said that Alex would do things like go under the table or eat crayons. Hardly what I could deem as “horror” nor depriving anyone else of their education.

Clearly if the child’s behavior was so severe, he would never have been placed in that classroom to start. 

A child with a disability doesn’t necessarily need a separate setting. Those who say inclusion doesn’t work are making blanket statements based on their own biases. When it’s done right, it does work.  It’s not the answer for every child, but with proper training and support for teachers and aides and careful thought about each child’s placement, it absolutely can be a great solution.

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43.

Grizzles
May 29, 2008 11:18 AM CST

This faux-teacher, who is clearly an animal, and the school ,both need to be sued.  Hopefully the family can hti the lottery with this one - and this is from someone who HATES lawsuits.
As for Alex, he needs to be in a classroom setting that fits his particular needs.

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44.

Sydney
May 29, 2008 11:51 AM CST

MELISSA SUE THE PANTS OFF OF THAT SCHOOL. That teacher should be FIRED.  I am SHOCKED by this idiot’s behavior!!!!!! I am so sorry for what your son had to go through. All teachers should go through training on how to deal with Aspergers kids. They are SO MUCH different than ADD or ADHD.

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45.

Jennifer
May 29, 2008 11:59 AM CST

I wouldn’t tolerate this conduct from any teacher toward any student.

Unfortunately, most regular education teachers do not have the specialized training to handle students with special needs, especially autism.  In several states, even special education certifications are general, and not geared toward a specific disability. 

Disruptive students come in all shapes, sizes, abilities, etc.

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46.

susie
May 29, 2008 12:00 PM CST

I just saw a story on the news about another teacher doing this type of thing to a student onethat had no issues with behavior. Anyway the kid camehome and toldhis parents andthe parents sent him to school with a taperecorder. Now that teacher is on paid administrative leave pendingthe outcome ofan investigation. Why can’t the same thing happen here.

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47.

susie
May 29, 2008 12:03 PM CST

Everyone says this womanshould be fired, I wouldn’t tolerate this. This mom went tothe school and the school said screw you/she went to the police and the police said screw you. She is being forced to tolerate it. And her child has now been voted out of the classroom and is not welcome to return.
What are this womans options????

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48.

Martha
May 29, 2008 12:03 PM CST

The phrase, “in the process of being diagnosed”, was used to describe the boy’s situation.  This means that he can’t be placed in a special program with all the trimmings…yet.  Until a clear diagnosis is made, the schools are unwilling/unable to begin an IEP (Individual Education Plan).  That a teacher like this is allowed anywhere near children makes me cringe.  That the school/union is supporting her is worse.

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49.

JGalt
May 29, 2008 1:35 PM CST

I am livid with what has happened here.  I have a son who will be starting school this fall and I fear putting him into the hands of a person like this awful teacher.  There is just no excuse available to her for what she did.  If he had been continually disruptive then she had other means from having him removed from her class.  It says that he had just returned from a trip to the principal’s office so something had probably occurred earlier to trigger this but her solution was well beyond inappropriate.  She should be fired and she should lose her teaching credentials.  That the school system is backing her up is a sign of how the stick together mentality some groups have poorly serves the public - like a bunch of cops covering up the crimes of other cops.  Teachers function the same way.  I deplore using lawsuits to solve things but I see no solution to what is going on here if the school system and the local prosecutors are not interested in dealing with this.  The mother has no redress.  To humiliate a small child struggling to cope is inhuman especially amongst the small group of kids that he was trying to fit into.  I’m not a fan of holding back some kids in order to keep up with the slower ones but I can’t just can find NO MATTER WHAT any sort of excuse for what was done to this child.  This is wrong and action needs to be taken by those in charge immediately to make sure that the ones responsible be MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR INEXCUSABLE ACTIONS. 

AND KUDOS FOR THE 2 GREAT KIDS THAT STOOD UP FOR ALEX.  The rest will unfortunately have to bear the scars of what they unwittingly did.  They are losers in this too.

WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS?  THEY SHOULD BE STANDING NEXT TO THIS CHILD TO COMFORT HIM, TO PROTECT HIM, TO HELP HIM!  The silence is deafening isn’t it.

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50.

Brian
May 29, 2008 1:48 PM CST

Stop already. You all sound like a lynch mob. You think you have the facts and want to string up a woman solely on the allegations of another woman.

Do we know what went on in the classroom? What were the circumstances surrounding the alleged vote by the other children? If the youngster wasn’t yet diagnosed and he looked like a regular kid who was being disruptive was she using techniques that she was taught to deal with the situation? Was this a first time incident? Had she successfully worked with other special needs children? Do we know what the child did immediately before the incident was supposed to have taken place? What role had the parent played in helping the teacher understand the possibilities the school may encounter with her child?

What did the principal say about the incident? The school board? What did authorities learn from other children and other parents about the incident? Did they determine that the mother had mis-characterized the incident and concluded that the teacher should not be fired but be moved until the entire incident can be cleared? We still believe in due process, don’t we?

What would be the nature of a law suit. What would the allegation be? I suppose someone would want monetary damages, but what about the teacher.  What if she wins the suit, who will come to her aid when she has to sell her house to pay for her defense? Who will hire her after she gets slammed in the media? Is it better to drain a school system of funds defending a lawsuit or using those funds to find a better way to handle disruptive children?

If she was wrong, and if she has a history of underperformance, then by all means remove her from the school system, but to brand her with words like idiot, hag, ignorant, naive, cruel, stupid,and insensitive,  and for calling this an incident worthy of hate crime prosecution says more about your ignorance and insensitivity than hers.

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