Prayers For Alex Who Was “Voted Off the Kindergarten Island”
Posted By Jacque on May 27, 2008
While you are lifting up Prayers For Me, please remember to pray for children who are emotionally bullied or abused by the very people put in authority over them to care for them for upwards of eight hours a day: Their teachers. And in some cases, I use that word loosely. I do not want to debate the issue of parents Keeping Them Home Where They Belong. I am talking about the sweet little children. Or the sometimes monstrous little children, but children all the same!
Like this case:
(some of these links may contain other offensive links I wouldn’t normally link to, so beware.)
St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class
PORT ST. LUCIE — Melissa Barton said she is considering legal action after her son’s kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class. By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class.
Wendy Portillo, a teacher in Port St. Lucie, FL, decided to let her kindergarten class “vote out” a fellow student. Alex, age 5, is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Alex was forced to stand in front of his class while each classmate said what they disliked about him (including “disgusting” and “annoying”). After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn’t like about Barton’s 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.
He lost by a vote of 14 to 2 and left the classroom.
The state attorney’s office has concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no charges will be filed. The matter is now in the hands of the Port St. Lucie school district and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
And she kicked him out. He is a five year old. A five year old. And the other children were made to believe it is ok to treat someone so cruelly. Great lesson teach! In addition to that, Alex has Asperger’s. He has had some behaviour/discipline issues because of this. The teacher knew this, but I personally don’t think Asperger’s should be a consideration. You do not treat a child that way, whether they have Asperger’s or not, whether you are the parent, the teacher, or whatever. It is using your authority in a way to shame a child and lord over him. It is immature, self-serving and hateful. Period.
For all of the clamoring by government teachers and parents about homeschoolers who blog about the horrible things that happen to children in the system, do you think the system will do the right thing and fire her and bring charges against her?
How about make her sit in a kindergarten class for the entire year until she grows up and starts acting her age and maturity?
I am really tired of hearing that the courts conclude this and that, turning a blind eye to crimes committed against children. It is despicable. And, if I were a parent of one of the 13 or 14 other students who voted him out, I would be very upset too. You need to re-teach your child in this area.
And, KUDOS to the 2 children who were on the right side of the voting(and their parents)!
St. Lucie scoop: interview with Alex’s mom
Watch the interview of Alex and his mother on the CBS Early Show.
Posted by Tanna Cota
PLEASE look into this…its from www.mommylife.net
Alex is special! – card campaign for kicked-out kindergartnerAlex Barton’s mom says that since the day his kindergarten teacher encouraged his classmates to say everything they didn’t like about Alex and then had them vote to kick him out of their class she has heard him repeating over and over “I’m not special.”
Two of my readers have suggested that we mount a campaign to have our children make cards for Alex to tell him he is indeed a special person.Let’s show Alex we care.
To protect Melissa Barton’s privacy, and since my address is public – please send all cards toAlex is Special
c/o Barbara Curtis
15648 Britenbush Ct.
Waterford, VA 20197
I will gather them, notify the media, then put them all in a box and send them to his mom.
Does anyone want to make a button?
Love,
Barbara
Of course, you know that I think Alex needs Mommy and Daddy. At home. My friend, Christina homeschools her 5 children, 2 of whom have Asperger’s or a form of it. It is not only possible, it is preferable for your babies!
blessings!
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7 Responses to “Prayers For Alex Who Was “Voted Off the Kindergarten Island””
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To the KING be all the glory! Rebekah BLOG: http://www.donotgrowweary.com/ blog “Be...
how awful!!! We’ll write to him!!!!! Did she ever get a button? I’ll make it if she still needs one.
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oh I saw she does have a button. Very cute little guy too. What an awful teacher!
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I noticed that the School district did take action against the teacher. They removed her from the classroom and put her in an admin job. Oh Please!!! You know that they only did that because they know that if they don’t do anything the public will might really rise up..if they haven’t already. This teacher has no idea of what she has done to this little boy. She has created a memory for him that will last forever. I had a teacher when I was in 1st grade that did things to me that I will never forget, & I know that she never thought twice about it.
Hopefully the family will be blessed by the cards & letters to him.
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This is just awful! The girls and I just watched the Today Show interview. Wouldn’t it just break your heart if that was your child?
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This is so wrong on many levels. THIS is socialization? This is how we treat children? I love the quick response.
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Hi Mrs. Dixon!
Thank you for your kind, sweet words! I really appriciate them. Mommy did make it through, but she was quite the “zombie” at the end of the day. She was exausted! We have caught up on quite a bit of sleep since then, but still nap when we get the chance.
Today is actually one of my graduation ceremonies, tomorrow is a practice for the other, and then Saturday is the last one. I can’t wait until it is all over, all though I am sure I will enjoy it as it goes by.
Have a very bright, very cheerful day!
Eyebright
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Amazing! He will have heartbreaking scars for life. What was this teacher thinking?
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