To model classroom democracy on “Survivor” (a show I personally loathe) is just bailing on adult responsibility in this situation, and especially one involving a special needs student. I think the superintendent phrased it well when he characterized one role of a teacher to be a reliable source of protection for students, esp. ones as young as these.

If Ms. Portillo doesn’t understand that, she doesn’t need a year-by-year contract, she needs to be in a different profession.

This is why I mention the issue of discrimination, and what can be construed as such.

In essence, she committed an act of discrimination against Alex and – generally speaking – there does not need to be an explicit intent to cause harm or embarrassment; it is sufficient that either (or both) has been caused, since (at least within the EU) the law can consider instances where either (or both) has been caused as de facto discrimination.

However, as one whose training qualifies him to teach developmental/social/educational psychology to those who are to become teachers, it is impossible that she could not (officially) know the likely consequence of her actions, since teachers have to learn about these sort of things (self-esteem and threats to it; group processes and how groups create outgroups based on arbitrary characteristics; and so on).

She may have only learned these things for the exam, and forgetten them afterwards, but that is no excuse. She set a child up for emotional harm. And the school board should themselves be aware of that. Modelling the act on a popular TV show is no excuse or mitigating factor against accusation of that.

While school district internal investigators said there’s no evidence Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo meant to cause harm or embarrassment to Alex Barton, they said in a report released Thursday there is a question as to her judgment.

And consideration has to be given on the effects Portillo’s action could have on Alex’s classmates, because they were required to criticize the 5-year-old, according to the report compiled by St. Lucie County School Board employment law attorneys Richeson and Coke, P.A.

Indeed, yes.