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Teacher lets Morningside students vote out classmate, 5

tcpalm.com — After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo said they were going to take a vote. By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted Alex — who is in the process of being diagnosed with autism — out of the class.

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  • i1chocolat, on 05/26/2008, -172/+46Democracy sure is taught early in America *laughs*
    btw it is a shame that they kicked out their classmate,
    even though the boy had done nothing wrong.
    • deathweaver108, on 05/26/2008, -8/+91Plato argued against democracy. His principal reasons for doing may be summarised as follows:

      1. Democracy leads inexorably to “mob rule” with those in power pandering to “pleasure-seekers” whose principal goals are the satisfaction of their immediate desires.

      2. Democracy leads to rule by the stupid (sophists), who while they may have fine rhetorical skills (that can exert some control over the masses) have no true knowledge itself.

      3. Democracy leads to disagreement and conflict, which is something that is intrinsically evil and to be avoided.
      • PeppermintPig, on 05/26/2008, -0/+22Seeing disagreement as intrinsically evil is wrong (and if you don't agree, you're a bad person, :P ), but the thing to draw from these arguments is that the trend of nationhood, whatever its government composition, is to make its mechanisms absolutely authoritative over individuals, whether they consent or not. So when people cannot escape the mob rule of Democracy in action, this is where the violence of the state appears, with individuals trying to justify policies founded on ignorance and collectivism.
        • RpgActioN, on 05/26/2008, -1/+17...leaving anarchy as the only morally justified solution.
        • DharmaTurtle, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1Why do people think anarchy is so glorious? I love my traffic signals, my running water, my sewage processing plant, my mail, my garageman, my powerplant... all of which are government run/supported.

          Please, just realize that anarchy isn't as wondrous as you want to think it is.
      • ThickGreenPuke, on 05/26/2008, -3/+19Well Plato was a terrorist!
        • oneoverzero, on 05/26/2008, -0/+17That was Socrates.
        • ThickGreenPuke, on 05/26/2008, -0/+3He had his opinion mixed with what Socrates taught. That makes him a terrorist in my book.
        • t0x2c, on 05/26/2008, -0/+6So was the colonies. So was the National Assembly. So was just about every revolution of the people since governments have existed.
        • GhostCow, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1If Socrates was a terrorist, I shudder to think what that makes Diogenes.
      • wexmajor, on 05/27/2008, -7/+3"3. Democracy leads to disagreement and conflict, which is something that is intrinsically evil and to be avoided."

        Thanks for letting me know that Plato is a retard.
      • therealgeddylee, on 05/27/2008, -5/+2Way to go, communist. Yep, go ahead and digg me down.
      • CicurateGroup, on 05/27/2008, -2/+2That is why we live in a Republic.
      • bluesdealer, on 05/27/2008, -0/+3"Democracy leads inexorably to 'mob rule' with those in power pandering to 'pleasure-seekers' whose principal goals are the satisfaction of their immediate desires."

        This is probably his best point. However, that's why a good democracy will have laws to nullify the oppression of the majority and preserve the freedom of the individual. (Think Civil Rights here)

        "2. Democracy leads to rule by the stupid (sophists), who while they may have fine rhetorical skills (that can exert some control over the masses) have no true knowledge itself."

        This problem can easily be avoided by having a transparent government, eliminating lobbyists (bribers), and having a truly free press rather than a press ruled by oligarchy.

        "3. Democracy leads to disagreement and conflict, which is something that is intrinsically evil and to be avoided."

        *****. Dissent tests and strengthens good ideas while rooting out bad ones. Why is disagreement and non-violent conflict a bad thing?
        • deathweaver108, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1Because to Plato, there was a difference between "debate" and "disagreement and conflict."
    • PeppermintPig, on 05/26/2008, -5/+8I would not say that it is invalid to consider the concerns of fellow students, but they are people in development who are likely not fully appreciative of the consequences of their actions by voting out an 'unpopular' student.

      I'm highly skeptical of the school's actions in testing the child for behavioral 'disability'. If their goal was to see the end results of the testing, then it's contrary that his teacher would bring about the premature dismissal of the student, assuming she knew there was a problem. The point was to help the child, right???

      Congratulations to the state education system:
      FTA: "Alex hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school.

      Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special" over and over."

      The teacher resorted to psychological punishment, which is an absolute failure to actually educate them about their behavior.

      Many people don't think highly enough of the public education system to say it is without serious issues, but plenty of people still consider supporting the system as essential, and that's very sad. While the state is obligated to provide a 'free' education to students, they can play fast and loose with the quality and treatment of the students.

      Inconsistent and easy labeling of students as 'special', often with the advocacy of prescription drugs, these students are being removed from what they consider to be a 'normal' environment, and this kind of disruption can be extremely damaging.

