Title: Students Vote Autistic 5-Year-Old Out of Class
Fubuki Tenjyoin - May 29, 2008 06:15 PM (GMT)
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It sounds like somebody has been watching too many reality shows. Namely, Wendy Portillo, a teacher at Morningside Elementary in Port St. Lucie, Florida. She turned her kindergarten classroom into a cruel version of Survivor by allowing her students to vote a fellow student out of the class.
The banished child is 5-year-old Alex Barton, who is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning type of autism. Not uncommon to his condition, Alex has had some behavioral issues and as a result, spends a lot of time in the principal's office.
After returning to Ms. Portillo's classroom after a recent visit with the principal, his teacher decided to punish him with humiliation. She had Alex stand at the front of the class while his fellow students listed off what they didn't like about him. After informing him that they found him "disgusting" and "annoying", the class was instructed to vote on whether or not Alex should be allowed to stay in the class. By a 14 to 2 margin, they voted him out.
Alex hasn't been back to school since then, but his mother, Melissa Barton, says he is still reliving the incident. The night after it happened, she says she overheard him saying "I'm not special" over and over.
Incredibly, an investigation by the state attorney's office concluded that Alex's treatment did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse and no charges have been filed. I don't know what the criteria for emotional abuse is, but if this doesn't meet it, what does? My heart breaks for all the children involved in this incident.
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maverick - June 1, 2008 03:05 AM (GMT)
Scott Summers - June 1, 2008 03:13 AM (GMT)
I guess you can say I'm biased to the opinion, but my 10 year old sister has been diagnosed with autism. She has her moments, but that doesn't mean that we don't love her!
Why didn't the teacher just ask to enroll the child into a special needs school? That's what happened to my sister...
Ryan Slade - June 1, 2008 04:28 AM (GMT)
Thank god when I was diagnosed with it, they didn't do this. It's unacceptable.
Fubuki Tenjyoin - June 1, 2008 04:42 AM (GMT)
Completely unacceptable. Such a bully action.
Manjoume Jun - June 1, 2008 11:25 PM (GMT)
I feel for this kid, and it makes me mad that this happened to him. I have Asperger's, Bipolar, and ADHD. My docter says I have been doing very well with good progress, I am living like a normal person, and going to a normal school in AP classes. I feel for this kid and I hate what happened to him. =\
Alastair Meztli Solaris - June 9, 2008 04:06 AM (GMT)
shouldn't this be in the debate area?
i mean granted it's a total landslide thus far but maybe someone would think the teacher was in the right. unlikely but possible.
all the same i feel that it was harassment if not abuse as well as discrimination if the teacher new beforehand that the child had autism. regardless though i feel that the teacher should be fired for doing this even if she does have some charges put against her. these are just my thoughts on the subject though of course.
Fubuki Tenjyoin - June 9, 2008 02:09 PM (GMT)
I thought about putting it in the debate area, but then I posted it here since it seemed like discussion material. And anyone who can do this should be locked in 2x4 room with no human interaction.
Alastair Meztli Solaris - June 9, 2008 03:31 PM (GMT)
agreed. i just noticed and thought to myself that it seemed like a debate topic. sorry for the interruption.