I'm usually sympathetic to teachers, but this one deserves to be fired.

[pnwmom]

I can't imagine any circumstances that would make her actions acceptable.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/treasurecoast/sfl-flpkindergartner0525pnmay25,0,2574622.story

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.

SNIP


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..


SNIP

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.

SNIP

[BlooInBloo]

1. "I'm not special" - oh jesusfuckingchrist. Poor kid! :((((

[theoldman]

2. The teacher needs a good swift kick in the ass.

[HeresyLives]

3. 'I'm not special'

Incredibly sad.

This is how we lose our gifted children. We make them hate themselves.

:cry:

[Deja Q]

21. Nobody wants gifted children. Everybody is supposed to follow Barney.

[MichiganVote]

4. That is so sad. Kids with ASD can be helped in school. I do it all the time. How awful.

[pnwmom]

6. Both of my sons had kids with Asperger's/autism in their classes.

My younger son was in a class with three of them, plus ESL students, plus the typical range of "average" to "gifted" students.

It's a challenge, but good teachers handle this every day.

[MichiganVote]

7. Yes they do, not easily but they do. This teacher is unfit and should be removed.

[gateley]

5. That's heartbreaking.

It just seems so WRONG that the teacher shouldn't be punished -- harshly -- for this.

I'd probably try to bring it to local and national media attention.

[Horse with no Name]

8. There is NO excuse for it

Her certification should be pulled and she should NEVER be entrusted to children again--not even to put toys in Happy Meals.
Times like these I wish public floggings were in vogue.

[pnwmom]

9. Or at least she should be made to stand in front of the whole school

and have everyone individually say how much they dislike her, and why, and then vote her out of her job.

But even that wouldn't make up for what she did to a disabled five year old.

[Horse with no Name]

10. A public flogging or stoning

The thing is...that the children probably would care more about hurting HER feelings than she did about hurting the feelings of this child. It's time for the adults to protect the children from this abuser.

[Berry Cool]

11. This didn't meet the criteria for emotional child abuse?

One wonders what would.

Sounds like another excellent candidate for Worst...Person...in the World!!

[RedCappedBandit]

12. This "teacher" should never be allowed to set foot

in another classroom.

[apocalypsehow]

13. What a complete, utter POS - I simply cannot imagine such cruelty from a teacher of all people.

:thumbsdown:

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[ulysses]

14. there are those who shouldn't work with kids.

This ass is one of them. :grr:

Good on the two kids who bucked the vote, though.

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Adults as bullies. It's vile. nt

[aikoaiko]

16. A cruel, misguided attempt at controlling behavior, but there is a tiny silver lining...

I assume that Alex voted for himself and that means one other child voted against the mob and did the right thing. I'm impressed that child.

Good luck Alex. Stick with the good kids.

[LWolf]

17. I agree,

and I'm a teacher.

:grr:

I hope that teacher's principal and district will use due process and do so.

[arcadian]

18. As if that kid didn't already have a full plate.

Emotionally scarred for life. Thanks teach. Similar thing happened to myself and some of my friends who made it on to our 4th grade teachers hit list. She turned her classroom into a real life depiction of 'Lord of the Flies'. I hate that woman to this day. So do my friends who went through that.

[Deja Q]

19. Voting him out sends the wrong message to the other kids too...

It's not exactly tolerance for the kid who has AS either.

I also have to wonder if that kid with AS was the one who started the annoyance, or if others picked on him just so he WOULD react and BE perceived as the annoyance. There IS a difference.

[Echo In Light]

20. Evil

[Tripper11]

22. Here's the young man in question...poor kid

He's a real cutie...

link to article and pic
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/24/30gtteacher-lets-students-vote-out-classmate-5/

[backscatter712]

23. That is truly fucked up.

It's bad enough in school if you're a kid that's different, and you're bullied by the other kids. To have the teachers join in the bullying is beyond the pale.

All in all it's just another brick in the wall...