      A private school would have the prerogative to remove distractive students, barring any contractual agreements to the contrary. They could even resort to voting kids out of the class via democratic process, but I seriously doubt this kind of nonsense goes on in private schools considering their funding relies directly upon satisfying the parents. Even private pro-socialism schools do better than public schools in this regard.
      • BOFH2, on 05/26/2008, -5/+1Discipline in any form requires punishment.
        • PeppermintPig, on 05/26/2008, -1/+2If the kid was disruptive, which I believe he likely was, then it is up to the teacher to motivate him to do good. This means the kid has to actually learn something about his behavior that he can rationalize at his age.

          Doesn't mean the teacher should let their behaviors go unchecked. If the point was to make the kid understand what his classmates felt, then it's only insult to injury to then throw the kid out, with no way of coping with any possible foibles, and lets remember that he's a young child and children make mistakes!
        • BOFH2, on 05/26/2008, -0/+3My comment in its form was not for or against getting the child voted out of the class. You can call it what you want; motivation, discipline or coming along-side. It involves correction of a behavior that is deemed by the society that they are in as detrimental. This is considered punishment by me.

          As for the child being voted out of the class. I feel it is wrong. The children involved are not of a mental age to fully understand the ramifications of their actions. As for the teacher definitely a suspension or dismissal. However it should not be decided in the court of public opinion it should be decided by the group of people elected or hired to make those decisions.

          I know children make mistakes, that is how they learn.
      • jaydoj, on 05/27/2008, -1/+3Oh so maybe we should waterboard him, what do you say, that's about fitting, don't you think?

        /extreme ***** sarcasm
    • Nudar, on 05/26/2008, -1/+27I was taught early on that school was not a democracy.
    • ThickGreenPuke, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8I am not sure why you got dugg down but power(or favor) in democracy is achieved by manipulating masses.
    • Gorgamel, on 05/26/2008, -11/+1Uh, this isnt so uncommon. When a student is late to my classes, we vote whether to allow him in. Not such a big deal.
      • Zempz, on 05/26/2008, -0/+12are your students 5 years old?
        do your students have autism?
        do you make all your un-developed (age of reason age 7) students announce what they dont like about said 5 year old?

        im pretty sure all kindergartens move as a class so....i'm guessing you're making a invalid generalization of this case to your students.
      • williamlee, on 05/26/2008, -1/+3I do not believe you.
      • zephc, on 05/26/2008, -2/+3You are a horrible teacher. Quit now.
      • MacintoshSauce, on 05/27/2008, -0/+2You fail. Quit while you are ahead...

        Note: I am studying to become a high school Social Science teacher and have been working as a high school substitute teacher for 2 years - I would never do that in any classroom.
    • Chadbr0chill17, on 05/26/2008, -4/+2I was one of the 2 votes that wanted him to stay. You can't make fun of him if he's not in the same class
    • BeyondDGrave, on 05/26/2008, -0/+1Nice.
    • Chris63084, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1....by the WAY? ***** you.
  • kdfrawg, on 05/26/2008, -30/+601Good lord. what a disgraceful action!
    • da_bradler, on 05/26/2008, -3/+29imagine the vicious democracy we would live in if 5 year olds were aloud to vote :S
      • marx2k, on 05/26/2008, -3/+43We'd probably still end up with 8 years of Bush
        • DephexTwin, on 05/27/2008, -0/+4CJankeLOL, you have lived up to your name.
      • transfuse, on 05/26/2008, -2/+20And still a terrible education system.
        Allowed*.
        • woohalladoobop, on 05/26/2008, -25/+1Your not really aloud to start a sentence with 'And', champ.
        • c0deblue, on 05/26/2008, -1/+11And I believe he just did. I also think you still understood his point, champ.
        • Warptera, on 05/26/2008, -2/+7@woohalladoobop
          It appears that you still don't know how to distinguish between the meanings of "your" and "you're," champ.
        • SlalomMan, on 05/26/2008, -3/+5@Warptera
          You must have missed the glaring "aloud" error...there is a slight chance that he intentionally misused it, champ.
        • bravo1995, on 05/26/2008, -6/+2Don't call me champ, guy.
        • Speed, on 05/26/2008, -1/+10Actually, there are no grammatical rules against it. The only reason your elementary school teachers told you that you couldn't was so little kids would learn how to make compound sentences.

