St. Lucie school officials interview Alex Barton

[jason]

St. Lucie school officials interview Alex Barton

Alex Barton told St. Lucie County School District officials Tuesday about the day his teacher asked kindergarten classmates to vote whether he stayed in the classroom.

Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, said Alex, 5, was asked to give a statement to the district’s human resources department and an attorney representing the district as part of the district’s internal investigation of the issue.

“He did a really good job,” she said. “He gave an excellent statement. His memory is amazing.”

Acccording to police reports, Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo brought Alex to the front of the classroom last month and asked other students to tell him how his behavior affected them. Alex, who was in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the time, had left the class twice that day on discipline referrals. After classmates talked, Portillo then asked the class to vote on whether Alex should stay in the class.

Alex lost the vote, 14 to 2.

Comments

[francisb.livejournal.com]

Thank you for keeping track of this. Sadly, the focus in these articles is misplaced. That this boy was being evaluated for
Asperger's is irrelevant. What is relevant is the manner in which this teacher chose to humiliate a child.

[complicittheory.livejournal.com]

I posted it with you in mind. What I do like about the article is that it highlights the fact that they are listening to him, his story and how he felt. You're right that the rest is missing, unfortunately, but I assume/hope that something will come from that at some point.

[francisb.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is hopeful that others are taking him seriously. He is also demonstrating with glaring clarity his own competence.
I feel very hopeful for him. This boy is loved, and has good support. But, what I see as a likely outcome is disciplinary action against the teacher, without acknowledgement of the context in which she acted. It is far safer to throw the book at her than examine the real devils behind this event.