St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class

[Guest guest]

In case you haven't heard this horrific story, I thought I would pass it along to you! This is truly outrageous and makes me very sad that a Kindergarten teacher would even think to do this! Kristy http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/23/st-lucie-teacher-has-class-vote-whether-5-year-old/ St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class By Colleen Wixon (Contact)Originally published 01:50 p.m., May 23, 2008Updated 04:30 p.m., May 23, 2008 5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class. PORT ST. LUCIE — Barton said she is considering legal action after her

son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class. After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, , his Morningside Elementary teacher said they were going to take a vote, Barton said. By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class. Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's, a type of high-functioning autism. began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully. has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. His teacher, Portillo, has attended these meetings, she said. Barton said after the vote, 's teacher asked him how he felt. "He said, 'I feel sad,'" she said. left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said. Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school on Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office. "He was shaken up," she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened. hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school. Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special." Barton said is reliving the incident. They said he was "disgusting" and "annoying," Barton said. "He was incredibly upset," Barton said. "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this." The child's mother filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie

spokeswoman Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said. Port St. Lucie Police is no longer investigating, but is documenting the complaint, she said. Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident did occur. St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment. Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside, but said he could not elaborate. UPDATE: St. Lucie teacher reassigned after student

'voted out' of class

[Guest guest]

I heard about this! The teacher should be prosecuted and so should the Attorney General's office if they think this isn't emotional abuse! There should be a HUGE lawsuit!!In case you haven't heard this horrific story, I thought I would pass it along to you! This is truly outrageous and makes me very sad that a Kindergarten teacher would even think to do this! Kristy http://www.tcpalm. com/news/ 2008/may/ 23/st-lucie- teacher-has- class-vote- whether-5- year-old/St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class By Colleen Wixon( Contact) Originally published 01:50 p.m., May 23, 2008 Updated 04:30 p.m., May 23, 2008 5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class.5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class. PORT ST. LUCIE — Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class. After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, , his Morningside Elementary teacher said they were going to take a vote, Barton said. By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class. Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's, a type of high-functioning autism. began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully. has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. His teacher, Portillo, has attended these meetings, she said. Barton said after the vote, 's teacher asked him how he felt. " He said, 'I feel sad,' " she said. left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said. Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school on Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office. " He was shaken up, " she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened. hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school. Thursday night, his mother heard him saying " I'm not special. " Barton said is reliving the incident. They said he was " disgusting " and " annoying, " Barton said. " He was incredibly upset, " Barton said. " The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this. " The child's mother filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie spokeswoman Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said. Port St. Lucie Police is no longer investigating, but is documenting the complaint, she said. Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident did occur. St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment. Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside, but said he could not elaborate. UPDATE: St. Lucie teacher reassigned after student 'voted out' of class

[Guest guest]

Reassign her? To what planet? Are they nuts? Any teacher who agrees with how she acted should also be terminated !

So glad I home school

"Jules"

Romero

-- RE: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class

I think that it is horrific, too. The only problem with a lawsuit, though, is that the teacher wouldn’t be the one paying it, would she? The school’s insurance would have to pay… I agree with the mom..that teacher shouldn’t be ‘reassigned’…she should be fired. What’s to investigate? She did it, they know she did it, so why ‘reassign’ her?

Sounds like she just didn’t like the kid and had the other kids do her dirty work for her. I know that there are lots of great schools and teachers out there, but whenever I hear a story like this, it just makes me so glad that we home school.

From: DownSyndromeInfoExchange [mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ] On Behalf Of TutwilerSent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 9:01 PMTo: DownSyndromeInfoExchange Subject: RE: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class

I heard about this! The teacher should be prosecuted and so should the Attorney General's office if they think this isn't emotional abuse! There should be a HUGE lawsuit!!

In case you haven't heard this horrific story, I thought I would pass it along to you! This is truly outrageous and makes me very sad that a Kindergarten teacher would even think to do this!

Kristy

http://www.tcpalm. com/news/ 2008/may/ 23/st-lucie- teacher-has- class-vote- whether-5- year-old/St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class By Colleen Wixon( Contact)

Originally published 01:50 p.m., May 23, 2008

Updated 04:30 p.m., May 23, 2008

5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class.5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class.

After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, , his Morningside Elementary teacher said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.

By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class.

Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's, a type of high-functioning autism. began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully.

has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. His teacher, Portillo, has attended these meetings, she said.

Barton said after the vote, 's teacher asked him how he felt.

"He said, 'I feel sad,'" she said.

left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said.

Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school on Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office.

"He was shaken up," she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened.

hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school.

Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special."

Barton said is reliving the incident.

They said he was "disgusting" and "annoying," Barton said.

"He was incredibly upset," Barton said. "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this."

The child's mother filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie spokeswoman Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said. Port St. Lucie Police is no longer investigating, but is documenting the complaint, she said.

Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident did occur.

St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment.

Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside, but said he could not elaborate.

