5 year old "voted out of class" by classmates

[nanofrog]

If it turns out that the boy does indeed have Asperger's, he's not going to miss the social interaction. Additionally, he's going to have to be taught the social skills that most normal people take for granted they way that schoolchildren are taught long division.

I was under the impression that Asperger's could benefit by some of the daily social interaction. If this is a mistake, I stand corrected, and thanks. I do like to learn about these things. My comment was aimed at home schooling in general though, not just this specific case. (My family members that went through home schooling had problems later in life because of this).

This is already being done by 'diagnosing' kids with ADD or something or other and drugging them. Oddly enough, kids with Asperger's stand a high chance of being misdiagnosed as having some form of ADD.

I agree. I've a nephew who has ADHD, and the medical solution it seems, is to keep him doped at all times. It seems reasonable also, that many things can be misdiagnosed.

I was a difficult case back in grade school. (In Orlando, FL as it happens). I was having problems in first grade, and they didn't know what to do with me. A new teacher at the time, specialized in learning disabilities, and arranged for me to be tested. I kept passing and failing hearing tests. It turned out, I had APD (Auditory Processing Disorder). If this had never happened, I could have been one of the kids who fell through the cracks as it were.

Not so much. As I said earlier, I wasn't diagnosed until I was 27, and I never set foot in a public school. From what I remember of my grammar school years, this kid could be me.

Sorry to hear it took so long for a proper diagnosis. Hopefully, the early detection for Alex will be a benefit, rather than ignored.

There isn't a private school that could help with this? I'd like to think that this kid has an amazing potential if he can get access to a school/group/professional that can guide him properly. That is, to keep his interest in academics. If so, who knows. Maybe he could cure disease, whatever.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

2. Allowing a teacher/school district to operate in this manner, will set a horrible precedent. Sacrifice a few kids to make life easier for teachers and school districts that are unwilling to make the necessary adjustments to their curriculum and policies. (It seems to me, that his teacher didn't have the patience needed. Nor did the school district, in allowing her to do something like this without any form of reprimand).

I was wondering how long until some one added this BS to the argument. The school districe never will and nor should it every publicly state what the reprimand/ punishment was for the teacher. It pretty standard practice in all industries not to disclosed that information why the hell should teaching be any different. It is private information and not meant for the idiot public to hang some one with. It post like yours for example on WHY the infomation on the punishment should never be made public. People will complain unless what they wanted was done.

I do not think they will fire the teacher but I do expect her to get a reprimand and it might turn out that she gets some formal training on dealing with those students.

As for the disablily and the school the student had not been formally diagnoses yet with the disability and until the formal work is done on it the schools hands are tied in what they can do to help.

I know this because I have dyslexia and all though schools teacher hands where tied in what they could do to help me before they received the official paper work. This was all though school up though college. I know the reasoning behind it. It is part of the CYA. They can not make a special exception for some one just because they say they have the disability other wise you have everyone asking for it.



As for the teacher over all I am willing to bet she is a good teacher who made a VERY lousy mistake but over all minus this one mistake is more than likely a very good teacher but of course no one can see that. OH NO they are to blinded by the mistake to see the big picture....

Like some one else said one does not get into teaching for the money. The pay is reality little. My mom with 20+ years of experience teaching still makes a lot less than me per year and I am fresh out of college. I know they have to put up with a lot and I mean A LOT of BS. Both from the school district and even more from the parents. On top of that lets throw in a few problem students who just cause problems. It starts adding up. But I know for a fact that most teacher are teachers because they love the kids and enjoy what they do. Most are good teacher.

 

[nanofrog]

Socialization is a moot point, actually. Children being "socialized" by their peers keeps them immature and unable to function in society. Children socialized with mature adults teaches them to behave as such. If this boy's diagnosis is accurate, it woud probably be the best thing for him.

To me, a school facility does include adult contact with teachers and administrators. Nor is a school facility the only means of socialization.

