Telling Both Sides

I've finally run across an article telling the teacher's side of voting Alex Barton out of his kindergarten class. It didn't help her case any, I can tell you that. According to the article here, the straw that broke the camel's back was Alex pushing a table up with his feet while hiding underneath it. A kindergarten teacher considered that cause for a discipline referral, Alex was removed from his classroom for a time, and the trial by fire took place when Alex was returned to his classroom "before they were ready for him." As has been previously reported, Portillo (the teacher), had Alex stand in front of the class while other students told what they didn't like about the things that he did. The students reportedly said that Alex "eats paper, picks boogers and eats them on top of the table, and bites his shoelaces." Alex also reported that his teacher told him, "I hate you right now. I don't like you today." Portillo told an office that after Alex left the room she told her students that, "they were all her priority, and she would protect them 'like a bear defending her cubs'."

Its quite possible that after reading this article I'm even more outraged than I was before. This is the teacher's version of the story- she thought it was acceptable to tell a kindergarten student that she hated him. Honestly, if she considered pushing on a table cause for a discipline referral, she need to align her expectations with the reality of kindergarteners. As I've said before, kindergarten is for learning to get along. It is quite possibly the most difficult age to teach, because kids have to learn how to act, right along with learning their abc's.

I'm shocked by the us against them attitude that is coming out in Portillo's statements, as well as in many of the comments. According to some, having a special needs child in class is robbing "normal" kids of their education. Banging on a desk is far from being the most disruptive thing I've seen happen in an elementary classroom. Besides the fact that I'm sure he wasn't the ONLY discipline problem in the class, people seem to forget that the law says that the regular classroom (with aides if necessary) is the default placement for a child with special needs. Anything more restrictive needs to be justified by the school district. I'm not a bleeding heart, I realize that there are times when a more secluded setting is the place where a child learns best, but classroom after classroom shows that with a well-supported and skilled teacher, EVERYONE benefits from having a "special" child in the mix. And the benefits aren't just academic- teachers talk about kids who are more compassionate, more understanding, more patient with others, because of their experiences with inclusion. Alex had as much right to be in his kindergarten classroom as any other student, and as much right to be considered his teacher's priority, and be protected "like a mama bear with her cubs." To my knowledge, a mama bear will protect ALL of her cubs, not encourage her stronger cubs to eat a weaker one.

If you click the picture at the top of this post, it is a link to Barbara's posting that she is collecting cards to mail to Alex. She has at least 60 cards already. Please add to her collection.