Comments on: Alex Barton, boy who was voted out of class, makes honor roll http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/ Martin and St. Lucie County News, Comments, Discussion Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:24:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Pesky http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27523 Pesky Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:17:54 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27523 Why would anyone blame the parent in this situation? This child was 5 years old. If this was a non-special-needs child with a behavior problem the teacher would have had to deal with him as well, and I would have had an issue with him being "voted out" of the classroom too. Part of being a teacher is control of your classroom. If you can't control your classroom, you need to hang up your teaching certificate. Secondly, this child was out of the classroom with the teacher having no idea where he was. He could have been taken! She hadn't a clue! I don't care how great a teacher she was for 12 years, if we did an error this big on our jobs, we'd be fired. She was given a suspension without pay and can eventually go back to work. As to the taxpayer issue. Yes, you are paying for his education, suck it up. I don't have kids and I'm paying for your kids education. It's part of life. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...yeah, it's all part of that. This child should get everyone's support and should have all the way through the process. He was 5 years old, he had no voice in this, so his mother had to be his voice. She did a great job. Congratulations to Alex on doing well in his new school. Why would anyone blame the parent in this situation? This child was 5 years old. If this was a non-special-needs child with a behavior problem the teacher would have had to deal with him as well, and I would have had an issue with him being “voted out” of the classroom too. Part of being a teacher is control of your classroom. If you can’t control your classroom, you need to hang up your teaching certificate. Secondly, this child was out of the classroom with the teacher having no idea where he was. He could have been taken! She hadn’t a clue! I don’t care how great a teacher she was for 12 years, if we did an error this big on our jobs, we’d be fired. She was given a suspension without pay and can eventually go back to work.

As to the taxpayer issue. Yes, you are paying for his education, suck it up. I don’t have kids and I’m paying for your kids education. It’s part of life. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses…yeah, it’s all part of that.

This child should get everyone’s support and should have all the way through the process. He was 5 years old, he had no voice in this, so his mother had to be his voice. She did a great job.

Congratulations to Alex on doing well in his new school.

]]> By: UglyFatBoy http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27520 UglyFatBoy Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:01:55 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27520 http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Fat-Family-In-Dundee-Split-Up-As-Overweight-Couples-Seven-Children-Taken-Into-Care/Article/200910415411313?lpos=UK_News_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15411313_Fat_Family_In_Dundee_Split_Up_As_Overweight_Couples_Seven_Children_Taken_Into_Care http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Fat-Family-In-Dundee-Split-Up-As-Overweight-Couples-Seven-Children-Taken-Into-Care/Article/200910415411313?lpos=UK_News_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15411313_Fat_Family_In_Dundee_Split_Up_As_Overweight_Couples_Seven_Children_Taken_Into_Care

]]> By: MomsNeedToRunForOffice http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27500 MomsNeedToRunForOffice Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:46:11 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27500 Why aren't more mothers as vocal as this mother? I think mothers should be running for office. Get on school boards prevent this type of thing from ever happening again. Moms have the power ~ Thank you fierce Barton mother! Why aren’t more mothers as vocal as this mother? I think mothers should be running for office. Get on school boards prevent this type of thing from ever happening again.

Moms have the power ~ Thank you fierce Barton mother!

]]> By: Shellie http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27497 Shellie Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:41:04 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27497 Every person on this web site that post hurtfull things has answered my question as to how children in elementary school could already be so cruel. Its not just in them it comes from the parents. I have 2 Autistic children and have to daily not only meet the academic needs of my children but also the emotional because everyday they have to deal with someone who feels they are not to what they should be. My children are well behaved and very much know the expectation of school rules . They just cant always conform as much as they want to. (And trust me they want to. ) Before you post something that shows how ignorant you are I suggest you research what you are blogging about. Every person on this web site that post hurtfull things has answered my question as to how children in elementary school could already be so cruel. Its not just in them it comes from the parents. I have 2 Autistic children and have to daily not only meet the academic needs of my children but also the emotional because everyday they have to deal with someone who feels they are not to what they should be. My children are well behaved and very much know the expectation of school rules . They just cant always conform as much as they want to. (And trust me they want to. ) Before you post something that shows how ignorant you are I suggest you research what you are blogging about.

