Comments:Florida teacher lets students vote to remove child from class

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Why let infants vote in the first place. If the teacher felt that the child should be removed from class, She could have done so by her own initiative, and not turn the whole affair into a spectacle that possibly has marred that child for life now. For small children voting is merely a popularity contest, where the majority is always right, even when they are wrong. All that teacher has done is make a child sad and given the wrong idea of democracy to a dozen kids, who are not ready for any decisions of their own. Either that teacher snorted, injected, smoke or drank something inappropriate, or her brains went for a stroll. One could ask what the heck was she thinking! "Hey kids! Do you want this handicapped child out of your sight? All who agree say Aye, all who oppose say Nay." It's a mad world. —88.112.231.116 00:13, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Too much Survivor. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.105.246.29 (talk) 03:01, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Shame on all of this

What a disgusting teacher. How dare she. But the quest arises...did she or the school know or were they aware of his condition? Even if not the teacher still should realize that this is KINDERGARTEN. Not a high school council. I think the school should ask the question if this teacher should be teaching children this young. I might have missed it...but how old is this teacher and has she been a teacher for a long time? DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 03:40, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Also I must say the title doesn't tell the story, which is a good thing. I read it and said to myself...now what could possible be interesting about this article. The title caused me to read beyond it and read what the story was...That IMO is a good headline. DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 03:43, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

My opinion

As a PERSON who has been diagnosed with High functioning Autism/Aspbrger's, it sickens me that a teacher would allow this to happen. I was a problem child in elementary school but I was never voted out. What was going through her mind and just how experienced is this teacher? An tenured teacher would never do something so stupid, so she must be new in my opinion, but it just pisses me off seeing as how it's so discriminatory, heck, it might even be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. --TUFKAAP (talk) 05:17, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm surprised that with all the hatred against the teacher, not one person mentioned the incredible margin here. 14 to 2. That's 86% of the class voting to get rid of him. No-one was forced to vote a certain way which means that guy, whatever his reasons, has wronged nearly everyone thoroughly enough that they hate his guts. It's entirely possible that the teacher intended it to be a sign that the kid was liked by the class and was equally surprised.

There's a bit of irony here. In the real world people won't vote against someone they dislike, but they will sue and contact the media; which is happening against the teacher. Certainly people are desiring to exclude her based on her behavior, which is what the class wanted to the kid. -60.241.217.199 06:17, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Children are highly suggestible. The large margin should not be taken to mean much of anything; the children would have voted the way they thought was going to please the teacher, who had obviously decided to ostracize this kid. 212.238.240.159 19:48, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

"No-one was forced to vote a certain way which means that guy, whatever his reasons, has wronged nearly everyone thoroughly enough" That argument justifies discrimination, aggression and abuse by the majority in every possible case. Why did the americans hate the blacks? They must have "wronged" them, so its okay. Why did the germans hate the jews? The jews "wronged" them, obviously. Why did the church burn "heretics"? Because they must've "wronged" them real hard. Otherwise why burn them? Seriously.

"Certainly people are desiring to exclude her based on her behavior, which is what the class wanted to the kid. "

Mob rule and justice are two different things. The kid had whatever problems he had, but the teacher a) exposed the child to public (relative to the kid's social environment) ridicule and hate b) by the very act of voting made him a pariah, regardless of the outcome.

Anyways "excluding" in one case means actually removing the kid from the only society he can identify with - in the other it is about removing from a profession - which is hardly the same as kicking someone out of society.

So, you see, no irony here. Just sadness due to the fact that under-qualified kindergarden teachers are not the only people with that twisted view of morals.

I am 17, and forced to sit with some mentaly handicapd kid in an honors class. I would love to be able to vote to remove retarded kids. Regardless of that thought, kids should never get to vote a child out of a class in such a real manner. It is too tramatizing, worse still is the kids age. They are like 5 years old, not good at all. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.195.203.195 (talk) 11:51, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

one of the things that bothers me about this is the fact that teachers are supposed to use the equal opportunity tactic. in my school, the special education students have to wash windows and vacuum and get rid of the scuff marks on the floor, and this bothers me a lot. now that i see that teachers are actually promoting other students to turn away from other students... something more severe should happen here rather than just a reassignment. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.172.241.201 (talk) 12:12, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

As someone who was ridiculed most of my elementary school life (and mainly because I just read a lot....), this story really touches me. I know what this feels like, to have so many people against you as a child and not understanding why. I'm sure that the young children in this class just don't understand him, and if he has Asperger's, that's definitely to be expected. But incidences like this at a young age can affect you for years. I overcame my issues in elementary school, but they still incite bad memories every now and then. For a young child whose ability to deal with things like this emotionally is impaired, it's pretty horrifying to me. - 207.54.204.19 14:58, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

IDEA and the ADA?

How could the school let this happen when they have to follow Federal laws like Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA)?? This for sure is a direct violation of Title II of the ADA. I hope the mother wins!

Possibly because he hasn't officially diagnosed but once he is, she's more or less got a loaded gun on which threaten the school district with for violations. Hopefully, accommodating him will be a lot more easier then it was for me which was an uphill battle for me 15-10 years ago. --TUFKAAP (talk) 14:40, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

That is one of the most disgusting acts of child abuse I have ever heard of!!!

How dare this woman, who we trust our children with, behave in such a way. Where did she get her degree? a cracker jack box?!!! I can't believe the state isn't going to do anything about this!!! I guess we have Bush's wonderful brother to thank for that one!!!

