5-year old aspie voted out of kindergarten by students

Post Reply New Topic

I really feel for that little boy in Florida. My father was flunked in kindergarten and his life has been messy, arduous, frustrating and unsuccessful. I wish I could say I'm surprised at something like this happening in Florida but hey, after 8 years of Dubya that just isn't the case. This 'reality show' mentality has got to go. In the fifties it was game shows and commie-baiting, now it appears enough of the general public are onto what's going this time around that complaints about the 'liberal media' from some quarters are justifiably met with suspicion.
My wife and daughter and I live in Toronto, a major city in that 'red menace' north of the US, Canada! (cue ominous tinny MIDI music here). My wife was quick enough to realize something was up when my daughter tantrumedra constantly in junior kindergarten, and we got her diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age four. I can't say the school we started her in was perfect, but I can safely say that something as low as what Alex Barton was subjected to would never, ever have even entered any teacher's or educator's mind. Had any such thing even been attempted here, there would have been so much outcry that the teacher would at least have had to issue a public apology, and at the very least that teacher's job would be in jeopardy. It's hard to be objective when you hear of a kindergarten teacher instigating her class to vote a boy 'off the island'.
Hopefully I'm doing more than just ranting, I'm having trouble thinking straight. I sent the link to the BBC' s news website, thanks for sharing it. Incidentally, just as my father as had a tough time of things (my wife and I concluded during therapy that he, like me, was quite likely on the spectrum), my daughter is doing very well and 'normalizing' more than ever at her new school.

Obviously we do not have the whole story.

Why would this happen in the first place?

I wonder what the other side of the story was.

Public schools suck and teachers like that never get fired.

Don't you just love the unions?

Why don't you put yourself in President Bush's shoes for a change? I think he's doing the best he can. It was the anti-pop culture, anti-reality show crowd that elected him. It's isn't "commie-baiting" either. Have you ever considered that Communism is a real C(at)ASTRO(phe) ? You shouldn't fault people for wanting to prevent it. This incident is actually reminiscent of "criminal" trials and "reeducation" tactics used in Red China.

I still advocate the alpha-male approach for boy Aspies. I told my sons if they are ever bullied at school and pop the offender in the nose, I'll support them.

This story is appalling. What is just as bad is reading some of the comments underneath the story by people who support what the teacher did and blame the little boy for being disruptive (and as nothing is mentioned about this in the article, they are assuming he is disruptive because of his AS).

I too would like to know more details - what was the behaviour of this child in class - was he aggressive to other children and did he negatively affect their learning? The story as it is, only said that the other children called him disgusting and annoying - not reasons to exclude someone from a class. And even if he was disruptive, there are other ways to deal with this.

Its amazing that a teacher can be (generally justifiably) expelled for the slightest amount of physical violence towards a student, whereas this emotional abuse is much worse in terms of the long lasting effects it leaves, yet she gets to keep her job! This kid is probably now going to grow up with a heightened sense of being disliked and worthless, and I know where that can lead.

Two of them voted for him to stay though.. He knows where his mates are.

Teachers at this level are notorious for this kind of misled stupidity. They think theyre being clever.. they arent. There is perhaps a very good reason that they only teach 5 year olds...

Its actually a good way to guage the mood of a class.. but ffs do it when the kid ISNT THERE. (As happened with my elder son. He passed quite well, having captured the female vote by being "cute".)

Sterilisation may be a bit extreme, but a good review will be needed by the Board of Education.

One of those votes was probably his.

Yeah.... wish I was principal of that school. I'd call a teacher's meeting, and have them vote whether or not to fire Ms. Reality-Show-Wannabe.

They would vote not to fire her. Remember union solidarity?


I found a picture of the teacher. She's a big ugly colored woman. Since she's ok with discrimination, it would be sooo tempting to take the kid right in front of her and say. "Don't worry kid, it's not your fault, that's just how colored people are."

Maybe she didn't think it was a good idea.

Maybe she knew it was bad, but decided to do it anyway because she has no respect for herself or other people.

I hope that the young boy gets over this and is able to return to a school where he is appreciated...if not by his students...then atleast by his own teacher!

Yes!
WHY IS THIS NOT AGANIST THE LAW!?!?!?!

Idiot teacher. I hope she gets sacked.

Jesus Christ! I hope Ms Barton takes them for at least 8 figures.

The United States needs a social enema.

Original poster: why not add a poll question to the beginning of this topic? Let us vote to fire the b***h!