Survivor kindergarten
May 29, 2008
CBS News reports that a Port St. Lucie, Fla., kindergarten teacher led her students in a vote on whether or not to let a classmate continue in the class. Key quote:
Melissa Barton says Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo had her son’s classmates say what they didn’t like about 5-year-old Alex. She says the teacher then had the students vote, and voted Alex, who is being evaluated for Asperger’s syndrome — an autism spectrum disorder — out of the class by a 14-2 margin.
If this story is true, this teacher ought to be out of a job and allowed nowhere near impressionable young students. My God, a tribal council for kindergarteners?
Posted by Lisa Pampuch
Filed in Caught My Eye
Tags: Asperger's syndrome, autism, kindergarten, Melissa Barton, Morningside Elementary School, Port St. Lucie, Survivor, tribal council, Wendy Portillo
4 Comments » Filed in Caught My Eye
Tags: Asperger's syndrome, autism, kindergarten, Melissa Barton, Morningside Elementary School, Port St. Lucie, Survivor, tribal council, Wendy Portillo
May 31, 2008 at 10:09 pm
It is the last week of May even the best students are going to be little hellions. Do what all the other teacher’s do keep them busy and make it a few more days.
June 1, 2008 at 10:32 am
The previous post reads :
It is the last week of May even the best students are going to be
little hellions. Do what all the other teacher’s do keep them busy
and make it a few more days.
This is a response to disability discrimination?
Suggesting that students be kept busy the last week of school is not addressing the problem. My son has Autism and I watched with horror this last week as others ridiculed him for sport. I hear from staff “boys will be boys”. The problem needs to be addressed by sensitivity training for both teachers and students. See the attached: This is what happened when sexual discrimination was ignored previously in our district.
http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/youth/11946res20040106.html
Addtionally, I suggest that the district adapt a policy similar to the following:
http://www.mhu.k12.ca.us/documents/Board_Policy_Manual/5000/5146_BP_Inclusion.pdf
June 1, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Linda,
My response is aimed at the teacher who should have known better not discrimination. Keeping students busy is not intended to be a solution. Merely commenting about the last week of school. All real teaching is over by that time, between field trips, parties, assemblies there really isn’t much time for teaching. Anyone who has taught more than a year knows that the last week of school students are more likely to be a problem. It is better to plan for this and provide fun hands on learning type activities that will keep students hands and minds busy.
I have written several pieces about disabilities in an effort to educate others. If you wish to read more about my beliefs about disabilities please check out my blog.
November 19, 2008 at 6:17 pm
[...] Remember Wendy Portillo, the Port St. Lucie, Florida, kindergarten teacher who had her class vote on whether or not to let a fellow classmate who was being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome [...]