]]> By: firefly http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27495 firefly Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:30:46 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27495 such a positive outcome! so proud of this beautiful mom and very big congrats to alex! kudos to the new school. great on you barton family for finding a safe and welcome school! all school can follow the same steps as this school to make their schools wonderful places for learning. nature makes us what we are. we are primed for learning all of us, and the patterns are key factor in what direction the learning takes. the negatives we see here in the comments are all learned, too. it takes some extra learning for 'unlearning', yes thats true that is an evidence-based statement, but it is possible for those who have negative responses to educate themselves and turn that around. one can hope. kids always come with wonderful special gifts. some of them are what we consider different yes and we must absolutely adhere to this and focus on the children in this discussion. the children are here to reach their potential. such a positive outcome! so proud of this beautiful mom and very big congrats to alex! kudos to the new school. great on you barton family for finding a safe and welcome school! all school can follow the same steps as this school to make their schools wonderful places for learning.
nature makes us what we are. we are primed for learning all of us, and the patterns are key factor in what direction the learning takes. the negatives we see here in the comments are all learned, too. it takes some extra learning for ‘unlearning’, yes thats true that is an evidence-based statement, but it is possible for those who have negative responses to educate themselves and turn that around. one can hope. kids always come with wonderful special gifts. some of them are what we consider different yes and we must absolutely adhere to this and focus on the children in this discussion. the children are here to reach their potential.

]]> By: Stef http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27492 Stef Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:02:37 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27492 For those of you who are condemning the mother or the child for his disruptive behavior, your ignorance is as obvious as a beacon in the darkness. You sound like fools. If you wish to comment, perhaps do your homework first. As much as I would not make assumptions and false, hurtful judgements of a person who has a disorder that I do not, so should you restrain your vicious words when clearly you have NO understanding of what autism is and how it presents itself. The law requires that we place our children in school. Sometimes it is during the preschool and kindergarden ages that autistic behaviors more clearly begin to define themselves in a child. The obtaining of a diagnosis takes months of observations, waiting for appointments and scraping together thousands of dollars to make it possible. After that, it must be determined whether the child can be integrated into a "typical" classroom or if he/she requires a program that more intensely focuses on his/her needs determined by the disorder. The law states that a child must be placed in the least restrictive environment first. Unfortunately, many of the teachers are not educated themselves on how to identify or deal with the behaviors that can occur when a child with autism is put into a classroom of kids without neurological issues. In the meantime, the child must attend school only to be abused by an educator who should know better than to use such childish and scarring behavior. She not only damaged the booted child, but all the children who were made to vote. I'm sure not one of them will ever forget the incident. What a terrible idea. It would be like bringing a child with epilepsy to the front of the class and booting him because his speech impediments irritate his classmates. Different symptoms - same shameful behavior by the teacher. I'm sure it made her feel better momentarily to inflict this kind of cruelty on a child who made her life difficult. But his life, and his mother's, is difficult every day. Read about autism and you'll begin to understand why. I am immersed in autism research daily and it is heartbreaking, complicated, and exhausting. These kids and their parents have to exert so much more time and energy to every little task -- things we typical persons take for granted. It is a neurological disorder -- NOT a behavioral disorder. And because a high-functioning autistic child does not use a wheelchair or some other obvious indication of medical problems, they are often mistreated and ridiculed for their behavior. Most parents of autistic kids, I've found, are much more organized, involved, and consistent with appropriate disciplinary measures than parents of typical children, because they, more than ANYONE, are desperate for their children to lead as "normal" a life as possible, and for their children to be able to receive an education, take part in family activities and build friendships. The reason this story is important is because it brings to light the fact that our educators need educating, the public needs educating, and a child who has a disorder that for many is the killer of all dreams is now thriving, thanks to being placed in a setting that's healthy, encouraging, and appropriate for him. He and his mother are an inspiration to other families who wonder if their child can be successful in school and in life. It would serve all children better, in fact, our society better, if instead of inflicting cruelty we strived for understanding and a commitment to help one another. For those of you who are condemning the mother or the child for his disruptive behavior, your ignorance is as obvious as a beacon in the darkness. You sound like fools. If you wish to comment, perhaps do your homework first. As much as I would not make assumptions and false, hurtful judgements of a person who has a disorder that I do not, so should you restrain your vicious words when clearly you have NO understanding of what autism is and how it presents itself. The law requires that we place our children in school. Sometimes it is during the preschool and kindergarden ages that autistic behaviors more clearly begin to define themselves in a child. The obtaining of a diagnosis takes months of observations, waiting for appointments and scraping together thousands of dollars to make it possible. After that, it must be determined whether the child can be integrated into a “typical” classroom or if he/she requires a program that more intensely focuses on his/her needs determined by the disorder. The law states that a child must be placed in the least restrictive environment first. Unfortunately, many of the teachers are not educated themselves on how to identify or deal with the behaviors that can occur when a child with autism is put into a classroom of kids without neurological issues. In the meantime, the child must attend school only to be abused by an educator who should know better than to use such childish and scarring behavior. She not only damaged the booted child, but all the children who were made to vote. I’m sure not one of them will ever forget the incident. What a terrible idea. It would be like bringing a child with epilepsy to the front of the class and booting him because his speech impediments irritate his classmates. Different symptoms - same shameful behavior by the teacher. I’m sure it made her feel better momentarily to inflict this kind of cruelty on a child who made her life difficult. But his life, and his mother’s, is difficult every day. Read about autism and you’ll begin to understand why. I am immersed in autism research daily and it is heartbreaking, complicated, and exhausting. These kids and their parents have to exert so much more time and energy to every little task — things we typical persons take for granted. It is a neurological disorder — NOT a behavioral disorder. And because a high-functioning autistic child does not use a wheelchair or some other obvious indication of medical problems, they are often mistreated and ridiculed for their behavior. Most parents of autistic kids, I’ve found, are much more organized, involved, and consistent with appropriate disciplinary measures than parents of typical children, because they, more than ANYONE, are desperate for their children to lead as “normal” a life as possible, and for their children to be able to receive an education, take part in family activities and build friendships. The reason this story is important is because it brings to light the fact that our educators need educating, the public needs educating, and a child who has a disorder that for many is the killer of all dreams is now thriving, thanks to being placed in a setting that’s healthy, encouraging, and appropriate for him. He and his mother are an inspiration to other families who wonder if their child can be successful in school and in life. It would serve all children better, in fact, our society better, if instead of inflicting cruelty we strived for understanding and a commitment to help one another.

