Well, looks like Port St. Lucie kindergarten teacher Wendy Portillo won't be named Teacher of the Year. According to the Treasure Coast Palm, she handled a difficult child, five-year-old Alex Barton (pictured at right), in what she probably thought was a creative manner: She encouraged the other children in the class to tell him why they didn't like him (e.g.: he's "disgusting" and "annoying") and then to vote on whether or not he should stay in class (they voted to kick him out, 14-2). And so he was forced to leave!
Why in the world would a teacher hand over control to a classroom of five-year-olds? If she thought he needed to leave the room, why didn't she just take the authority upon herself to send him to the principal rather than handing the decision over to an army of PlayDoh-eaters?
Alex, who has Asperger's, a form of autism, spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office. At home he repeated to himself, "I'm not special" over and over, and he now screams when he gets near the school, so he's dropped out.
An abuse investigation is underway and Alex's mother is considering legal action. Even if he was a problem kid, there definitely had to be a better way for the teacher to handle this.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 16)
61. I have a son with autism and he has faced a lot of discrimination within the school system. Teachers are not trained in dealing with children with autism. Which BY THE WAY IS AN EPIDEMIC..1 out of 500 will be diagnosed with it. You never who's child will be next.
STRADOS..so that you in the future make an intelligent comment. Educate yourself about autism, mainstreaming etc.. and pray hard that neither you nor someone in your family has autism!
Lauren at 7:15AM on May 30th 2008
62. Write or call St.Lucie School District:
Superintendent Michael J. Lannon
772-429-3600
webmastr@st.lucie.k12.w
LET THE SUPERINTENDENT KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!
Lauren at 12:45PM on May 30th 2008
63. dude. i'm a kindergarten and elementary school teacher now, but my old job i used to work one on one with a kid with asbergers in a high school. they put a lot of pressure on teachers these days to be experts in everything, not to mention we're expected to be fortunetellers too. asberger's children, along with austistic children need support, and the parents of that child should have known that ages ago before they let him enter a mainstream class being in a vulnerable state. actually, a vote might have actually been the best way she could have handled it. nobody (not even psychologists) know how to deal with these children. how does anyone know if the kid isn't screaming for another reason? how does anyone know that he says he's not special because he likes to say those words? its called echolalia, and its common with those kids. the kid i used to work with used to do similar things (but said much worse things), and he graduated high school and is now working. go figure. time to dig in and start supporting teachers instead of blaming them for everything people..!
kevin aldrich at 8:21AM on May 30th 2008
64. This is simply heartbreaking - one of the cruelest things I have heard.
Kodiak, I would love to get some input from you. I have a 6 1/2 yr old son with Asperger's. Trying to get help for him has been extremely frustrating. It would help to understand him more.
Suz at 9:07AM on May 30th 2008
65. My son has autism and it's been a problem from the start. I understand how the teacher might have felt overwhelmed, but this was a really bad idea on her part. One of the important things to remember for any child is positive reinforcement.
Instead of having the children go through everything they don't like about the little guy, it would have been better for her to have had the kids say something like "it makes me feel (---) when you (---). The whole kicking the kid out of class thing,definately a wrong move for sure. I can imagine what this little boy is feeling, I see it in my son almost every day. It breaks my heart to see him shunned for something he doesn't fully understand himself. I have to reassure him every day that he is not bad, and believe me, I can guarantee the parents have had just as many meetings with the school as I have. Whatever happened to parents and teachers working together for our children's benefit?
MercilessNadine at 9:31AM on May 30th 2008
66. In light of this travesty, I consider the teacher's action inexcusable and indefensible. The board of education NEEDS to educate both teacher and children the meaning of HATE.
boredwell at 9:52AM on May 30th 2008
67. This is so heartbreaking. The poor child is autistic, he can't help the way he behaves. He'll probably have life-long emotional scars because of this teacher
inkypinky1120 at 10:07AM on May 30th 2008
68. The teacher's actions are clearly inappropriate so, I am not even going to get into that. But, what is interesting (as a social experiment) is that two of his classmates went against the trend to vote him to stay. It would be interesting to find out what made these two so independent at 5 y.o. that they did not submit to the mob mentality. This is difficult for many adults but almost impossible for children because at that age social acceptance is often more important than right or wrong. Even if these two students were friends of his, it is interesting in that it shows he must have some good qualities. Abraham Lincoln said; "If a man has two people he can truly call a friend, he is a wealthy man indeed."
