Kindergartner Voted out of Class

[mzteris]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A kindergarten teacher has been reassigned after she allowed her students to oust a fellow 5-year-old from the classroom because of his disciplinary problems.

Morningside Elementary School teacher Wendy Portillo was removed from classroom duties until further action may be determined, according to St. Lucie County School district spokesman Janice Karst said this week.

Last week, Portillo held a vote in her classroom in which the students "voted out" 5-year-old Alex Barton, who is in the process of being tested for Asperger's Disorder, a type of high-functioning autism, said his mother, Melissa Barton.

-more-

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/972423,oust052708.article

[jdadd]

1. Sounds like Wendy

Will have lots of free time to watch survivor now....:wtf:

[Triana]

3. That's what I was thinking. Apparently this "teacher" thinks life is just a big "Survivor"

teevee show and conducts her classes accordingly.

[Deja Q]

4. Tell her to read up on that dick who won in the first year, wrote a book, and failed to live by it

because he didn't bother paying the taxes due on his winnings like any decent person would.

Having read the book, he didn't seem very decent, but being a tax cheat is second only to being a cop killer as far as I'm concerned.

[Richard Steele]

5. That so-called "teacher" needs to be in a different line of work. No question about it. nm

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Article says she has been reassigned, not fired

[Deja Q]

2. Excellent update.

With luck the school will be ethical in its follow-up.

[Donnachaidh]

6. I found this even more astounding --

From the article --

"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."

This ISN'T emotional abuse - then WTF IS? This child is going to be haunted by this memory for the rest of his life! Can you imagine the humiliation of such a public *vote*? That kid's entire world outside of his house was THAT class -- this *teacher* needs to be stripped of her teaching credentials for life.

[Deja Q]

8. Agreed fully.

There are proper means to punishment, but this voting gag really makes me gag. It's cruel, unusual, will give the other kids a sense of unreal entitlement...

Never mind if the kid was disruptive of his own accord... or if someone quietly provoked him into responding. If the latter is the case, that truth has GOT to be made known. (it could be either way, but being provoked into responding and being made to look like the aggressor is beyond outrageous...)

[Zywiec]

9. I agree. It's been a long time since I heard something so horrible

happening to a six-year old.

What the fuck was that teacher thinking???

[mzteris]

10. not just emotional abuse of that child

but of all the children in the classroom -

think how this hsa affected them as well.

[Kajsa]

12. Agree on all your points.

It most certainly did fit the criteria for child abuse.
WTH is wrong with those people?!?


IMHO, the teacher is not fit to teach children,
her credential be damned!

:(

[muntrv]

7. Wendy: "Next week class, we will vote on whether the non-Christian

stays or leaves." :mad:

[lpbk2713]

11. They kicked Wendy upstairs to the school board main office ...

... until they make up their minds what to do with her ...

"Portillo has been reassigned to the St. Lucie County
School District offices during the investigation."

Link: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/treasurecoast/content/tcoast/epaper/2008/05/27/0527slteacher.html

[anitar1]

13. Perhaps the school system can create special

classes just for this boy. He needs his own classroom and teacher. Then the other children can enjoy their kindergarten classroom. Why should the whole class suffer because this child is so disruptive ? I am guessing the teacher never dreamed that she would be acting as a medical person in the class room. This boy needs help, instead of being "parked" in a public schoolroom that is not equipped to help him.The teacher is obviously not receiving support either, so therefore she is now the mean person.

[KamaAina]

15. "Separate but equal"?

Perhaps the school system can create special classes just for this boy.

Where have I heard that before? :eyes:

Why should the whole class suffer because this child is so disruptive ?

Where does it say how "disruptive" he's been? All it says is that he "has had disciplinary problems". It doesn't say what those are.

edit: header; emoticon

re-edit: "Special" classes are the way we used to do it back in the '70s. As an alumnus thereof, I'd hate to see us go backwards to that!

[Ilsa]

17. He may need a year in the Preschool Program for Children With Disabilities Class

or an aide to be with him for most of his school day until he learns behavior conducive to thetypical classroom.

We tried to mainstream my PPD-NOS son, but he couldn't handle the stress of the normal classroom. It was too loud and busy for him. He is blossoming in a class for autistic children, led by a wonderful teacher who understands these children and uses Applied Behavioral Analysis to help them move away from their disruptive and self-hurting behaviors.

[mzteris]

18. you ARE being sarcastic, aren't you?

If you aren't - then I suggest you get yourself over to the asperger's forum on DU and repeat what you just said.

Oh - and good luck. and goodbye.

[ThatsMyBarack]

14. As a fellow "Aspie"....

I really feel bad for that poor kid. :(