What happens in the public school system often seems immoral and against the teaching of church and a Christian life.
The video that follows was created after a case in New England that occurred in September of 2007. In this particular case, a young middle school boy with Asperger's Syndrome was beaten up after he got off the bus by a group of other children and it was filmed by another child. In this case, the school system put the children on suspension. That case highlights a larger question about human mob mentality and where children learn to devalue lives of people of difference. This outrageous immoral act happened outside of the classroom.
On Wednesday April 21st, 2008, this immoral act happened against Alex in his kindergarden class with his teacher involved as a classrom activity against an autistic child • Hattip: Video Special Needs kid voted out of class by Kindergarteners
Needless to say many people are outraged ...
- Autistic Nation
- Wendy Portillo's Psychological Mob Lynching of a 5 Year Old
- The following night (Thursday), Alex's mother, Melissa, overheard Alex saying "I'm not special" over and over again. According to his mother, Alex is reliving the incident. Mrs. Barton stated "He was incredibly upset" and "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this".
- TCPalm: Reports
- St. Lucie teacher has students vote on whether 5-year-old can stay in class
- Alex 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.
- Digital Journal: adds
- Kindergartners Vote Classmate With Disabilities 'Off the Island'
- Deliberately subjecting a child to verbal abuse and rejection is a violation of the trust that teachers are given by parents, a violation of the most basic ethics we expect from anyone who has children under their care.
- Ballasexistenz: Recounts her childhood with autism and adds,
- Students vote boy out of class
- If schools are going to exist and teachers are going to teach in them (and I’m not a big fan of schools, but I know to say they’re widespread is an understatement), they ought to discourage hate and exclusion. As should parents.
- Asperger Square 8
- Not Special: Support Alex Barton
- Alex Barton is five years old. On Wednesday, his kindergarten teacher decided to teach her class a bit about bigotry and exclusion. Unfortunately, she seems to have been for rather than against these principles. Wendy Portillo invited the members of Alex's class to state the reasons they did not like him. Then a vote was taken. By a vote of 14 to 2, Barton was removed from the class.
- Maternal Instincts...Flying by the Seat of My Pants.
- Alex Barton deserves better
- When I read this story, I was utterly horrified. Yes, it is a blatant act of discrimination against a child who is potentially classified as "disabled" and who should be protected by numerous federal laws against discrimination. But this incident goes so far beyond just autism or disability rights that it's mind-boggling; I'm not even sure where to start to express my thoughts and feelings.
- Mommylife:
- From Melissa Barton - Alex's mom
- Melissa is reading comments here and sent this note