Comments on: Alex Barton

By: True Educators « this mom

True Educators « this mom — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:52:16 +0000

[...] awful. It wasn’t high drama, the kind of scenes that inspire justifiable outrage like the abuse Alex’s Barton’s teacher perpetrated, but it was damaging, the kind of subtle stuff I’m afraid happens a lot and [...]

By: Mary P Jones (MPJ)

Mary P Jones (MPJ) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:22:00 +0000

Kjetil, thanks for visiting. It's true, differences enrich our world -- it's overcoming fear and misunderstanding of those differences that's the problem.

By: Kjetil

Kjetil — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0000

How can a kindergarten teacher treat a 5 year old boy like that? As a man who has gotten the diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome in adult age, it’s just sad to read this story. One should remember that some of the greatest and most creative minds in human history have been people with variations of autism and/or bipolar disorder; Kim Peek (the man who inspired the movie “Rain Man”), Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the man who wrote about Sherlock Holmes), George Orwell (”1984″ and “Animal Farm”), Ludwig van Beethoven, Mozart, Vincent van Gogh, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, James Joyce, Isaac Newton and Jonathan Swift.

But sadly, the socalled “normal” people have a tendency to view those with original and unconventional ideas as oddities - despite many of them being centuries ahead of their time in music, art, science and literature.

Kjetil, Norway

By: Mary P Jones (MPJ)

Mary P Jones (MPJ) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Thanks so much for visiting and linking, Jenn. I'll drop by and see your post myself as soon as I'm able.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:29:00 +0000

Oh, I suppose I could leave my blog as well...sorry for being so rude. Still distraught about little Alex Barton, it has taken me 4 days just to type my post for my website! http://www.cyberschrump.blogspot.com

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:28:00 +0000

I found your website & have linked my post to it as yours contains lots of good links and info. I hope you don't mind! I try to find words to describe my emotions, my son is 18months old and has not been diagnosed with any type of disorder but to imagine the hurt and pain that he has had to endure at such a young age is sad. Hopefully, he will learn and gain strength from this and not be burdened. Reading Barbara's post, akk I can say is I agree 120% with what she said, I couldn't have said it better myself!

By: Lottie

Lottie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:21:00 +0000

Here is what I am emailing to the addresses listed:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my sadness and outrage concerning the abuse of Alex Barton, a five year old kindergarten student at Morningside Elementary School.

I don't understand a lot about autism, but I know a thing or two about common decency and what Wendy Portillo did to Alex Barton was anything but decent. No child should be subjected to the kind of humiliation, shame and bullying that Ms. Portillo advocated and encouraged in her kindergarten class. If what she did doesn't meet the criteria for emotional abuse, I'd like to know what does, and perhaps the criteria needs to be changed.

Not only was Ms. Portillo's behavior toward Alex unthinkable and cruel, she also set an extremely poor example for the other students by modeling and encouraging this type of hatefulness and bullying. I think she should apologize to Alex and his family, the other students and their families, and then issue an apology to the general public for her violation of human decency.

If Ms. Portillo is ever allowed back inside a classroom, it should only be after extensive training and counseling relevant to the situation.

Regards,
[Lottie]

I will also send a word of encouragement to Alex and his family. Then I will post Alex's story on my blog with a link to this post.

Thank you for the all the contact information.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 31 May 2008 19:23:00 +0000

http://www.slate.com/id/2192480/entry/0/  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/30/earlyshow/living/parenting/main4140155.shtml  http://www.momlogic.com/2008/05/teachers_from_hell.php  http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/30/michael-goforth-st-lucie-schools-hits-keep-comingg/

http://thalunatic.blogspot.com/2008/05/kindergarten-teacher-humiliates-5-year.html

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:59:00 +0000

When I read this story my heart broke for Alex, for his mom, for the children in the class that were also abused when the teacher encouraged them to vote whether or not Alex should remain in the class.

I have been in touch with Melissa Barton and, I will continue to do so for you see, my sweet great-nephew Andrew (who turned 4 in February) is also being tested for Aspberger Syndrome. He is a precious child, a typical 4 year old boy with a heart of gold. He would never intentionally hurt anyone yet, I cringe to see what this society will do to him if not protected.

The teacher needs to be stripped of her teaching credentials never to teach another child in these United States again. What scares me most is, how many more of her are out there in our public and private school sectors that we don't know about? How many bullies are out there getting away with things like this?

When I read the state attorney general's office found no evidence of child abuse, I nearly lost my mind. What school did that moron graduate from? Does child abuse merely mean sexual or physical abuse only???

It is time for Americans to stand up for what is right, protection of our nation and our children.

Barbara

By: The Vergins

The Vergins — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:43:00 +0000

I heard about this story yesterday and it just breaks my heart. I too read the comments and couldn't believe how many sided on the teacher.

I am a school board member in our school district and would have been appalled if this had happened in our school and would demand an immediate investigation.

My heart and prayers go out to the family and hope that some justice is done!