Comments on: Alex Barton’s Lesson

By: Donna Mc Caffrey

Donna Mc Caffrey — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:01 +0000

This brings back events that happened 17 years ago (if you want to know whether it leaves a lasting mark on a child). My son, who has Down Syndrome, was the first child with a disability to attend our local school. This was kindergarten mind you. The teacher kept sending Michael to the principal’s office, and the principal would keep him there for hours (which was illegal). One day the children in the class rebelled and encircled the teacher telling her not to send him again, and that she didn’t “understand Michael”. His aide is the one who reported this to me. The teacher verified the story, saying she told the children what they were doing was “defending a bad boy”. His crime was hiding under the desk and pushing his papers to the floor and sometimes he would bolt(he was overwhelmed). The principal was trying to get him out of there. She later expressed that she didn’t want to deal with disabled children in her school (this is a public school). We sued and won the right to keep him there. Later principals and teachers had a more “can do”attitude. Michael graduated high school with honors and his grade school had to open its doors to children with disabilities (because it was the law). The lasting harm part—-over the years Michael has written on a million different sheets of paper, “Detention” and “Principal’s Office”, and he finds his old principal in movies everywhere (as in Mrs. Trunchbull in the movie “Matilda”). He talks all the time about how scared and sad he was, and he’s 22 years old at this point.
In defense of the good teachers: they need to be given the proper support to manage all of the extra needs of our children, and often that doesn’t happen.

By: Melissa Barton

Melissa Barton — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:47:08 +0000

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/jul/12/30gtattorney-general-weighs-more-autism-cases/

Here is the latest on Alex.

By: Shellie

Shellie — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:19:57 +0000

Wow, I think I would have thought about a lot of the same things you asked about, then I read the comment from the mom. I do admire the educators that try so hard to do such a difficult job, but I cannot stand the indifference and not just the ignorance but the unwillingness to open up and learn more about what these kids need from them on the part of too many of them. Hopefully this incident can bring about some awareness that will make school better for a whole lot of kids.

By: Melissa Barton

Melissa Barton — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:53:21 +0000

Thank you for your insightful questions on this blog. There are a few I can answer being that I was there and I was the first to hear it from Portillo.

The kids were studying holidays, Memorial Day July 4th etc. This was the lesson plan it is standard for Florida, in fact all Kindergartners in Port St Lucie were studying the same lesson. But, Alex was the only one who was voted out.

Wendy Portillo admitted to these actions, she told me personally that this was her own psychology and she was going to “fix” his Autistic behaviours.

I was not told by her or anyone else why he was sent out of the classroom the first time that day, but in the police report I read that it was because his shoes were on the wrong feet.

I really would like to hear from Portillo just like everyone else. I have already heard her side of the events, she was very boastful about it.

There are a lot of misconceptions, she can talk but chooses not to. WHY??? Ask yourself, if there was some kind of mistruth or misunderstanding about you in the international media; would you clear it up? Yes. So understand, there is no gray area here is it just a very simple case of discrimination among other violations.

We can not let another child suffer like this.

There were 17 victims that day.

By: Melissa Barton

Melissa Barton — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:40:55 +0000

Hello,

It has been over 1 month since Wendy Portillo abused my son. She is still a teacher and is still on the payroll.

I urge everyone to once again take a stand against discrimination.

Please one more time write and call the Port St Lucie School Board here is a great link to get you started.

http://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/

If we let this slide, the next time it will be worse.

I am building a website dedicated to parents, children and adults who suffer from abuse through discrimination by disability. The site will be up within the next few weeks, http://www.justiceforalexbarton.com

Please come by and say hello.

Sincerely,

Melissa Barton

By: Debi

Debi — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:19:55 +0000

Hope you are safe and enjoying your trip! Here is another post about this.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/29/police-report-reveals-teachers-side-incident-which/

By: erika

erika — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:18:40 +0000

Thank you so much for your perspective on this. As someone who grew up with lots of teachers and as a mom who makes plenty of mistakes, I can appreciate your point of view. Oh, and the lunchable thing. Now that is just funny. I wish I could commisserate with you, but in all honesty I giggled. =) Enjoy your trip– we will miss you.

By: Elisabeth's Mom

Elisabeth's Mom — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:40:50 +0000

Thanks Maddy … it didn’t get the publicity it deserved mainly because people are still in denial over “mainstreaming.” Yes, our kids are present and seen, but most times they are excluded. And yes, it is a sad day when a teacher can’t distinguish clearly between a simple democractic process and lynching. An even sadder note is that most people don’t know the difference either.

Hello from Ohio!
Donna

By: jackie

jackie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:19:57 +0000

Not all teachers are as this one. As I raised my own children I was often ispired by some who took their students, not only as a “short-term” assignment, but as full fledged individuals. These teachers not only went through the curriculum, but watched and ached as they went through youth trials from being a child in itself.
My daughter was inspired by such teachers, encouraged, nurtured and has developed into an teacher and parent I am VERY proud of, as well as many of her co-workers.
teachers like the one mentioned, give the most teachers a bad name and DON’T belong in the educational system at all.

By: The Domestic Goddess

The Domestic Goddess — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:51:30 +0000

Disturbing…I am still sick to my stomach just thinking about it and knowing that it could happen to any of our children. And the damage it has done to ALL of the children involved…most of all Alex? Irreversible.