Immaturity it seems, is becoming epidemic along with lowered academic standards. The reasons for which are likely grounds for a new thread.

Just my personal situation - my children have so much social time, it's unreal. Church, home school groups, organized sports, working at our modular home business which involves dealing with customers in person and by telephone and email. At ages 16 and 6, they are intelligent, polite, well-spoken, and confident.

Wonderful! You have made a serious effort to ensure this issue is addressed, and its obviously working. I congratulate you on this. But not every child in home schooling will be so fortunate. This wasn't the case in my family, I'm sad to say.

 

[alphaod]

[ANGER]
I'd set up a lynching party for the hell of it...

I'd like to see that teacher humiliated in retaliation
[/ANGER]

Unbelievable what some of these teachers do. Schools are getting desperate for teachers so this is the kind of people they resort to.

 

[nanofrog]

I was wondering how long until some one added this BS to the argument. The school districe never will and nor should it every publicly state what the reprimand/ punishment was for the teacher. It pretty standard practice in all industries not to disclosed that information why the hell should teaching be any different. It is private information and not meant for the idiot public to hang some one with. It post like yours for example on WHY the infomation on the punishment should never be made public. People will complain unless what they wanted was done.

I do not think they will fire the teacher but I do expect her to get a reprimand and it might turn out that she gets some formal training on dealing with those students.

You misunderstood my post. I'm well aware of disclosure. I never indicated what should be done. Only that some action should have been taken. The school district only needed to have the spokesperson make a statement to the effect something was being done. Without being specific.

As for the disablily and the school the student had not been formally diagnoses yet with the disability and until the formal work is done on it the schools hands are tied in what they can do to help.

I know this because I have dyslexia and all though schools teacher hands where tied in what they could do to help me before they received the official paper work. This was all though school up though college. I know the reasoning behind it. It is part of the CYA. They can not make a special exception for some one just because they say they have the disability other wise you have everyone asking for it.

I can't say for the specifics of where you went to school, but I remember other students with dyslexia getting help after class by teachers that didn't have a specific diagnosis from a specialist. The teachers realized what was going on, and took matters in their own hands. (English teachers mostly, so it must have been blatantly obvious).

As for the teacher over all I am willing to bet she is a good teacher who made a VERY lousy mistake but over all minus this one mistake is more than likely a very good teacher but of course no one can see that. OH NO they are to blinded by the mistake to see the big picture....

Like some one else said one does not get into teaching for the money. The pay is reality little. My mom with 20+ years of experience teaching still makes a lot less than me per year and I am fresh out of college. I know they have to put up with a lot and I mean A LOT of BS. Both from the school district and even more from the parents. On top of that lets throw in a few problem students who just cause problems. It starts adding up. But I know for a fact that most teacher are teachers because they love the kids and enjoy what they do. Most are good teacher.

No, most teachers aren't in it for the money, and it is a high stress job. I have no doubt or illusions there. I've been present for school board meetings in the past, and have seen parents and school administrators at their "not so great moments".

It was certainly a lousy mistake. She lost her temper and over reacted. Is it a single mistake or a pattern? The article didn't address this. It is also the actions of one person, not all teachers. I never said it was all incriminating.

I do believe that the school district has some culpability in this. After one of the school administrators spoke to Alex's mother about having him tested, they were aware of the classroom situation. But they took no action, made any options available, et cetera until this incident. Instead, they left the teacher, Alex, and the rest of the class in status quo rather than making home schooling an option before she "lost it".

Bad choices from the top down, and CYA, though I understand it, isn't a valid excuse for this type of outcome. No one wins in this type of mentality.

 

[Iscariot]

First off, we're only getting one side of the story. We don't know what actually happened leading up to 'the vote'. Maybe the boy asked for it?!?

Oh come on. Under no circumstances is it acceptable for an adult to parade a 5 year in front of other 5 year olds and have them evaluate his worth. It doesn't matter what the child was like or how he behaved. There are no circumstances where this action would have been acceptable.

