Special needs kid voted out of Kindergarten?

Question

Exactly WHAT was this intended to teach Alex and his classmates?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/27/earlyshow/main4130288.shtml

Answer 1

He might not have special needs.  He might be eating sugary cereal in the morning.  All he did was have a hard time sitting still, a lot of older kids still do that.  The schools are trying to make up things about kids in order to get the funding money for 8 kids with behavioral problems that they can put on a December 1st list.  There is also money given for 8 language problems and 8 emotional problems, thanks to the "No Child Left Behind" act given to schools (from the State Lotto money).  Parents shouldn't sign anything a school gives them regarding an evaluation. And if they've already signed something, then write a short letter revoking your permission for IEP... The Special Services team will exaggerate things and get the teacher to lie.  

Get your own evaluations, if they insist.  The public schools are ruining children's lives, you'd be surprised at the stuff going on there.  They think tired parents can't do anything about it.  And they seem to pick on the single mothers the most, like Alex's mom.  It made me really sad to hear that kid being talked to like that.  That teacher should be fired.

edit: A different news video I saw yesterday didn't say anything about Aspergers, the mother mentioned getting him tested for it in this video.  That doesn't mean he has it.  I hope she isn't letting the school psychologist do the testing. A lot of first born boys are immature and the schools try to get funding money saying it's Aspergers.  He has only had 1 friend and he has a single mom, of course he's immature.

Answer 2

I am speechless reading that article and listening (video only giving audio) to the video...

What comes to mind are all the question asked here along the lines of...

"Why did you decide to homeschool?"

"But what about SOCIALIZATION?"

"But what about learning diversity and accepting differences?"

"Don't you need a teaching degree?"

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And the teacher does not think she did anything wrong!

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The mom has set up an email address for those who wish to express their support especially for Alex who is still wondering why / thinking he is not a worthwhile human being.

Here it is: [e-mail]

There is also a card campaign ... here is the info... and link below:

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Alex is Special

c/o Barbara Curtis

15648 Britenbush Ct.

Waterford, VA 20197

"I will gather them, notify the media, then put them all in a box and send them to his mom to give to Alex."

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I'd like to encourage everyone to send this kid a card!

I think folks should also start emailing the school board and the FL Secretary of Education... I'll try to find the contact info and post it here... be back shortly

***UPDATE: Someone beat me to it with the support Alex stuff...

*** UPDATE ***

Here is the Port St. Lucie School Board Chairperson:

Ms. Carol A. Hilson

District #2

2004-2008

Chairman

Email: [e-mail]

The school superintendent is:

Michael J. Lannon

772-429-3925

Email: [e-mail]

The Florida Commissioner of Education is:

Dr. Eric J. Smith

This is the best I could find for an email: [e-mail]

I would encourage everyone who is outraged by this to send emails and to spread the word through your forums and such and get others to spread the word.  That teacher should not remain in the classroom and should not be given any more opportunity to harm children... I'll repeat from above: the teacher doesn't think she did anything wrong.

***UPDATE: I mean gosh, if many of us can take a moment or two and complain to / about Subway...

Answer 3

The teacher just has problems and should die.

Answer 4

Teacher should never be able to teach again.

Don't you think there should be better screening for teachers??

Answer 5

This is horrible. I feel like I can empathise with this boy because I've been singled out in a similar way when I was in public school. That teacher should be fired, but not without being told in exhaustive detail how horribly wrong what she did was and being made apologize to that boy (just like when kindergarteners do wrong they are made to apologize to eachother). Or better still, she should have to stand before her colleagues while each one in turn tells her what they don't like about what she did and then take a vote on whether or not she should be allowed to stay at that school. That seems fitting.

I'm going to draw a picture of Alex and write an encouraging message to go with it... Let him know that it's okay to be himself and that there are people who think ht's great and that he's still a part of the great big world and an important part at that. Something he can enjoy looking at and feel good about. I'm going to see if the library staff would be willing to get the kids in the reading program to read a book together about autism and then each write a letter of their own to Alex about why it's good to be different. (I volunteer in the summer reading program and help organize a lot of activities there.) This way he can hear from other children as well.

Answer 6

that even school teachers are not supreme in their ideas and decisions

Answer 7

Edit: An address (thanks for this to abfh) to send a card, letter or gift for Alex:

Alex is Special

c/o Barbara Curtis

15648 Britenbush Ct.

Waterford, VA 20197

Edit: Now you can send a supportive message to Alex at [e-mail]

Answer 8

I think your question is a question for Wendy Portillo.

What does this outrage say about the Principal and the school administrators?

Is not this whole situation a classic example of "Why Homeschooling exists?"

I vote Wendy Portillo out of the classroom, and out of her "profession".

Update: Apparently, this occurred on or about April 21, 2008.  Here is an update posted IF you scroll about 1/2 down the page:  http://autisticnation.typepad.com/thinki...

Answer 9

It's sad that a teacher would do that to anyone, but especially a kindergarten student with Asperger's syndrome.  All that did was give the other students a chance to point out to Alex that he is different from them.  I feel that the teacher should have criminal charges pressed and that she should no longer be permitted to teach.  As a teacher she should be able to deal with all children, not just those that have no special needs.

Answer 10

Well, it taught Alex, his classmates, their parents, and all of us that certification does not a teacher make.

Answer 11

I thank GOD I do not have any children after hearing this.

Answer 12

How extremely sad!  And teaching those kids at such a young age to dislike those who are different.  Kids that young, unless prodded, could care less if another kid is different and accept everyone...  Grrr!!  Burns me up too.