An elementary school teacher in Florida has been reassigned pending the outcome of an investigation into how or why a FIVE YEAR OLD boy with autism was allowed to be tormented by his classmates.
The kids got to take turns saying what they did not like about their classmate after the boy was sent to the principal's office following an outburst.
According to police reports, the boy was asked to stand before the class upon his return to the room and to listen to each classmate tell what they did or did not like about him. By a vote of 14-2 he was voted out of the class.
Two things here: One, this is a big reflection on our culture's obsession with reality television shows. The voting-off or -out is reminiscent of the show "Survivor" in which contestants compete to stay on the island. Young children and, apparently, teachers, find this whole process entertaining enough to incorporate it into academia.
The other more troubling issue is that the boy's mother told police and the media that her son's teacher knew he'd been tested for autism. What are we to think when a person entrusted with the hearts and minds of vulnerable little kindergartners isn't more concerned or interested in learning how to work with an autistic child?
It's easy to scapegoat a kid who acts weird, has unpredictable or unpleasant behaviors, and otherwise just doesn't appear to be "normal."
It takes great courage to confront such a circumstance, educate oneself about it, and then share as appropriate what you've learned so that others can also effectively interact with such a child.
Rather than having those children conjure up unkind remarks, wouldn't it have made more sense to encourage compassion, tolerance, or at the very least patience until a better solution could be worked out?
Autism is a mystery for now, but it affects so many children in so many families in such a myriad of ways big and small, it behooves every single person in the field of education to obtain a basic understanding of what it is, what it is not, and how it manifests in the particular child or children in their care.
As for that teacher? I say she should be voted out of the teaching profession altogether. She's not fit to be around children.
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