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 10:17AM on May 30th 2008
69. This is more of a social autism. The person can function normally in everyday tasks, is often very intelligent and can do everything else normal. The issue is social interaction. They are just not all there when it comes to it.
I am wondering why on Earth a teacher of all people would not educate herself on what Asperger's was. I hope she realized the amount of social and emotional trauma she has caused this child in her actions. She should not be a teacher and the school should consider suspending her. Maybe they can get a committee together and tell her what they don't like about her then vote her off the island.
E at 10:24AM on May 30th 2008
70. This is absolutely disgusting. As someone with Asperger's, I know it can be very difficult to handle social situations in school. And kids these days are just inanely cruel, and any difference in behavior is not tolerated by them. But what makes this story so unbelieveable is that they actually let that woman teach a class. She has not only set a horible example for those children, but she has more likely than not caused worse damage to this boy's self-esteem.
Kids are supposed to be able to trust their teachers. But how can you trust a teacher who has in essence verbally rip your confidence to shreds and allowed a bunch of five-year-olds to kick you out of the room you were supposed to be learning in? And what angers me most is that I know how it feels to be that "weird" kid. Because I could not function in a "normal" manner, I was teased on a daily basis until I was finally sent away to an alternative school because my district didn't want to put up with me. That teasing really hurt me in my teen years. I was lucky enough to figure out how to adapt on my own and behave somewhat normally, but after this poor little boy went through this, I wonder if he will even be able to function normally in any school.
I say they should fire her right away.
Chrissy at 10:40AM on May 30th 2008
71. I feel sorry for that little Alex, that he was placed in a class with that witch Wendy Portillo. Alex should have attended a special class with kids who have challenges, and Wendy Portillo needs a "sensitivity chip" drilled into her hateful brain.
Kids who are disruptive/have issues SHOULD be put in separate classes, with teachers who are specialized AND compassionate. Wendy Portillo is neither skilled NOR compassionate. She needs to be fired, pronto.
Suz at 10:43AM on May 30th 2008
72. Suz, I don't know if I can be of any help, but I can try.
When I was a kid back in the 1960's autism was simply not recognized at all. Most kids like me were classified as "behavior problems." I do remember that all through elementary school the teachers would try different ways to help (or make) me fit in. Some teachers lectured me, some yelled at me or punished me. I remember that one teacher's method was to sit me out in the hall whenever my behavior affected the other children. This teacher was actually a very nice older lady, the kind of person that most kids remember as one of their favorite teachers, but she was just at a complete loss as to how to handle me. (This was second grade). I spent a lot of time in the hall that year. Sometimes I spent the entire afternoon out there. I remember being very humiliated. I do remember that in grades K-6 the teachers I had who were the very best at "reaching" me (and also at helping the other students to understand me) were African American teachers. I am not really sure why this was true, other than that they might have had a better grasp on issues of tolerance. (BTW, the school I attended was 100% affluent white kids).
As far as understanding your son? I think at some level I am aware that I am not like other people, but I cannot fully understand why. I know that I am not liked, and I know it is because I do not act or react like "normal" people. It is hard to explain. Without a basis for comparison, it is hard for me to define what the difference is between "normal" and "me".
For instance, I can watch the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and I find it funny, but I also find things funny that normal people do not find funny at all. This makes me laugh at inappropriate times or in inappropriate situations. I find it ridiculous, for example, that other people pay attention to things like shoes and clothing. I usually haven't got a clue if people get a new outfit or change their hairstyle. I rarely even look at people. I never make eye contact. I had no clue as to the normal social niceties that seemed to come naturally to the other kids. It is not that doing these things would bother me...they don't, it is just not something I have the slightest interest in doing. Things I do find interesting rarely interest other people, and they are usually highly specific. Back in second grade, for example, I was highly interested in dinosaurs, but not in the "normal" way that most kids would be. I didn't play with toy dinosaurs; instead I read encyclopedias about various digs, and excavation techniques. I read the histories of the scientists. In second grade I was probably on a high school or even college level in this subject, but on the other hand I would consistently fail tests in simple arithmetic and English. It was not that I didn't have the ability, it was more that I could not force myself to pay attention to things that did not interest me. I would try...God knows I would try. I can remember my mom sitting night after night with me, often in tears out of frustration, trying to help me with my homework. Usually it ended with her just doing my homework for me. It is hard to explain, Suz. It is as if my brain is simply in a fog when I try to do any task I don't find interesting or challenging.