          Otherwise you get paragraphs like "I like dogs. And I like cats. And I like fish."
        • NoStoppingUs, on 05/26/2008, -1/+9but i do like dogs. and cats. and fish. =(
        • DharmaTurtle, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1Um, where the heck did you pull that rule from Woohalla?
      • williamlee, on 05/26/2008, -7/+1Ron Paul would already be president.
      • Noureddin, on 05/26/2008, -2/+3We'll not a democracy actually. Just so you know, We'll a republic.
      • OnlyShawn, on 05/26/2008, -0/+3...and this is why it is of tantamount importance to appreciate that we're in a republic, which places limits on what democracy may vote on, rather than a pure democracy, where the majority may vote to kill the minority, and it be completely "legal".
    • ligyron, on 05/26/2008, -109/+18He probably deserves it. As someone with Autism/Aspergers syndrome, he probably bullied a majority of his classmates. Perhaps the best lesson he can learn at this age is public rejection by his peers

      I no longer feel sympathy for these people, after I heard about Ryan Herbert, an autism sufferer and ringleader of a hate group, who beat a girl to death

      http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1042 ...
      • AriaStar, on 05/26/2008, -9/+25Do you think these children understand the consequences to their actions? Do you really, REALLY think that? They don't, and that's the problem they face.
        • arobicha, on 05/26/2008, -8/+5So they should be placed in an environment filled with children trying to develop working social relationships, and simply "deal" with the fact that one of the children will continue to lash out at them with no hope of understanding why? This kid deserves an education, but a child who has autism clearly has special needs that normal children his age won't understand, and it will incite more of his defensive behaviors.

          The solution wasn't to VOTE him out of class, but maybe this will serve as a starting point for a journey in the right direction. Where would we be without our trials and tribulations?
        • CrossCanyon, on 05/26/2008, -1/+8Ryan Herbert was 15 and drunk.
      • DarkFoxDK, on 05/26/2008, -13/+57WTF??!?! You judge all autists on the action of one single person???

        You are truely a stupid bastard! Go die in a fire!
        • neo1513, on 05/26/2008, -2/+9Kinda dramatic there
        • t0x2c, on 05/26/2008, -4/+4WTF??!?! You judge all fires on the action of one single flame???

          You are truly a stupid bastard! Go die in the Arctic!
      • Qeveren, on 05/26/2008, -3/+33Yeah, because all autistic 5 year olds lead hate groups. Each and every one.
      • Speed, on 05/26/2008, -9/+15It scares me that four people actually dugg you up... What the ***** is wrong with this world? I'm actually ashamed to say that I'm from the same country as you.
      • punkcat, on 05/26/2008, -2/+15i have no doubt he needs special attention and to "normal" students his actions are likely not constructive. BUT the matter was not handled the right way whatsoever. why an adult would think its ok to lead a vote on the matter is beyond me.

      • StarlessKnight, on 05/26/2008, -6/+6Which mental condition do you have? From the symptoms it certainly isn't Einsteinism.
      • Ladymongoose, on 05/26/2008, -4/+7You are a moron.
      • sh4rkb1t3, on 05/26/2008, -13/+8Agreed. Disruptive little ***** need to get kicked out of school. This kid was being a disruptive little *****. It shouldn't be getting special treatment because he may be autistic (which his parents are probably pulling out of their asses).
        • Eira, on 05/27/2008, -1/+4Autism isn't something that is just "pulled out of parents' asses" unlike the ***** that you just spewed out.
      • AndrewDB, on 05/26/2008, -6/+13As someone who knows someone with autism, I kindly tell you:

        ***** you.

        Not everyone who has autism is that bad.
      • tech42er, on 05/26/2008, -7/+13***** black people! Those damn ***** are always robbing and shooting people!

        /Or maybe we shouldn't make stupid generalizations about large groups of people based on the actions of a few?
      • ifoundthetao, on 05/26/2008, -3/+4OK, after reading that linked article, I honestly almost got sick to my stomach.

        That is so heartbreaking reading about that poor girl. That is so sick, sick, sick. :'(
      • Angostura, on 05/26/2008, -3/+12Next week: "I have no sympathy for people who wear glasses after one of them beat someone to death".
      • variant5, on 05/26/2008, -3/+3Uh, guys... I think we're all missing the key point in argument. Secondary to that: he hasn't been diagnosed with autism. Re-read the article.
      • 15charmaxwtf, on 05/26/2008, -0/+1If this was the case then he shouldn't have been there in the first place, so he didn't deserve it.
        • DevilInPgh, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975. Read it. Study it. Then come back here and discuss why you're wrong.
      • ligyron, on 05/26/2008, -6/+2Wow. I actually got buried?...and deep at that.

        Since when is having autism/aspergers an excuse for bullying? When somebody goes on a violent rampage, do you say, "Oh, don't blame him--he can't help it. He was diagnosed as being a psychopath." No, there's no justification. You act like we should feel sorry for him because he (probably) has "autism," and therefore is forgiven for all the pain he has caused his classmates because he is not doing it--his autism is. Come on, people.

