Comments on: “The issue here for me is did our teacher behave as alleged?”

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:14:44 +0000

This teacher did not make a “mistake.” She did not have a “momentary” lapse. This isn’t a situation where she just broke and flew off the handle. How long do you think it took for all of those children to state what they didn’t like about that little boy? How long did it take to do the vote? 10 minutes for all of it? 20? Count out the seconds required for 10 minutes. That’s how long Alex stood there and was tortured by his peers, led on by his teacher, an adult he ought to be able to trust to at least have some wisdom.

That’s not a mistake. It’s not a lapse. It’s not the hallmark of a teacher who’s done a world of good and just cracked that day. It’s systematic, intentional, thorough, persistent, sadistic humiliation.

I’ve taught a long time. I’ve known some great teachers. And I’ve known a few teachers like this. This behavior fits a profile of those teachers I’ve known who don’t like children, take glee in punishing them, do nothing but complain about what they’ve chosen to do for a living. No even half-assed decent teacher would have come up with this “solution” or “lesson.”

It’s great that you can pat yourself on the back that you wouldn’t go running to the courts about this, that you’d just talk calmly to your child or whomever. Wonderful. That doesn’t change the fact that this teacher and this school broke the law–Alex had an IEP, and they’ve violated 504 here. In my mind, even without that obvious spur to legal recourse, this situation requires some banging and yelling and attention getting. How else do people become aware? Calm conversations with whackjob teachers don’t get that accomplished.

By: CS

CS — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:24:14 +0000

“@rg, yes, just focusing too much energy on singling out the teacher is not a positive way to proceed.”

Kristina, the teacher broke the law. Plain and simple. She caused a child to be abused, plain and simple. The teacher caused permanent psychological scarring, plain and simple.

“The questions you ask at the end are vital. I think that one answer lies with teacher training about special needs kids and autistic kids more particularly. With parents seeking inclusion for their children, more teachers will find themselves with a child with an IEP and they will need to know how to best teach and proceed.”

Both avenues need to be pursued, education and law enforcement.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:31:41 +0000

It’s hard to say and it would certainly be great to know if she has previously taught other kids on the spectrum or special needs children. But as a parent I feel a bit puzzled at the pedagogy involved.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:24:40 +0000

Some of you seem as quick to judge this teacher, based on one (admittedly ugly) snapshot of her life, as she was to judge Alex on that fateful day. Sounds a bit hypocritical. This could be a remarkable teacher who has had profound, positive influences on many lives, and who could go on to do the same for many more, including children on the spectrum…who are you to make a determination from the limited evidence you have about her work and soul??? Hopefully she will learn from her error, and make amends to Alex and the other students in her class. Is this not possible?

By: Marle

Marle — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:00:42 +0000

What Wendy Portillo did was planned out. To me this is pure and simple malace. A teacher call my son stupid and told him, he wasn’t worth teaching. This put my son in a tail spin. No I didn’t get an attorney, but I want to the teacher and confronted him on a one to one. He told me that he was trying to “Jump Start” my son in order to “Motivate” him. I said, then you think that this behavior is acceptable, on YOUR part? Nothing was said, but plenty was said, when I got a rep. from (ACLD), and a meeting was set. Some teachers think this type of behavior is acceptable on there part. WRONG! This teacher wants a Real Reality Show, The stage is ready!

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:31:13 +0000

@rg, yes, just focusing too much energy on singling out the teacher is not a positive way to proceed. The questions you ask at the end are vital. I think that one answer lies with teacher training about special needs kids and autistic kids more particularly. With parents seeking inclusion for their children, more teachers will find themselves with a child with an IEP and they will need to know how to best teach and proceed.

At least two of Charlie’s former therapists have become elementary school teachers; both have had autistic kids in their classrooms. They’ve both written me to say how important it was to get to know Charlie and to learn how to teach them, to best help their special needs students.

By: rg

rg — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:19:35 +0000

I don’t think what the teacher did was acceptable… Clearly she was WRONG ! I just think that there is more to this then meets the eye.

I also think that this story is a good opportunity for parents, like myself, of children and people on the Autistic Spectrum to use it to help bring about a positive change and more support for our kids in classrooms to help prevent future incidents like this from happening to other kids like Alex. My concern is that by focusing all of the energy on punishing this one teacher then that message may get lost. Sure there is support for Alex but there are a lot of other kids out there just like Alex who are facing similar problems in classrooms everyday. How can we reach those teachers and those kids? How can we get better at preventing teachers from doing this?

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:31:19 +0000

No doubt the teacher has gotten her own legal representation—-this might seem far-flung, but perhaps she could claim that the district did not provide with the right supports and she was doing what she could. It seems to me that the district is going to be under some scrutiny too.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:33:30 +0000

I agree with Kassiane. There is just no explaination that could make this acceptable. Remember, the children first needed to say something that they do not like about Alex and, one by one, his classmates insulted him as he was made to stand in front of the class. I think this sicko actually traumatized the entire class. These kids will remember this experience.
The fact that the teacher admitted this is hardly admirable since all of the children in the class were witnesses as well as the school nurse. It’s not like she could have denied it.
I still get mad just thinking about this!

By: Kassiane

Kassiane — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:23:05 +0000

I still feel it’s unacceptable. She enlisted children to bully another child.

Where’s the due process for Alex? Oh wait, it isn’t emotional cruelty because he’s AUTISTIC and doesn’t have feelings, right? That’s what the courts are saying.

Way to go, America.