This doesn't mean I am non-functional. I am an accountant. I have earned two undergrad degrees and a Master's. I've been married twice (also divorced twice) and have raised three children. My youngest daughter (17) remarked to me the other day "Mom, you aren't like other moms...you aren't a "normal" mom...but in a way I am glad you're not." The point she was making is because I was not the "normal" nurturing mom, she had to grow up a lot faster than a lot of other kids...but now at 17 she is also much more mature and responsible. So many of her friends were sheltered, and now are freaking out as they approach adulthood, because they have no clue how to manage without their parents holding their hand. So many of them are taking anti-anxiety meds or are cutters... and their parents have no idea. So there are up sides and down sides to being "not normal". It isn't all bad.
To my knowledge there is no way you will ever be able to make your son think the way other people think. But, with proper therapy, he will be able to understand the way other people ACT, and be able to mimic the way they act, even though he will never understand why they act that way. He will also be able to discover the best ways to channel his abilities. In my case, I found that I am very good at being a "bean counter" and I function best when I am left alone to analyze things. I am very poor at functioning in meetings or in personal interactions, so I chose a career where those interactions would be minimal. I also confine most of my communication to writing. I am erudite in print, but I sound like a blithering idiot when I communicate verbally. I can also be offensive, though not intentionally. If you read something I wrote, then talked to me in person, you would have no idea you were dealing with the same person.
If I could have chosen a "perfect" childhood for myself, it would have been this:
I would have had an understanding person who helped me to see what behaviors I was doing that made other kids dislike me. They would have helped me to modify those behaviors. They would also teach me social skills. They would have taught me how to mimic other children's interactive behavior, without seeming contrived. They would have taught me the importance of conformity.
I would have also had a tutor who could have taken me as far as I wanted to go in whatever field I was interested in. Suppose, for instance, that a tutor could have taken my linear obsession with paleontology and turned to to biomedical engineering? A child like me might have cured cancer by now. Who knows what we might be missing by not properly training high-functioning autistics? With our single-minded on-task brains, we might be able to solve complex problems that would elude people who are more easily distracted.
I hope some of this helped, Suz.
KODIAK at 12:03PM on May 30th 2008
73. Sorry, Julie, but, it's not his Mom making him remember......... I'll bet that many of us, even quite older people, can remember humiliation suffered as a child. Humiliation is one of the most persistent memories, and definitely modifies behaviour.
If the child were older, or even an adult, it would not have been appropriate to humiliate him in front of others, much less allow the class to VOTE ON EXPULSION. It was unconscionable of the teacher. SHE deserves expulsion and being banned from teaching, to boot.
Negative behaviour modification in this manner rarely, if ever, improves behaviour.
As to the whole story, it's pretty telling that the teacher verified the vote.
I am horrified by this story.
And Jeremy, do get some education. The child was not "retarded" and you have no idea why he may have autism, or asperger's.
Studies have NOT shown that older parents or even drug abuse leads to these conditions in children, not to mention that neither accusation is probably true.
Linda at 11:23AM on May 30th 2008
74. This teacher shouldn't be teaching any child. I don't care what her excuse is. To encourage the other children to bully this child by name calling and voting him out of class is absolutely deplorable. This teacher should be fired, and the school system that allowed this should be sued.
Lisa at 11:28AM on May 30th 2008
75. Actually IRR, children with disabilities are guaranteed an environment that is LEAST RESTRICTIVE. There is NO SUCH THING as mainstreaming anymore. The children with disabilities who are placed in the regular education classroom are also placed with many aids, services, and accommodations. If you do not teach these kids..do NOT act as if you know the law. What his teacher did was appalling and SHE can and should be sued. The schools ystem is responsible for it's employees, regardless of what you want to believe. In a malpractice case eveyrone involved are sued, it is the same with school sytems. The problem here is the TEACHER did not recognize the situation, probably because she is one of those who say "NOT IN MY CLASSROOM" and wanted this child out. I have seen it many times. So before you spout your sophomoric opinions, do some research.
Barbara at 11:37AM on May 30th 2008