 

[crazytom]

Are you arguing that bad teachers aren't at fault when they do bad things because they aren't paid as much as they might be? It would be nice to have higher salaries to attract better teachers, but we can still point out the bad ones that are in the system.

I'm arguing that we only have half of a story. We only have the mom's side from what she heard from her 5 year old. Who's to say that this isn't some kind of reform teaching where everyone in the class told one thing they liked about the boy and one thing they didn't? Who's to say that the teacher knew the kid was 'being diagnosed' with asperger's as opposed to just plain 'diagnosed'?

I challenge anyone that wants this teacher fired, hanged, slapped, chased with a torch and pitchfork, etc. to go out and deal with an autistic child for one day and see what it's like. It's not easy.. and without training, things can get out of control VERY quickly.

I, personally, need more of the story before going on a witch hunt.

 

[NC MacGuy]

It's kind of late in the show to vote someone off now. The kid was obviously having problems that needed attention and the parents should have had an evaluation before starting school. I feel bad for the kid especially since Asbergers is socially handicapping anyway and he'll probably be traumatized socially for quite a while because of this incident.

I'm surprised the school didn't push to have him evaluated the first month or so of the school year since it seems obvious he had issues and needed an IEP at a minimum.

 

[Iscariot]

I'm arguing that we only have half of a story. We only have the mom's side from what she heard from her 5 year old. Who's to say that this isn't some kind of reform teaching where everyone in the class told one thing they liked about the boy and one thing they didn't? Who's to say that the teacher knew the kid was 'being diagnosed' with asperger's as opposed to just plain 'diagnosed'?

I challenge anyone that wants this teacher fired, hanged, slapped, chased with a torch and pitchfork, etc. to go out and deal with an autistic child for one day and see what it's like. It's not easy.. and without training, things can get out of control VERY quickly.

I, personally, need more of the story before going on a witch hunt.

Doesn't matter how difficult working with an autistic child is, nor does it matter one iota how wretched of a child the boy is.

There are mechanisms in place to deal with a problem child. Send them to the principals office, send them home, call the parents, motion for expulsion, removal from your class, etc. There are no circumstances where it is acceptable to put a 5-year old child in front of the class for some kind of peer evaluation and survivor-style vote-off.

Just as we have rules and regulations in place to deal with the teacher in a reasonable and just fashion, so do we to deal with problematic members of society. I am certainly no apologist for the child nor the parents if they are indeed responsible for any kind of (at this point hypothetical) wrongdoing, but there is nothing those parties could have done that would have warranted this kind of treatment of the boy.

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

I was under the impression that Asperger's could benefit by some of the daily social interaction. If this is a mistake, I stand corrected, and thanks. I do like to learn about these things. My comment was aimed at home schooling in general though, not just this specific case. (My family members that went through home schooling had problems later in life because of this).

You're not wrong, but not entirely right either. One of the key benchmarks if you will for Asperger's is that left to our own devices, we tend to be loners. Case in point, one of the things my fiancee [gently] chides me about is that I don't "get out" enough. I know it's important to her, so I make the effort, but it's something I had to learn (read: be taught) to do, otherwise, I could go for days without human contact and it probably wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

To your second point, my fiancee was home schooled, but her parents saw to it she had social opportunities. From what I understand, that's part of the program, not just sitting at home in front of a computer doing lessons ad infinitum.

Sorry to hear it took so long for a proper diagnosis. Hopefully, the early detection for Alex will be a benefit, rather than ignored.

Most definitely. One of the problems with catching Asperger's early is the very nature of the condition. By and large, someone with Asperger's can pass for "normal" (I hate using that word here but it helps make my point), unlike someone with a more severe form of autism. We're usually seen as eccentric, quirky, but socially awkward.

 

[savanahrose]

That is absolutely heartbreaking. She should be fired! It was classified as it not being emotional abuse? That is just wrong.