UPDATE: St. Lucie teacher reassigned after student 'voted out' of class

[Guest guest]

I would think the Dept of Ed would be involved - sure will if there is a lawsuit!State is Florida.Glad that not all teachers or schools are like this!!! Wow, we're heading down a horrible path. It's not a far stretch that she could say 'let's vote on whether he should have even been born'. Sickening. Can't the dept of ed be brought in? What state is this? , Mom to 14, DS, Southern California To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. ~ Reba McIntyre Diagnosis Down Syndrome: A Site of Hope for New Parents or Parents with a Prenatal Diagnosis http://www.leeworks .net/DDS/What to Say to Parents of a Child with a Diagnosis http://www.leeworks .net/DDS/ speech.html RE: [DownSyndromeInfoEx change] St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class I heard about this! The teacher should be prosecuted and so should the Attorney General's office if they think this isn't emotional abuse! There should be a HUGE lawsuit!! In case you haven't heard this horrific story, I thought I would pass it along to you! This is truly outrageous and makes me very sad that a Kindergarten teacher would even think to do this! Kristy http://www.tcpalm. com/news/ 2008/may/ 23/st-lucie- teacher-has- class-vote- whether-5- year-old/St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class By Colleen Wixon( Contact) Originally published 01:50 p.m., May 23, 2008 Updated 04:30 p.m., May 23, 2008 5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class.5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class. PORT ST. LUCIE — Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class. After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, , his Morningside Elementary teacher said they were going to take a vote, Barton said. By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class. Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's, a type of high-functioning autism. began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully. has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. His teacher, Portillo, has attended these meetings, she said. Barton said after the vote, 's teacher asked him how he felt. " He said, 'I feel sad,' " she said. left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said. Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school on Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office. " He was shaken up, " she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened. hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school. Thursday night, his mother heard him saying " I'm not special. " Barton said is reliving the incident. They said he was " disgusting " and " annoying, " Barton said. " He was incredibly upset, " Barton said. " The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this. " The child's mother filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie spokeswoman Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said. Port St. Lucie Police is no longer investigating, but is documenting the complaint, she said. Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident did occur. St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment. Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside, but said he could not elaborate. UPDATE: St. Lucie teacher reassigned after student 'voted out' of class

[Guest guest]

That poor little boy. I can not believe this teacher! This is very sad and I hope something is done to nip this in the bud so that NO child should EVER have to go through anything like this again. Kristy Colvin wrote: In case you haven't heard this horrific story, I thought I would pass it along to you! This is truly outrageous and makes me very sad that a Kindergarten teacher would even think to do this! Kristy http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/23/st-lucie-teacher-has-class-vote-whether-5-year-old/ St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class By Colleen Wixon (Contact)Originally published 01:50 p.m., May 23, 2008Updated 04:30 p.m., May 23, 2008 5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class. PORT ST. LUCIE — Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class. After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, , his Morningside Elementary teacher said they were

going to take a vote, Barton said. By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class. Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's, a type of high-functioning autism. began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully. has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. His teacher, Portillo, has attended these meetings, she said. Barton said after the vote, 's teacher asked him how he felt. "He said, 'I feel sad,'" she said. left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said. Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school on Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office. "He was shaken

up," she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened. hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school. Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special." Barton said is reliving the incident. They said he was "disgusting" and "annoying," Barton said. "He was incredibly upset," Barton said. "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this." The child's mother filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie spokeswoman Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said. Port St. Lucie Police is no longer investigating, but

is documenting the complaint, she said. Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident did occur. St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment. Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside, but said he could not elaborate. UPDATE: St. Lucie teacher reassigned after student 'voted out' of class

[Guest guest]

I noticed that too, the 9/11 reference. That doesn't matter. Everyone has lost someone they love. Does not give us a right to be idiots and do what she did. This even made the news here in Louisiana. Wonder is she had any clue just what kind of trouble she was getting into when she had this brilliant idea.

"Jules"

Romero

-- Re: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class

Notice the line about the teacher's brother being killed in the 9/11 attacks - wanna bet they some how use that in a defense??? It is sad she lost her brother but what she did to that little boy in the name of teaching voting and tallies is criminal!

Reassignment should have been to the unemployment line with her teaching license revoked so she can never do it to another student!

On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 7:55 AM, pbeurrierbellsouth (DOT) net wrote:

Front page of our local paper today:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/27/school-district-reassigns-teacher-after/

This is the school district just north of us, what a difference a few miles can make!

Of course, this is the same district who just fired a high school teacher because her 2nd job was working topless on a boat!

ette

--------- RE: [DownSyndromeInfoEx change] St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class

I heard about this! The teacher should be prosecuted and so should the Attorney General's office if they think this isn't emotional abuse! There should be a HUGE lawsuit!!

In case you haven't heard this horrific story, I thought I would pass it along to you! This is truly outrageous and makes me very sad that a Kindergarten teacher would even think to do this!

Kristy

http://www.tcpalm. com/news/ 2008/may/ 23/st-lucie- teacher-has- class-vote- whether-5- year-old/St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class By Colleen Wixon( Contact)

Originally published 01:50 p.m., May 23, 2008

Updated 04:30 p.m., May 23, 2008

5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class.5-year-old Barton's teacher made him stand in front of his kindergarten class and had his fellow students say what they didn't like about him and then vote whether he should remain in the class.

PORT ST. LUCIE �� Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class.

After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, , his Morningside Elementary teacher said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.

By a 14 to 2 margin, the class voted him out of the class.

Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's, a type of high-functioning autism. began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully.

has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. His teacher, Portillo, has attended these meetings, she said.

Barton said after the vote, 's teacher asked him how he felt.

"He said, 'I feel sad,'" she said.

left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said.

Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school on Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office.

"He was shaken up," she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened.

hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school.

Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special."

Barton said is reliving the incident.

They said he was "disgusting" and "annoying," Barton said.

"He was incredibly upset," Barton said. "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this."

The child's mother filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie spokeswoman Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said. Port St. Lucie Police is no longer investigating, but is documenting the complaint, she said.

Steele said the teacher confirmed the incident did occur.

St. Lucie School's spokeswoman Janice Karst said the district is investigating the incident, but could not make any further comment.

Vern Melvin, Department of Children and Families circuit administrator, confirmed the agency is investigating an allegation of abuse at Morningside, but said he could not elaborate.

UPDATE: St. Lucie teacher reassigned after student 'voted out' of class