Kindergarten Teacher Lets Classmates Vote Boy with Autism Disease Out of Classrooom

[rebgirl420]

Mom says teacher let classmates vote autistic son out of class

PORT ST. LUCIE - Melissa Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class.

After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.

By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted Alex -- who is in the process of being diagnosed with autism -- out of the class.

Melissa Barton filed a complaint with Morningside's school resource officer, who investigated the matter, Port St. Lucie Department spokeswoman Michelle Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said.

Port St. Lucie Police no longer are investigating, but police officials are documenting the complaint, she said.

Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident took place.

Portillo could not be reached for comment Friday.

Steele said the boy had been sent to the principal's office because of disciplinary issues. When he returned, Portillo made him go to the front of the room as a form of punishment, she said.

Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism. Alex began the testing process in February at the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marcia Cully.

Children diagnosed with Asperger's often exhibit social isolation and eccentric behavior.

Alex has had disciplinary issues because of his disability, Barton said. After the family moved into the area and Alex and his sibling arrived at the school in January, Alex spent much of the time in the principal's office, she said.

He also had problems at his last school, but he did not have issues during his two years of preschool, Barton said.

School and district officials have met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan to address his difficulties, she said. Portillo attended these meetings, Barton said.

Barton said after the vote, Portillo asked Alex how he felt.

"He said, 'I feel sad,' " Barton said.

Alex left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said.

Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office.

"He was shaken up," she said.

Barton said the nurse told her to talk with Portillo, who told her what happened.

Alex hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school.

Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special" over and over.

Barton said Alex is reliving the incident.

The other students said he was "disgusting" and "annoying," Barton said.

"He was incredibly upset," Barton said. "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this."

St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment.

Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside but said he could not elaborate.

Mom says teacher let classmates vote autistic son out of class -- Society -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

This makes me so incredibly angry. How could a teacher of all people allow this to go on in her classroom.

Making fun of people with diseases is the lowest of low.

rebgirl420 Reviewed by rebgirl420 on 06-04-2008. Kindergarten Teacher Lets Classmates Vote Boy with Autism Disease Out of Classrooom Mom says teacher let classmates vote autistic son out of class PORT ST. LUCIE - Melissa Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class. After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo said they were going to take a vote, Barton said. By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted Alex -- who is in the process of Rating: 5

[fishman3811]

Yeah i saw this on T.V last week and it saddened me deeply.Growing up is hard enough as it is and i hope that teacher never teachers again,youd think she would have more sense than that......

[40oz]

Making fun of people with diseases is the lowest of low.

Well the teacher probably didn't know he had any kind of disease. He was only "in the process" of being diagnosed. Still, thats a pretty dumb way for the teacher to make a point. If that's what she was trying to do. Not sure what that point would be though...

[rebgirl420]

If I had a kid and that happened to them I would be absolutely FURIOUS.

Heads would roll.

[maxsuperdanks]

What if the child was being overly disruptive? What if the child was doing something terribly vial and disgusting on a consistant basis?

The teacher can't lay hands on the kid, the other kids can't either, it's interrupting the learning of our future. While it was wrong to single the kid out in front of the class, the kid should have probably been removed and put somewhere else, because it's wrong to sacrifice the good of the many for just the few.

Just as it's wrong to punish a class of kids by no one going on a field trip for one asshole kid killing the class pet.

[fishman3811]

max how true but she should of handled it in a more mature fashion than what she did.

[dragonrider]

What if the child was being overly disruptive? What if the child was doing something terribly vial and disgusting on a consistant basis?

The teacher can't lay hands on the kid, the other kids can't either, it's interrupting the learning of our future. While it was wrong to single the kid out in front of the class, the kid should have probably been removed and put somewhere else, because it's wrong to sacrifice the good of the many for just the few.

Just as it's wrong to punish a class of kids by no one going on a field trip for one asshole kid killing the class pet.

Man, I was reading your post, and then at the very end I get to this line, "Just as it's wrong to punish a class of kids by no one going on a field trip for one asshole kid killing the class pet." It made me think you were reliving s traumatic event from your own childhood! Did you get denied a field trip because some asshole kid killed the class pet?

But seriously, this is not appropriate. The kid very likely was being disruptive and the teacher could have used a lot of different options for dealing with it including kicking him out of class. But there is no way that rallying a bunch of kindergartners to vote him out of class was the right thing to do! You don't turn children against each other to make a point! What a moron.

[rebgirl420]

^

Exactly, any person who has ever been made fun of knows what it's like to feel excluded.

It sucks.

[GrinKyle]

who said the teacher rally'd the kids to vote this "disruptive" kid out of class?

I'm with Max on this, the kid was still in the process from the reading and the teacher obviously didn't know this kid was Autistic.

"Alex spent much of the time in the principals office"
"He also had problems at his last school,"

So from a teachers stand point, this disruptive kid, keeps being disruptive, and has to be sent to the principals office over and over. So, she asks the class if they want him to stay or go (I APPLAUD this teacher, giving students actual say? no way!!)

Why should 16 kids who are there to learn have to put up with a disruptive kid? because he has a condition that no one can fix, lets live with it and make everyone else suffer? that seems reasonable...

Not only do I find what this teacher did acceptable, but I applaud her for actions, cause you cant blame someone for what they don't know.

I know growing up with and going to school with a lot of disruptive kids that you just want to go over and grab them and yell at them to stay in there seat, cause EVERYONE is there to learn, Tax money pays for them to learn, so LEARN and not be disruptive....

besides theres already classrooms (at least where i live) where all the "special" children go, which each kid normally has their own "helper" payed by the goood old tax payers.....

Imagine a world where we(as people) use 10x the resources on people that are NEVER going learn Algebra, get a end of the field job, or do anything that would actual better the human race....BUT BUT GOD tells us too!

OH.... and the mother sounds just as "special" as her child...

Can't wait for more neg rep.... cause I'm being realistic, in a fantasy world

[dragonrider]

Why should 16 kids who are there to learn have to put up with a disruptive kid? because he has a condition that no one can fix, lets live with it and make everyone else suffer? that seems reasonable...

No one said he should be allowed to be disruptive in class or that any other kids should have to put up with it. If he is that disruptive, he should be somewhere else. If the teacher wants this kid out of her class, she needs to pursue it through her principal. It's just assinine to have the other 5-year-olds "vote" him out of class. These kids do not actually have the power to vote him out, so it's just a way of labeling him as the bad kid everyone hates.