]]> By: Mrs M.Allem-Bucknam http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27473 Mrs M.Allem-Bucknam Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:35:18 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27473 I am disgusted to read the "anti - special needs" feed back of the people who commented on this story. Their ignorance and cold heartedness is apparent in their comments. Let me tell you, that as a mother of an Asperger's child, I always made sure that I had a good relationship with my child's teachers in everyone of his classes ( he attended public schools). By reinforcing classwork and /or homework, at home after school, my child managed to get into the mainstream for all of his subjects when he started middles school.He continued in high school as well. He never disrupted anyone in the class - he used to sit upfront under the teacher's nose. He graduated with honours and is now attending University reading for a Bachelor's degree! SHAME ON ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE INTOLERANT CRUEL AND IGNORANT of these children's needs and lives. Statistics show that 1 in 150 people in U.S.A. have Autism. Instead of being so angry, and negative, why don't you give positive input and YOU play a more positive role in your child's life by making them aware that there are all types of people who make up a world and teach them tolerance! It is your children who are the bullies and you have a worse problem on your hands! So don't point fingers - WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! God bless ALL our children - they are our future! I am disgusted to read the “anti - special needs” feed back of the people who commented on this story.
Their ignorance and cold heartedness is apparent in their
comments.

Let me tell you, that as a mother of an Asperger’s child, I always made sure that I had a good relationship with my child’s teachers in everyone of his classes ( he attended public schools).
By reinforcing classwork and /or homework, at home after school, my child managed to get into the mainstream for all of his subjects when he started middles school.He continued in high school as well.
He never disrupted anyone in the class - he used to sit upfront under the teacher’s nose.
He graduated with honours and is now attending University reading for a Bachelor’s degree!

SHAME ON ALL YOU PEOPLE ARE INTOLERANT CRUEL AND IGNORANT
of these children’s needs and lives. Statistics show that
1 in 150 people in U.S.A. have Autism.

Instead of being so angry, and negative, why don’t you give positive input and YOU play a more positive role in your child’s life by making them aware that there are all types of people who make up a world and teach them tolerance!
It is your children who are the bullies and you have a worse problem on your hands!
So don’t point fingers - WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
God bless ALL our children - they are our future!

]]> By: littlebit http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27470 littlebit Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:35:25 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27470 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kju9VU2B7Bk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kju9VU2B7Bk

]]> By: BENNY http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27469 BENNY Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:24:23 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27469 Only Mr Bojangles, Alex is not one of them apparently....Have any of your kids ever accomplished anything or do you spend all of your time blogging and ignore your kids? You must feel pretty stupid when an autistic child can make principals honor roll and your offspring cant......LOL. Only Mr Bojangles, Alex is not one of them apparently….Have any of your kids ever accomplished anything or do you spend all of your time blogging and ignore your kids?

You must feel pretty stupid when an autistic child can make principals honor roll and your offspring cant……LOL.

]]> By: Mr. Bojangles http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/20/alex-barton-boy-who-was-voted-out-of-class-makes-honor-roll/comment-page-1/#comment-27468 Mr. Bojangles Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:45:13 +0000 http://www.tcoasttalk.com/?p=8416#comment-27468 Elizabeth....hate to break it to you, but your #3 comment is exactly why our society is screwed. Not everyone gets to be the Astronaut. Some kids simply have to accept doing without. Elizabeth….hate to break it to you, but your #3 comment is exactly why our society is screwed.

Not everyone gets to be the Astronaut.

Some kids simply have to accept doing without.

]]>