        I don't care if he has autism or not. Bullying is wrong and he shouldn't be surprised that his classmates said such mean things about him. Perhaps he will think twice about his actions now that the teacher humiliated him in front of everyone in his class.
        • crazysassy, on 05/27/2008, -0/+2Public humiliation, isn't that a form of bullying in itself? How does that help the situation? Aside from spreading the very thing you're trying to prevent.
        • Eira, on 05/27/2008, -0/+3It's not the fact that the students said stuff about him. It's about a teacher who openly starts and encourages prejudice within her classroom. Regardless of what he does, she handled it in a completely inappropriate way. I think you missed the point of the article.
    • belac88, on 05/26/2008, -1/+6try to think through the logic you just presented....
    • AriaStar, on 05/26/2008, -5/+20Perhaps just as disgraceful is that the state attorney's office determined that this isn't emotional child abuse, despite the fact that this poor child is reliving it and clearly traumatized. If I were his mother, I'd ***** kill that teacher, and I'm serious about that. Prevent it from happening to other children. That teacher has no right to teach if that cruelty and humiliation is her way of teaching. All she's teaching is how to be ashamed and humiliated. Spanking is considered abuse, but everyone ganging up on one disabled boy is fine and dandy. What the ***** gives?
      • soogy, on 05/26/2008, -7/+3I think you're all jumping to conclusions, nothing new at Digg, really.

        "Barton said her son is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism." It doesn't say he has autism, she just said she is having him checked out for it.

        "He also had problems at his last school, but he did not have issues during his two years of preschool, Barton said." The boy clearly has issues, and regardless of whether they are due to autism or not, he needs to be treated fairly. Had autism not been involved, would this story have made the front page? Probably not, as you'd all assume it was a troublemaker who needed to be taught a lesson.

        I don't agree with allowing students to vote out another (though, it is a fairly good example of democracy for youngsters), but maybe you guys need to calm the hell down before making such crazy statements.
        • NoStoppingUs, on 05/26/2008, -4/+2yeah. im *sure* his mother is telling the complete truth..
    • Qeveren, on 05/26/2008, -3/+27Morningside Elementary School

      2300 SE Gowin Dr
      Port St Lucie, FL 34952, United States
      (772) 337-5976
      • nar3024, on 05/26/2008, -1/+13That's a fax number.

        Phone: (772) 337-6730
      • NoStoppingUs, on 05/26/2008, -24/+2are we going to go march or something? why do you guys always do this. do you think 10 nutjobs from digg going "AARRGHHHGHGH YOU SUCK" is going to be constructive? you guys are incredibly egotistical. no wonder everyone here loves barack hussein abomber.
        • a1532b, on 05/26/2008, -1/+7I originally dug you up, but then I read the last line of your reply. This has nothing to do with politics and Barack is not a bomber. Unless you have proof he bombed something, shut up.
        • NoStoppingUs, on 05/26/2008, -4/+4i originally dug you down, then tried to dig you down again. =(
      • fradiavolo, on 06/02/2008, -0/+1Thank you for posting this information. Everyone should write to the teacher. Let's see how she feels when people gang up on her with criticism. Bet it won't seem like such a constructive learning tool after all.
    • MarioWhereRu, on 05/26/2008, -21/+6The kid probably deserve it,as he was in a public school and he was constantly disrupting class and using too much of the teachers attention. Why should the other kids not learn just to make her mother happy? There are special schools for autistics.
    • Ladymongoose, on 05/26/2008, -3/+20What this pathetic teacher doesn't realize is that her callous actions towards this defenseless 5 year-old go far and above him being voted out of class. She has really affected his life and his family's life. It's so hard for Aspie's to make friends and this woman just set back his therapy for a long time.

      ""I'm Not Special"
      Those are the words that Alex Barton has come to say repeatedly to himself. He screams in the car when his mother drops his sister off at school. He's refusing to eat and unable to sleep in his own room. Alex was recently kicked out of his school, by his classmates--after his teacher took a vote on it. Alex is thought to have Autism (currently being evaluated for Asperger's). He is also just five years old, in kindergarten at Morningside Elementary in Port St. Lucie, Florida."
      • samssf, on 05/26/2008, -1/+9And even more importantly, the teacher has reinforced the negative behavior of simply rejecting Alex for a condition he cannot choose, rather than being tolerant and trying to work with him.
        • ChildeRoland420, on 05/26/2008, -6/+1This is not about what condition he had. This is about his ACTIONS. Just because he may have a condition doesn't make it ok for him to act out in class and disrupt the other students.
        • ChildeRoland420, on 05/27/2008, -3/+1So, by digging me down I guess you guys are saying that it is ok for him to disrupt the class and that everyone should be happy for it?
        • AndreRollins, on 05/27/2008, -0/+2It is NOT the child's fault. He can't help it. It's not like it's a high school student purposely disrupting the class. That wouldn't be okay. He probably belongs in a different school that can help him handle his condition, whatever that may be. But the action that was taken was inappropriate, especially by a teacher. He should get the help he needs so that he can adjust socially. To make the child feel like "nothing" is awful.
    • Quenlin, on 05/26/2008, -19/+7If he angered his peers to the point where they vote him 14-2 out of the classroom, then he deserved it. Good riddance to bad rubbish, people like him give all of us with Aspergers a bad name.