That is about as bad as my sons teacher calling him stupid because he was bored in school. The only time he enjoyed school was when it was hands on.
I was livid and I should have gone to the school board but she did not say that in front of my son. If she had I definitely would have.
He was borderline ADD when he was growing up. I think he still is but nothing can really be done with it.

 

[crazytom]

<snip>

There are mechanisms in place to deal with a problem child. Send them to the principals office, send them home, call the parents, motion for expulsion, removal from your class, etc. There are no circumstances where it is acceptable to put a 5-year old child in front of the class for some kind of peer evaluation and survivor-style vote-off.

<snip>

Yes, there are mechanisms in place:

Steele said the boy had been sent to the principal's office because of disciplinary issues.

And he was sent back to the classroom....what gives? Is something broke?


We still have only ONE SIDE of the story. Of course the mother is going to sensationalize her sons plight. The reporter is going to sensationalize to get the most attention possible out of the story. The fact remains that we just DON'T KNOW the WHOLE story.

Case in point:

When he returned, Portillo made him go to the front of the room as a form of punishment, she said.

How many kindergarten classes do you know that have a 'front' of the room? I think that was done away with in the mid to late 1970's. Now classrooms are open or have small groups of tables/stations...there's no specific front/back orientation to the rooms.

Given that the district didn't find emotional abuse, there's something BIG missing in the story that the mom is not forthcoming about. But, on the flip side, the reporter has done a fantastic job of pushing the public's buttons.

 

[nanofrog]

You're not wrong, but not entirely right either. One of the key benchmarks if you will for Asperger's is that left to our own devices, we tend to be loners. Case in point, one of the things my fiancee [gently] chides me about is that I don't "get out" enough. I know it's important to her, so I make the effort, but it's something I had to learn (read: be taught) to do, otherwise, I could go for days without human contact and it probably wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

Cool. To me, your description does mean that the socialization aspect is needed. Understand my meaning of socialization, is both kids and adults. The adult aspect is absolutely required, for any kid, disabilities or not.

To your second point, my fiancee was home schooled, but her parents saw to it she had social opportunities. From what I understand, that's part of the program, not just sitting at home in front of a computer doing lessons ad infinitum.

I agree. Her parents followed through with their obligations, and that made the difference. Unfortunately, not all do.

 

[darkpikachu02]

I have Tourette’s Syndrome, and when I hear about stories like this, I feel like wringing some necks and anybody who takes up for the teacher in this one is a million times more mental than the child with the disability. The teacher and the principal both need to be fired. The principal needs to be fired for allowing this type of stuff to go on. I was in regular classes throughout my K-12 school career and had graduated high school with a regular diploma just like the normal kids. I had volunteered to return to my high school as a coach of the Special Olympics high school basketball team after graduation. I am now an A+ certified PC technician running my own on call repair service through facebook. Man, I can’t stand these types of people.
Ben

 

[crazytom]

I have Tourette’s Syndrome, and when I hear about stories like this, I feel like wringing some necks and anybody who takes up for the teacher in this one is a million times more mental than the child with the disability. The teacher and the principal both need to be fired. The principal needs to be fired for allowing this type of stuff to go on. I was in regular classes throughout my K-12 school career and had graduated high school with a regular diploma just like the normal kids. I had volunteered to return to my high school as a coach of the Special Olympics high school basketball team after graduation. I am now an A+ certified PC technician running my own on call repair service through facebook. Man, I can’t stand these types of people.
Ben

So what's your point? I'm sorry that you have Tourette's...I'm sure that your parents notified the teachers and administrators of your issues and they were dealt with accordingly? Did your parents have a big press conference when something didn't go your way?

This child WAS NOT YET diagnosed. and WE ONLY HAVE ONE SIDE OF THE STORY.

I'm personally disgusted that people are making snap judgments from only hearing one side of the story. It's no damn wonder that young people don't want to go into the teaching profession when they can plainly see (in this thread) how they will be treated once the slightest controversy comes up (the child NEVER lies and the parent is ALWAYS right). I wouldn't want to deal with that kind of BS either. What's next, fire the teacher for giving a student a fail for something because it's emotional distress?

