YOU GO ALEX!
Just a year-and-a-half ago little Alex Barton, who has autism, was a kindergarten student in a public school in Port St. Lucie, Fla. His teacher, Wendy Portillo, bothered by having an autistic child in her classroom of five year olds, told the children to one-by-one tell Alex what they did not like about him. Next the kindergartners voted Alex out of the class -- forever.
This case received national attention for the cruelty it displayed, including a post here in Ethic Soup. His parents took him out of that public school and home-schooled Alex during his first grade. Then, due to a MacKay scholarship, which provides money for students with special needs to attend a private school, Alex was enrolled in mainstream second grade at Jupiter Academy in Palm Beach County.
NOW IT'S STRAIGHT A's
His new teacher is a first-year teacher. And guess what? Alex recently made the honor roll, receiving straight A's on his report card. Hooray Alex!
"The difference is just unbelievable," said his mom Melissa Barton reports NBC Miami. "It's day and night from where he was before. There are a lot of children out there that can excel but it really depends on the teachers they have and how dedicated they are. He feels like a part of a family in his classroom."
Two months ago, Melissa Barton filed suit in federal court claiming the cruelty he experienced in kindergarten caused her son emotional and mental distress and violated his civil rights.
HE WAS CALLING HIMSELF STUPID, IDIOT
The suit also says, according to Disability Scoop, that Alex has had poor self image and was often found alone repeatedly calling himself an "idiot" or "stupid." Hopefully, attaining honor roll status may help Alex feel better in this regard; although, psychologists tell us that traumatic events experienced when we're young often effect us throughout our lives. That is what's so tragic about this incident -- that a teacher could intentionally do something so harmful and still stay employed by the school system.
THE HORRIBLE TEACHER IS STILL THERE
A school district spokesperson says Wendy Portillo has less than three weeks to go on her unpaid suspension, which ends November 18. Initially, the school board took away her tenure, but later reinstated Portillo's tenure without explanation.
I'm glad I haven't any children attending public school in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
TO READ "CODE OF ETHICS: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN EDUCATORS" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "TEACHER REINSTATED AFTER AUTISTIC BOY VOTED OUT OF KINDERGARTEN" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "PARENTS SUE SCHOOL FOR ARREST OF AUTISTIC 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "TEACHER'S ETHICS LESSON: DON'T BIND BLACK STUDENTS TO TEACH SLAVERY" CLICK HERE.
by Sharon McEachern
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