      I have aspergers myself, so I pretty much have the right to say that.
      • bravo1995, on 05/26/2008, -0/+25 year olds don't have reasoning skills. If this was a 6th grade classroom, it might not be so terrible. The poor kid is 5. A teacher putting down a kid in front of the whole class can only do more harm than good.
      • RoflCoptah, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1no, u do not have the right to say that, no one has the right to speak for any general group of people (btw i dont count government stuff)
    • purzzzell, on 05/26/2008, -3/+15I'm putting this comment as a reply to the first, so that it gets read since we've hit over 300 now.

      How on EARTH can you do something like this to a child without expecting it to blow up, especially in the Internet Age?

      I mean - does she not read the news? Did she miss every "teacher-child sexual relationship scandal" that gets NATIONAL attention? Did she miss the sub. teacher who was fired, said it was for "witchcraft" and got a letter writing campaign on his behalf?

      I mean - all I can think of is the end of the movie election "it's one of those little stories that people e-mail to each other, over and over until it becomes the national center of attention" (quote not correct, but gets the point across and that movie was TEN YEARS AGO.
    • sh4rkb1t3, on 05/26/2008, -28/+10Disgraceful my ass.

      This kid was probably being a disruptive little *****, and thus deserved to be kicked out. The rest of the 16 kids' education should not have to suffer due to one bad apple, who was probably a physical and emotion bully who attacked and made the other kids cry.

      The parents probably pulled this autism thing out of their asses. If not, this story goes a long way in proving that retards can get away with everything. Of course, it's not OK to discriminate against retards, but it's alright to discriminate against everyone else by not giving them special treatment.

      Can anyone say DOUBLE STANDARD?
      • giveer, on 05/26/2008, -5/+12Wow. You actually look down on someone and insult them, even though your only introspective look into the scenario is: "he probably...", "he might have been..." ?? What's wrong with you?, the kid is FIVE!!

        I mean, I can look at your post and come to a solid conclusion that you in fact ~are~ an *****, but you don't see me flinging that about in the comment. You assume a 5 year ~MiGhT~ be misbehaving so by all means, you insult his disability as if you're a more developed individual? Sieg Heil.
        • thePuck77, on 05/26/2008, -7/+3He is a more developed individual. So are you. That's what it means for the kid to be disabled. Sorry to burst your fake reality bubble that everyone is equal and all that.

          In a sane world, there would be no "disabled" people. There would be those who could cut it and those who were a disgrace to the gene pool, and the latter would be killed at birth. THAT is real development and progress.
        • Attol, on 05/26/2008, -4/+4giveer, if you actually read the article you would have read this little excerpt "The other students said he was "disgusting" and "annoying,"". I'm guessing that would be the reason 14 of the 16 kids didn't like him.

          I've had a retard in my fourth grade class, and that little ***** got away with everything. All he did was disrupt the class and piss off just about everyone. This whole time I keep wondering why do they even bother to mix "special" kids with normal kids?
        • giveer, on 05/27/2008, -1/+5Attol, yeah I did read the article, however, I'm choosing not to base my own discretions about this child based on the opinions of a room full of five year olds.
          If the child was hated, that's one thing - Children will think anything a hated child does is disgusting. Because he wasn't liked or was looked down upon by his peers is unfortunate, but please, every classroom in America has one.
          My issue isn't "the child is harmless, you should worship him"... My issue was with the Original Poster's completely ignorant postion. Even if his assumptions of the child are correct, which he is no position to know, the actions on the child are completely incorrect and socially destructive and the teacher should have been smart enough to know the difference. You're correct - autistic children do need to be handled differently - but not at the hands of idiotic teachers allowing 5 year olds to be jude and jury.