We expect our teachers to help lead and guide our children to be the future leaders of America and all this woman has done is teach tyrany amongst our fellow man. This is something that will follow this child forever!!

It's times like this when I wish we still tarred and feathered people....I would tar and feather this excuse for human life in a heartbeat!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.72.167.2 (talk) 15:07, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

I think the American public should be able to vote on whether she is still allowed in the US. When she gets kicked out, she'll realise how that child felt. Anonymous101 :) 15:17, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

This woman should be kicked out the country

As I said above, this idiotic woman should be thrown out the country instantly, after there is a vote on whether she should stay. That will show her how that boy felt.

I am against government intervention on virtually everything but this case is so disgusting the government has to intervene.

People with Asperger's syndrome have a hard enough time in life without people like this.

I hope everyone who knows the teacher tells her to go away and calls her "disgusting" and "annoying", like she did to the young child.

But the teacher actually is "disgusting" and "annoying".

The school board has advised Portillo not to speak with the press.

Of course they did. Imagine the public outrage.

I have Asperger's syndrome and I don't know how I would cope if this happened to me when I was at school. Anonymous101 :) 15:25, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

I think we should have a vote on whether or not to shoot this woman. Can I get an Amen? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.166.175.146 (talk) 22:19, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

I, like the person above you comment also have Asperger's syndrome and while I have lots of thoughts pertaining to this article I feel that they can be summed up in one word, AMEN! Furthermore, I wonder why can't we vote to, at the very least take away her teaching certificate and if she hasn't mistakely used it as bath tissue, her degree. She can however, keep her Master's degree in being an idiot. Rengaw01 (talk) 10:41, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Its things like these that make me mad.

I cant belive one would go so far as to do this. In my personal opinion, the teacher should be fired! What kind of crazy mind would ask a class to vote on kicking a poor kid out of the class? And getting people to say what they thought about him! Upsetting, angering. I don't care if the child was being bad, I DONT CARE! It gives her no right as a teacher to do so.--207.34.115.78 02:43, 29 May 2008 (UTC)The Unknown 'E'

Whoa...

How does this not constitute as emotional abuse? I would be scarred for life. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.198.13.54 (talk) 05:08, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Mother of Asperger's child...

As a mother of another recently diagnosed Asperger's child this story just infuriates me. Much like my son's own 1st grade teacher, this teacher shows complete lack of any knowledge or training of children with special needs. ALL elementary teachers should be required to have this. My son was singled out and the other children were permitted to pick on him -- perhaps the teacher's way of dealing with his behavioral issues. As his doctor can attest, less than 10% of my son's behaviors are intentional. The other 90% are the result of his social inadequacy and immaturity due to the Autism.

How can this NOT be considered emotional abuse?

Mother of Asperger's child

—Dm100 (talk) 13:19, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

I would have punished the child if he was being disruptive in class. I have Aspergers too, and if I act up in class I get punished for it. Why should this kid be any different? People with Aspergers need to adapt to the world, not hide when a person is trying to talk to them.

That being said, what that teacher did was not right. Just send the kid out of the classroom. These kids don't even know what a jury is, why should they act as one? I hope they fire the teacher. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.244.126.49 (talk) 19:41, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Looks like that's going to happen pretty soon. Maybe it was the teacher's perverted idea of democracy or something... B2xiao (talk) 04:03, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Giving feedback to children on their behavior is not a bad idea per se, but this was inappropriate. Criticism should be milder for children overall because they make overgeneralized assumptions more readily than adults (i.e. "They said I'm stupid, everyone must hate me" type thoughts). To make criticism milder would include private discussions, positive feedback, and milder statements than "disgusting". There is no need to lie to the child, but there is a need to soften the blow, and possibly hold back on strong criticism until the child is more socially competent. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral therapy) has made such progress over the years in the field of applied psychology I would recommend the teacher review that subject a little to help her students behave properly. I'm speaking as a former primary school teacher. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.249.30.239 (talk) 16:00, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

did the teacher know?

The kid hasn't even been diagnosed with anything yet, unless the mother had told the teacher about the condition how was the teacher expected to know that the kid wasn't just a trouble maker. The best way to stop class clowns IS to get the class to unambiguously tell them their not funny. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.35.192.193 (talk) 07:19, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I believe the teacher had exhausted every idea for trying to deal with this student..he hasn't even been diagnosed with any kind of disease yet. i have friends who have children that are the most awful children to be around they never try to correct them and its aggravating to be around them maybe this is one of those children and no one was willing to help her get him under control. look at the vote even the students didn't want to be around him. i think we need to look at both sides of the story before we try to cause someone there job and there career. —Preceding unsigned comment added by DavidGrider76 (talk • contribs) 16:27, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Florida teacher votes to remove child from class

The teacher is a monster and should be fired, and the district should be sued for damages. I have a son with Aspeger's who was almost compleatly destroyed by a controlling and cold hearted teacher when he was in the 3Rd grade. All the hard work that we had started when he was two was being destroyed before our very eyes. My son said he felt invisable. She told me they were having a power struggle and she was winning! We pulled him out of school until they got rid of her. People like that sould not be allowed to teach!Shame on her!My son is now 16 and does very well. All of his teachers love him.

    K. Haggett (Mom in California)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.116.85.104 (talk) 02:00, 2 June 2008 (UTC) 

Unbelievable cruelty

Susie "Whitebread" Portillo shows all the compassion of a shark and empathy ofa rattle snake. If the child was too high maintenance she could have met with the parents and discussed ways to cope. PerryO206.24.48.1 22:25, 6 December 2008 (UTC)