I'm not saying that the teacher is 100% correct, either. Teachers are human and can make mistakes. But in this case, the kids only 5 years old...I don't see this scarring him for life, though the attention to the problem that the mother has brought upon him may. She could've dealt with the issue in a different way, too.

 

[leekohler]

So what's your point? I'm sorry that you have Tourette's...I'm sure that your parents notified the teachers and administrators of your issues and they were dealt with accordingly? Did your parents have a big press conference when something didn't go your way?

This child WAS NOT YET diagnosed. and WE ONLY HAVE ONE SIDE OF THE STORY.

I'm personally disgusted that people are making snap judgments from only hearing one side of the story. It's no damn wonder that young people don't want to go into the teaching profession when they can plainly see (in this thread) how they will be treated once the slightest controversy comes up (the child NEVER lies and the parent is ALWAYS right). I wouldn't want to deal with that kind of BS either. What's next, fire the teacher for giving a student a fail for something because it's emotional distress?

I'm not saying that the teacher is 100% correct, either. Teachers are human and can make mistakes. But in this case, the kids only 5 years old...I don't see this scarring him for life, though the attention to the problem that the mother has brought upon him may. She could've dealt with the issue in a different way, too.

Excuse me- but why the hell is a teacher doing this kind of thing? It's not in any way excusable. It's disgusting. The teacher even confirmed it happened. The kid is there to learn, not be ridiculed. What problem kid is so bad that they deserve to treated this way? Please tell me. I'm waiting.

 

[redwarrior]

So what's your point? I'm sorry that you have Tourette's...I'm sure that your parents notified the teachers and administrators of your issues and they were dealt with accordingly? Did your parents have a big press conference when something didn't go your way?

This child WAS NOT YET diagnosed. and WE ONLY HAVE ONE SIDE OF THE STORY.

I'm personally disgusted that people are making snap judgments from only hearing one side of the story. It's no damn wonder that young people don't want to go into the teaching profession when they can plainly see (in this thread) how they will be treated once the slightest controversy comes up (the child NEVER lies and the parent is ALWAYS right). I wouldn't want to deal with that kind of BS either. What's next, fire the teacher for giving a student a fail for something because it's emotional distress?

I'm not saying that the teacher is 100% correct, either. Teachers are human and can make mistakes. But in this case, the kids only 5 years old...I don't see this scarring him for life, though the attention to the problem that the mother has brought upon him may. She could've dealt with the issue in a different way, too.

The slightest controversy? The kid was 5! It was completely, unmistakably, totally, the teacher's fault. She should not be in this profession at all. No child deserves to be treated this way. And the mother should have belted the teacher right then and there, that's where she missed it.

 

[crazytom]

As I've said before, time and time again: WE DO NOT HAVE THE WHOLE STORY.

It's just SOOOOO very easy to overlook the fact that the principal, the district AND the police didn't find anything wrong with the situation. THERE'S MORE TO THIS STORY THAN WHAT WE'VE READ!

Look, if you can't go back and read my other posts, let me know: I will summarize ALL of the points that I've made in one big post, if that doesn't convince you that MAYBE, just MAYBE there's another side, then there's no reason for me to keep arguing with you, your mind has been made up and you're a red state and I'm a blue state.

 

[justinm]

Man, thats when you know your having a bad day!

 

[crazytom]

Put THIS in your pipe and smoke it!

Teacher's side

PORT ST. LUCIE — Morningside Elementary kindergarten teacher Wendy Portillo told police she wanted 5-year-old Alex Barton to hear how his behavior was affecting his classmates, according to a report released Thursday by the Port St. Lucie Police Department.

After students shared their view, she had them vote, but she said the vote was only to keep him out of class for the day, not for good.