      • Eira, on 05/27/2008, -0/+4Autism isn't retardation. Autism isn't something you just come up with out of nowhere. And regardless of what he does or doesn't have, the teacher should NEVER have humiliated him in that way. If there is a problem in class caused by a student, you report it and either have him removed officially or speak to the parents.
    • Thogster, on 05/26/2008, -5/+14The problem is that if he's allowed to continue to go in that class, everything will be adjusted after his needs, and 16 other 5-year-olds are suddenly turned into social workers where they have to create an environment that fits that kid's needs. It should be that kid adjusting into the already established society. Learning to adjust is a part of the socialisation process, and if every kid with some sort of behavioural problems gets everything adjusted to their needs, how will they be able to function in the big society when they grow up? That's right, they won't. If he is not willing to change his behaviour, it shouldn't be demanded that everyone will change theirs towards him.
      • parax, on 05/27/2008, -1/+4Are you aware of what "autism" is? "Learning to adjust is part of the socialisation process..."

        Autistic people have trouble learning socialization. Many of them will NEVER learn how to socialize. You can't beat them into it, you can't force them to understand it, you can try over and over and it won't happen. It's not a matter of him being "willing to change his behavior". It's like telling someone who's paralyzed that he just needs to get over it and start walking like a normal person. Is that what you think of Stephen Hawking? He's just not willing to change his posture?

        Autism is a mental disability, a brain that isn't wired normally and doesn't work like normal. An autistic kid can't change his behavior, the part of his brain that allows normal people to regulate their behavior just isn't there.
        • sh4rkb1t3, on 05/27/2008, -5/+1Well if they aren't going to fix the kid's autism, there is no point in having him in contact with the other children. One kid shouldn't jepordize 16 other kids' education so he can feel like he fits in, when he most blatantly never will.
        • parax, on 05/27/2008, -0/+3@sh4rkb1t3

          Where I come from, we do our best to accept the disabled. We educate the other children about someone's disability. If someone can't walk, we build a ramp, and we help the other children understand what it means that they're in a wheelchair. We don't tell them they can't be around other kids because the other kids have working legs.

          If someone's deaf, we use teaching methods to assist the hearing impaired, we don't herd them away from the kids who can hear so they don't "jeopardize" the other kids. Learning to understand the disabled is part of socializing.

          "if they aren't going to fix the kid's autism..."
          What is that supposed to mean? Were you under the impression that autism is fixable? If you've discovered a way to repair brain disorders you're standing on top of a gold mine, why are you keeping it to yourself?
        • parax, on 05/27/2008, -0/+3@sh4rkb1t3

          I thought about it some more and I guess it's more appropriate to just say ***** you and your disabled-hating ways. I can't believe there's even any discussion on whether or not it's okay to treat disabled people like *****.
        • sh4rkb1t3, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1@ parax (first post)

          yes i know how things work, and that's what I'm debating if you haven't realised.

          @ parax (second post)

          ***** you too.
        • DevilInPgh, on 05/28/2008, -0/+2sh4rkb1t3,

          If it were up to you, I would have never been mainstreamed and would be stuck in an institution rather than be in graduate school.

          Jackass. Go knock your head against a wall and break your skull.
    • wombat02, on 05/26/2008, -3/+5This is kind of story that ruins the "news" for me, a one sided blamefest that has no evidence and no official comment from anyone other than the mother of the student. There is little to no information provided about the actual situation or the medical state of the child or the level of knowledge the school had dealing with the boys diagnosis. This isn't journalism this is tabloid BS, call me there is an actual story with both sides and some facts, then I'll make my opinion on the story.
    • phike, on 05/26/2008, -3/+4Kids vote on the darndest things
    • Narrator, on 05/26/2008, -7/+3The disgraceful action was this getting voted to the top of digg. One of the most insignificant stories in the history of digg. News Flash: I had beans for dinner and they made me fart. Film at 11.
    • perkoff, on 05/26/2008, -2/+4http://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/mse/staff/kindergarte ...

      Has a picture of her with email address portillow@stlucie.k12.fl.us

      Maybe we should email the principal cullym@stlucie.k12.fl.us

      Get this abusive bimbo fired.
    • JesusHimself, on 05/26/2008, -3/+2Don't worry, she's going to hell
    • Axmar, on 05/27/2008, -1/+0What did you expect it is florida.

      55% of teens think that drinking bleach will cleanse Aids.
    • IKORKYI, on 05/27/2008, -2/+1what - the fact that he was 5 and put into a normal school, normal class, while having undiagnosed autism? or the fact that the school forced a teacher with no training with autism to handle one - without knowing?

      I'm assuming that since it went undiagnosed, it was only minor, therefore hard to notice (his parents missed symptoms for 5 years) so how would the teacher know?

