5-Year-Old with Aspergers Voted Out of Class

I'm asking everyone to please take a moment to read this post, even though it is not adoption related, because I feel that a very horrendous deed was carried out against this poor child. And the perpetrator of this cruelty...not other kids, but the CHILD'S OWN TEACHER.

How would you feel if your 5-year-old child was treated in such a way? What would you do...what would you expect the school system to do? I know what I would do, and that teacher would have to have my size 10 steel toed boot surgically removed from her anus...but please, read on:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/23/st-lucie-teacher-has-class-vote-whether-5-year-old/

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

By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class.

Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Aspberger's, a type of high-functioning autism. Alex began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully.

Alex has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. His teacher, Wendy Portillo, has attended these meetings, she said.

Barton said after the vote, Alex's teacher asked him how he felt.

"He said, 'I feel sad,'" she said.

Alex 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 on Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office.

"He was shaken up," she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened.

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."

Barton said Alex is reliving the incident.

They 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."

The child's mother filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie 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. Port St. Lucie Police is no longer investigating, but is documenting the complaint, she said.

Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident did occur.

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.

Ok....just how in the HELL is this NOT abuse?? And why the FUCK is that teacher still teaching, and not fired, banned, never allowed within 500 feet of a child again?

This is horrid. And what's worse, are half of the comments to the article...it seems there are people out there who actually CONDONE this type of behavior. Of adults, of teachers, bullying and making a mockery of a FIVE YEAR OLD BOY with a disability that causes his behavioral problems.

And she KNEW it, yet she went ahead and did this anyway.

If you are as pissed off and livid as I am, please sign this petition below:

http://www.petitiononline.com/autism08/petition.html

You can also contact the St. Lucie school and Board members here:

Morningside Elementary School Principal: Mrs. Marcia Cully cullym@stlucie.k12.fl.us (772) 337-6730St.

Lucie County Schools Superintendent: Michael J. Lannon4204 Okeechobee Road Ft. Pierce 34947-5414 Phone: 772/429-3925 FAX: 772/429-3916 e-mail: lannonm@stlucie.k12.fl.us

St. Lucie County School Board Chair: Carol Hilson 772-519-0397 HilsonC@stlucie.k12.fl.us

Vice Chair:Judith Miller772-528-4545 MillerJ@stlucie.k12.fl.us

Tons of updated info and a great form letter to use http://autisticnation.typepad.com/thinking_in_metaphors/2008/05/wendy-portillos.html

Last but not least letters to little Alex supportalex@treasurecoast.com

Call, fax, write these people and tell them to FIRE that bitch NOW. And send little Alex an encouraging word.

I used to face bullying like that from kids at school, but NEVER, EVER, EVER was it our SHOULD it be instigated by the very TEACHER.

SICK AND DISGUSTING.