“Portillo said she did this as she felt that if (Alex) heard from his classmates how his behavior affected them that it would make a bigger difference to him, rather than just hearing it from adults,” according to the report.

Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, filed a complaint with Morningside’s school resource officer about the May 21 incident, saying her child told her he had been voted out of class at the encouragement of the teacher.

But Barton said there are inaccuracies in the report. She said she gave the school resource officer a written statement, and the officer’s report doesn’t match that statement.

The state attorney’s office and Port St. Lucie police department concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed.

Alex was in the process of being tested for Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism, at the time of the incident. Barton said a private psychologist officially diagnosed him Tuesday with an autism-spectrum disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder.

Portillo and children in the class said Alex was pushing a table up with his feet while he was under the table. She got the school resource officer to remove Alex from the classroom. It was the second discipline referral for Alex that day, the report said.

Portillo told the officer after he left the classroom with Alex, she talked with the other children.

“Portillo said she explained to them that the students in class were all her priority and she would protect them like a ‘bear defending her cubs,’” the report said.

When Alex returned to the class, Portillo said she and the class were not ready for him to return.

Portillo told the officer she asked Alex to join her at the front of the class.

“She said she then asked him to listen to what the children didn’t like about the things he did, and she asked him how it made him feel,” the report said. “She said at this time, ‘We polled the class’ to see how his peers felt about his return at that time.”

Alex was voted out by a 14 to 2 margin.

Alex told the officer Portillo called his classmates’ names out and they said “disgusting” things about him.

“I asked (Alex) what the students said, and he said the students said he eats paper, picks boogers and eats them on top of the table and bites his shoelaces,” the report said. “He told me Mrs. Portillo said, ‘I hate you right now. I don’t like you today.’”

The officer asked Alex how the incident made him feel.

“He said it made him feel sad,” according to the report.

Alex also told the officer Portillo scratched him, stepped on his shoelaces, grabbed his leg and pulled his shirt collar, but the report said Portillo and other children in the class refuted those allegations.

According to the report, Barton told the officer when she talked with Portillo after the incident, Portillo “blocked the door for about five minutes to prevent me from leaving the classroom with my child, who was visibly shaken by the abuse.” Alex hasn’t been back at Morningside since the incident.

Morningside parent Terrence Moore, whose daughter Jessica is in the kindergarten class and was interviewed by the resource officer, said Portillo is an exceptional teacher.

“She’s top notch. She’s a very caring teacher,” Moore said.

Moore said Portillo is big on making sure the children use their manners and she lets the children know what she expects of them.

“In (Jessica’s) mind, (the vote) was a real non-event,” Moore said.

Moore said his daughter told him Alex was disruptive in class, and she voted for him not to return to the class at that time.

Jessica became upset when Portillo was reassigned to school district offices while school officials investigate the incident, Moore said.

“When she found out that was happening, she started to cry,” Moore said. “She loves Mrs. Portillo.”

I'm satisfied. Are you?

 

[zelmo]

As I've said before, time and time again: WE DO NOT HAVE THE WHOLE STORY.

It's just SOOOOO very easy to overlook the fact that the principal, the district AND the police didn't find anything wrong with the situation. THERE'S MORE TO THIS STORY THAN WHAT WE'VE READ!

Look, if you can't go back and read my other posts, let me know: I will summarize ALL of the points that I've made in one big post, if that doesn't convince you that MAYBE, just MAYBE there's another side, then there's no reason for me to keep arguing with you, your mind has been made up and you're a red state and I'm a blue state.

I'll play along. Why don't you go ahead and fabricate something that could possibly excuse the teacher's behavior in this case? You don't need any facts here, just whip up a scenario as an example of circumstances that would make her actions towards this 5yo child acceptable. Maybe the kid exposed himself to another student, or defecated in her purse. Be creative. Come up with something that makes her actions acceptable to you.

EDIT - I don't see anything in that article that gives the teacher the right to try an arguably psychological experiment on him. She's allegedly a teacher, not his therapist.