      I guess he should have just stayed in the class while constantly not allowing others to learn - and considering pediatricians and HIS OWN PARENTS hadn't been able to make a positive diagnosis - i don't blame the teacher at all (except for the cruel voting part - i would figure that would not be a good idea with any child or any age or condition)
  • yatinhat, on 05/26/2008, -35/+541This is horrible...I think the child's family should sue the school and the school should fire the teacher to send a message that this is not acceptable treatment of any school aged child.
    • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -40/+27They should also punish the other school mates and their parents. I think torture would be best. ***** people. As long as people are part of a group, they feel conformable doing what they want, and that's usually something bad.
      • purzzzell, on 05/26/2008, -4/+16They need one of those tolerance people to come to the school and talk about it like the midget in South Park.
      • APer3Caper, on 05/26/2008, -2/+37Why should the schoolmates be punished? The teacher forced them into this. The teacher forced them to say what they didn't like about the child and the teacher forced them to vote. Plus, what did their parents have to do with this?
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -4/+9The students were forced to vote. They weren't forced to call him "disgusting".

          The parents raised those little monsters.
        • Qeveren, on 05/26/2008, -2/+4Maybe to teach them that "I was just following orders" is never an excuse?
        • SpencerMc, on 05/26/2008, -1/+5Please. They are kindergartners. They don't realize what autism is. To them, it was just an obnoxious kid that likely did some things they found disgusting. The fault here rests solely with the teacher.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -1/+1Every bastard was once a child. They all gotta start somewhere.
      • funkyloki, on 05/26/2008, -0/+34mob mentality rules everytime, especially when it involves five year olds that probably have no real concept of what they are doing. This teacher is a disgrace. She was in meetings where it was revealed that this particular child might have a learning disability, and what does she do? She has him voted out; not only that, she had the other kids CAMPAIGN on the platform of throwing him out by discussing why he should be "expelled" from the class. This kid will be ***** up by this for a while, but I hope not too long. And she should be fired and barred from working as a teacher forevermore.
      • blechler, on 05/26/2008, -2/+19Punish a bunch of five-year-old kids for following an adult's lead? Surely you can't be serious.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -13/+4Ya, you're right, why punish bad behavior? Let the kids do whatever they want, without fear of repercussions. The next generation is in good hands...
        • luciferin, on 05/26/2008, -8/+2How else will they learn to stand up against it next time?
        • slifty, on 05/26/2008, -1/+13To those who posted above me, maybe you don't realize what "five years old" means. If they had hit someone, refused to share, or said "jimmy was a poop face" then sure, punish them. Punishment for an action that happened so long ago would probably be pointless because it was so long ago. Also, an action as socially complex as voting? They called him names because that's what five year olds do... Gosh you people are silly:P

          If it makes you feel any better, you can pretend the 5 year olds are on Digg, and you can digg them down.
        • luciferin, on 05/26/2008, -3/+2Teacher, last night on Survivor they all got to vote the bad person off, why can't we do that?

          You can't allow children to get away with EVERYTHING assuming they just don't know better. If you take the education of a child into your own hands, as a parent, you will quickly realize just how intelligent they are, even at 5. They often know what they're doing, and that what they're saying is hurting someone's feelings. If they don't realize this then the best way to learn that is from experience.

          I'm not trying to defend what the teacher did because I don't know the exact events that occurred. The article is vague and leaves plenty to be interpreted. I trust the POLICE INVESTIGATION got to the bottom of things. If it really was a situation where they child was treated unfairly at least one of the other parents would come to their defense.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -7/+2It's OK because that's just what they do. John rapes women, but that's OK 'cause that's what he does. You silly goose. Silly will nilly. Silly-O Do-se-do.
        • slifty, on 05/26/2008, -1/+6"Stupid dumb" - If John is a 5 year old, we can talk about it.
          P.S. - Your straw man argument is useless against me!

          luciferin - I agree that you can't just leave a kid un-reprimanded for bad actions, I'm just saying this is a special case dealing with the type of bad action that a 5 year old cannot understand. It's like yelling at your dog for eating it's food too fast. It will look up at you and say "wtf?"
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -2/+1OK "slifty", if that is your real name, I sent the straw man home. It just seemed that you believe it's OK to do something if that is what you do. I guess what I said is a straw man argument, as I didn't provide any actual counter argument, but do I really need to provide any more info as to why your statement is insane?

          Why is it OK for kids to say hurtful things? You didn't even make an argument, let alone a flawed one. Your statements have no effect on me.

    • dood, on 05/26/2008, -5/+101I'm not a fan of suing (since it'd just cost the school and community money, money that won't "fix" the problem) but if the story is true then yes, the teacher should be fired. That's a serious lapse of judgment.
      • tas08, on 05/26/2008, -6/+3That's like a Hillary Clinton sized lapse in judgment.
        • a1532b, on 05/26/2008, -2/+3What on earth does this have to do with politics? Go back to your cave.
    • gregfadein, on 05/26/2008, -5/+21With teacher's unions what they are, this teacher is going to be teaching for a long time.

