Alex Barton has been on my mind lately. He's the little kindergartner who was voted out of his class, with the activity lead not by his classmates, but by his teacher. A teacher who was supposed to have the common sense and maturity level that would model leadership and instead, has probably scarred a little kid for life. Not to mention all the students involved who will remember this activity-- what lessons will they take away from this?
Over at Disabled Politico's blog, one can read an account of what happened. From what I've read on the Internet, the lesson the teacher was trying to teach was about bigotry and exclusion.
In kindergarten?
My mind keeps going over this and I just want to ask this teacher, "What in the $%&* were you thinking?"
How could you not see where this was going when those votes started tallying up? How could you not empathize with this little five-year-old and put yourself in his place. Fourteen students voting against him. Fourteen students telling him, "we don't want you around."
The incident caused quite an uproar among bloggers and several newspapers have picked up the story. The far majority agree that the teacher's behavior and lesson plan were way out of line. Many are calling for her resignation or dismissal.
From Life with Joey:
"I don't give a flying flip if he was from Mars and spit on the grave of the teacher's grandmother. You don't use a classroom of children to publicly humiliate a child. If having every peer a child has stand in front of him and tell him that he is not liked for various specific reasons and then vote him out of the class isn't emotional child abuse, folks, what the hell is???"
From Maternal Instincts:
"Before someone gets all righteous on me and slams me with the 'disruptive behavior"'card, let me be perfectly clear. I don't know Alex Barton; all I know is what I read in some news articles. The child has some alleged behavior issues which, from the sound of it, have been disruptive in school. Do I think the teacher should simply turn a blind eye and roll over on this issue? No, but public humiliation and a class lesson in Bullying 101 is not the answer."
Over at A Room of Mama's Own, there's some info on how to contact the school and express your thoughts and give support to Alex's family:
If you are as heartbroken and horrified by this story as I am, you can voice your opinions to the St. Lucie County School Board. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is tracking the response and has asked that you cc them at info@autisticadvocacy.org if you do write. ASAN asks that everyone use respectful language in addressing those listed.
Morningside Elementary School Principal:
Mrs. Marcia Cully
cullym@stlucie.k12.fl.us
(772) 337-6730St.
Lucie County Schools Superintendent:
Michael J. Lannon
4204 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 Miller
772-528-4545
MillerJ@stlucie.k12.fl.us
Update:
You can now e-mail messages of support to Alex and his family at supportalex@treasurecoast.com
The school officials are investigating the matter and the teacher is not currently teaching. It remains to be seen what will happen to the teacher, but in my opinion, she needs to do her students a favor and stay away from the profession.
