Re: Re: Teacher lets students vote out classmate, 5 years old

[Guest guest]

Maybe the board of Ethics needs to be made aware of

this situation. I know in GA it is called the

Professional Standards Commission that is in charge of

teachers behaving unethically. If it is a public

school that goes against teacher ethics. Meaning if

the principal and superintendant and school board are

allowing this with no consequences then they are too

guilty of violating the educator code of ethics. That

would surely make something happen!

--- sunrose101@... wrote:

>

>

> I think we all need to write/call the school and the

> police down there. How

> could this not be considered child abuse?

>

> Francine

>

> In a message dated 5/26/2008 10:17:08 A.M. Eastern

> Daylight Time,

> pats@... writes:

>

>

>

>

>

> Fyi

> This is a horrid situation – pointing out the lack

> of education and

> sensitivity in the school and society. Below my

> signature is a letter sent from

> Assemblywoman Janet Duprey.

> Teacher lets Morningside students vote out

> classmate, 5 years old

> By Colleen Wixon

> Saturday, May 24, 2008

> PORT ST. LUCIE — 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, , his Morningside Elementary

> teacher Portillo said

> they were going to take a vote, Barton said.

> By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted —

> who is in the process of

> being diagnosed with autism — out of the class.

> Barton filed a complaint with

> Morningside' Barton filed a

> complaint with Morningside'<WBR>s school resource

> officer, who investigated the

> matter, Port St. Lucie Department spokeswoman

> Steele said. But the

> state attorney's office concluded the matter did not

> meet the criteria for

> emotional child ab

> 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.

> 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..

> has had disciplinary issues because of his

> disability, Barton said.

> After the family moved into the area and and

> his sibling arrived at the

> school in January, 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 how

> he felt.

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

> 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.

> 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 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.

> Pat

> R. Schissel, LMSW

> President, AHA

> Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism

> Assoc.

> PO Box 916

> Bethpage, NY 11714

> 516.470.0360 p

> _www.ahaNY.org_ (http://www.ahany.org/)

> _info@..._ (mailto:info@...)

> Join us at AHAs 20th Anniversary Abby Irwin Family

> Picnic on Sunday, June

> 8th . Sign up required –

> _http://www.ahany.http://www.htt_

> (http://www.ahany.org/ev_pic.htm)

> Not a member of AHA? Join our community today and

> receive our newsletter,

> plus discounts for AHA conferences and workshops.

> Your membership will help

> ensure that AHA is here to answer your questions

> and provide support/referrals

> to individuals with AS/HFA and related conditions

> and their families. You can

> print out a membership form at:

> _http://www.ahany.http://www.htt_

> (http://www.ahany.org/ab_app.htm)

> lannonmstlucie (DOT) lannonmstlucie (DOT) <WBR>k12.fl.us

> lannonm@

> Cc: Marty; info@autisticadvoca Marty

> Subject: Student voted out of class

> Dear Mr. Lannon and Ms. Hilson

> I am horrified to learn of the action taken by

> kindergarten teacher

> Portillo against a five year old boy in the process

> of being diagnosed with

> Asperger's Syndrome.

> My 14 year old grandson has Asperger's. The first

> 21/2 years he spent in

> school were a nightmare until he was diagnosed with

> Asperger's at the age of 7

> while a second grade student. Today

> struggles with various issues in

> 8th grade and all of the peer problems of middle

> school. is

> incredibly bright and is considered by some a music

> savant. He still bears the scars

> of his first years of school. Fortunately, our

> school district has taken

> steps to work with and his parents along with

> other Asperger's students

> to demand respect for those who are different.

> As a member of the New York State Assembly, I

> recently passed a Resolution

> declaring May 12, 2008 Asperger's Syndrome Day in

> our state. With 50

> co-sponsors and a unanimous vote of the Assembly,

> we made a strong statement on

> behalf of all children and adults who struggle each

> and every day with social

> challenges caused by Asperger's.

> The resolution in part reads: Asperger's Syndrome

> does not go away, and

> children do not 'grow out' of it; there is no cure;

> schools must be cognizant of

> bullying of Asperger's students who are often

> ridiculed as 'weird' or

> 'geeks'.

> When I wrote these statements, I was referring to

> bullying by other

> students. It, quite frankly, never occurred to me

> that a teacher would be guilty of

> this type of behavior.

> I respectfully request that you demand an apology

> to this young boy and his

> family by Ms. Portillo, that she be removed from

> teaching until the school

> district is assured she has acquired some

> compassion for special needs

> children, and that the school district take

> immediate steps to educate all teachers

> and staff about the symptoms and characteristics of

> Asperger's Syndrome.

> These children are some of our most intelligent

> with bright futures if they

>

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