There is a very disturbing story coming out of Florida this afternoon that has caused a teacher to ‘reassigned until further action is determined.’
Last week, Elementary kindergarten teacher Wendy Portillo held a vote in her classroom in which kindergarten students “voted out” 5-year-old Alex Barton, who was in the process of being tested for Asperger’s Disorder, a type of high-functioning autism. Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, said the vote was taken after classmates were allowed to tell Alex what they didn’t like about him.
The class voted Alex out of the room, by a 14 to 2 margin.
As of This morning, Alex had officially been diagnosed with an autism-spectrum disorder and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He is not in school, but misses the one friend he made in the classroom his mom said. I think that this teacher should have helped the class understand that Alex was different because of the disorder he was born with.
When a student with special needs is placed in a class, a specialized teacher should help the other students understand that the child may be disruptive, but that they can’t control their behavior.
This could go a long way to preparing the other kids for what is in store for them rather than have them just not like that person.
It makes me sad to think that this little boy had to listen to his classmates list off the things they didn’t like about him. No one should ever have to go through that, especially a kindergartner!
SOURCE VIA PARENTDISH.COM
I can barely believe this. It’s sickening. How could ANYBODY…(much less a teacher) go out of their way to hurt a child in such a way? My little niece is autistic, but is also a genuinely dear and sweet girl. She actually doesn’t even know how to hurt somebody…but has endured so much at school already. (And, we’re generally speaking of private schools….she’s been to so many different schools…just trying to fit in somewhere…and she’s so sweet!) Shame on anybody that would teach children to behave in such a way towards another human being. Especially…shame on this teacher. He/she has no business in this profession.