 

[redwarrior]

Teacher's side




I'm satisfied. Are you?

Oh yeah, I'm satisfied. She can only function if things are going well. She has no business working with children that age if that is how she settles problems. She should not be teaching young children. Perhaps they should be teaching her. Democracy does not belong in a classroom of 5-year-olds, and this certainly shows how damaging it can be.

 

[crazytom]

Oh yeah, I'm satisfied. She can only function if things are going well. She has no business working with children that age if that is how she settles problems. She should not be teaching young children. Perhaps they should be teaching her. Democracy does not belong in a classroom of 5-year-olds, and this certainly shows how damaging it can be.

Tell me: How are you supposed to learn proper social behaviors? Does a magic fairy appear on your shoulder and whisper in your ear? You learn proper social behavior by how adults teach you and BY YOUR PEERS!

How do you resolve conflict: YOU TALK TO THE OTHER PARTY AND LET YOUR FEELINGS BE KNOWN. Just like we're doing right now. Go ahead---vote me out of this discussion. I can take it and LEARN something from it, too. I've presented my arguments for how I think it was right. Why doesn't someone present their arguments for how it SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE?????!!!???!?!?! I'd LOVE to hear from a trained teaching professional.

Do you really want to let the kid get away with anti-social behavior? What message does that send to the rest of the students?

 

[redwarrior]

Tell me: How are you supposed to learn proper social behaviors? Does a magic fairy appear on your shoulder and whisper in your ear? You learn proper social behavior by how adults teach you and BY YOUR PEERS!

How do you resolve conflict: YOU TALK TO THE OTHER PARTY AND LET YOUR FEELINGS BE KNOWN. Just like we're doing right now. Go ahead---vote me out of this discussion. I can take it and LEARN something from it, too. I've presented my arguments for how I think it was right. Why doesn't someone present their arguments for how it SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE?????!!!???!?!?! I'd LOVE to hear from a trained teaching professional.

Do you really want to let the kid get away with anti-social behavior? What message does that send to the rest of the students?

Do you have children? My 16-year-old still cannot always be reasoned with, and my 6-year-old, give me a break! I explain to him how things are and then tell him to keep his mouth shut. The parent is the person to handle these issues, not a class of 5-year-olds being led by an authority figure who does not know how to use her authority to enable her students to learn to make conscientious decisions. What the students learned in this particular case is the picture of anti-social behavior.

 

[crazytom]

I'll play along. Why don't you go ahead and fabricate something that could possibly excuse the teacher's behavior in this case? You don't need any facts here, just whip up a scenario as an example of circumstances that would make her actions towards this 5yo child acceptable. Maybe the kid exposed himself to another student, or defecated in her purse. Be creative. Come up with something that makes her actions acceptable to you.

EDIT - I don't see anything in that article that gives the teacher the right to try an arguably psychological experiment on him. She's allegedly a teacher, not his therapist.

OK. Let's try and kill two birds with one stone.

Since our school system doesn't rely solely on rote memorization, education needs to be creative...expose the child to many different things that are age appropriate. Everyone learns differently. Some things will stick, some won't. Some need different tactics to learn the same things. Sounds like a psychological experiment, doesn't it?

You can't see the positive here, can you? The child was sent a message, it wasn't a spanking, it wasn't torture, it wasn't life threatening. It was a strong message from his peers. There are very few gray areas in a 5 year olds understanding of the world, absolutes are learns best and easiest: Yellow and Blue make Green. If you don't present a child with an absolute about his/her behavior, you're only asking for big problems later. You need more positive things? Aw, come on! OK: Now he's been diagnosed with Aspergers. What does our lucky contestant win? Special education! A teacher that's actually trained in what's best to deal with all the different lettered diagnoses (ADD, SPMH, EMH, OCD, etc.) AND, if the 'disease' is severe enough, their OWN ONE-ON-ONE teachers aide that will sit right next to him at every step of the way!!!

Are we good yet?