Kids can be cruel — but teachers?
May 28, 2008
A Florida woman says her son’s kindergarten teacher led the class in an exercise where each child got to say what they did not like about the boy. The mother says the teacher then took a vote on whether her son should be allowed to stay in class, which he lost 14-2.
The mother says her son likely has Asperger syndrome, a mild form of autism that can cause, among other things, socially awkward behavior. Back at home after the incident, the child kept repeating to himself the words “I’m not special,” the mother alleges.
According to a spokeswoman for the Port St. Lucie, Fla., Police Department, the teacher admitted the incident occurred. No criminal charges were filed because prosecutors determined the incident did not rise to the level of child abuse, the spokeswoman said.
The mother is considering filing a lawsuit.
I’m no professional teacher or child psychologist, but I have taught religious school, including three years with kindergarteners, and I cannot imagine how anyone, teaching degree or no teaching degree, could think this would be a good idea.
Thanks to ABA Journal for the link.
CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer
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UPDATE: The teacher has been reassigned to school district offices pending the district’s investigation.
As any parent of a child with special needs knows, this is not so unusual. Teachers, other parents and perfect strangers can be enormously cruel. Our school systen is not designed to allow children with different needs to flourish. It is designed to provide the minimum level of inconvenience to educators and bureaucrats. You won’t find me supporting the MSTA anytime soon. You might find me suing it, though.