      It costs about $220,000 and takes 3 years to fire a unionized teacher.
      • turpenine, on 05/26/2008, -6/+12not it doesn't.
        it takes nothing to fire a teacher in the first 5 years, one serious offenses or 3 moderate offenses after that to fire them.
        at least in ohio.
        • Mononuclear, on 05/26/2008, -1/+14Depends on the state. Many places it is near impossible to fire a teacher. Usually they just transfer the teacher to another school. A teacher basically has to sexually assault or physically abuse a student before they are fired.
        • beccabob, on 05/26/2008, -1/+1The problem is, what is defined as a serious or moderate offense? In Illinois, where I am, getting a tenured teacher fired is next to impossible with the exception of sleeping with a student, or beating them. Even then, getting rid of a teacher that has slept with students is normally not immediate.
        • orangefly, on 05/26/2008, -0/+6@mononuclear or have "inapropriate" pictures on myspce or appear on stern in a bikini....
      • Ungh, on 05/26/2008, -1/+13GROSS NEGLIGENCE!!! They can can her sorry ass right now!!!
      • aebo06, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1un-ionized? i don't think we're not talking about chemistry..
    • sdcarter, on 05/26/2008, -0/+14There is no message to send... this shouldn't be something people need to figure out is wrong.
    • TheAkolyte, on 05/26/2008, -0/+87I think the school should have an assembly where all of the employees tell the school what they don't like about the teacher, then they should fire her.
      • Drugx2, on 05/26/2008, -2/+7omg that would be awesome. then maybe she'll realise how negligent she was.
      • purzzzell, on 05/26/2008, -0/+10I was thinking the same thing, but by bringing in 50-100 parents of children who've been diagnosed with Asberger's.
      • ssjbriguy, on 05/26/2008, -1/+2Just desserts
      • drichards78, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1AMEN! I second that!
    • DangerCollie, on 05/26/2008, -10/+21The kid has autism for crying out loud. He needs to be in a special needs educational environment, not be humiliated in front of his peers at an impressionable age.

      Or is special needs education one of those leftie nanny state socialized medicine programs put forth by tax and spend Democrats?
      • marx2k, on 05/26/2008, -9/+3Wow, you totally ***** up the good point you had going in the first part of your statement with the second part of your statement. Bravo.
        • absurdist, on 05/26/2008, -0/+4That whooshing sound you just heard was the sarcasm of the second part of the comment going completely over your head.
      • aussia, on 05/26/2008, -2/+3Or how about a Regular classroom environment that didn't ostracize ANYONE for being different?
        • senatorpjt, on 05/26/2008, -2/+10It would be a total failure, as all the time would be taken up from the teacher having to deal with the slow kids.
        • solid12345, on 05/26/2008, -1/+1If the kids are a disruption to the learning of the majority of students they should be in an alternative program. We had alternative school for troublemaking kids, you should also have one for special needs.
        • turpenine, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1at the origional comment.
          ha.
      • tech42er, on 05/26/2008, -0/+2Maybe he actually can function in a public school if he didn't have such a bitch for a teacher? Or maybe he'd do better in private school, which might be more attuned to his needs and work with him and his parents? That's what I'd do: sue the school and use the winnings to pay for a good education at a private school that gives a ***** about him and his parents.
      • hongkongjapie, on 05/26/2008, -0/+2Not every autist is a 'rainman', autism is not an on/off thing its a gradual scale, and many nerds like us score quite high on this scale. Kids with not too severe cases of authism can function well in normal classes, although it helps if the school has the means of supporting it and a teacher that can keep order and structure in the class. Have you ever walked into a class where kids are screaming, teacher is yelling and when you get out 5 minutes later you have a headache? Those classes are generally not the best environment for kids with autism (or any kid actually, but other kids can cope with it better).
    • atromos, on 05/26/2008, -0/+3Yeah, cause I'm sure all the money from the lawsuit would help the problem. Who thinks money for injustice is a great idea anyways?
    • hongkongjapie, on 05/26/2008, -2/+3Funny how many people on digg are always complaining about frivolous lawsuits and now the first reaction when a teacher is not functioning is: sue the bastards! This should be resolved in talks with the school, the teacher should be fired or at least get a clear disciplinary action and a mandatory course "how to handle kids with autism".
      If the school keeps backing the teacher then, maybe, suing will be an option to think about.
    • solid12345, on 05/26/2008, -1/+2Hey now the school was just celebrating Festivus!
    • FlynnRocks, on 05/26/2008, -5/+1I wish I could vote autistic retards out of my school. This seems very reasonable, that boy needs to learn he has no place in life.
    • benologist, on 05/27/2008, -1/+0The children could use a beating too.
  • reflex768, on 05/26/2008, -20/+798As an adult, how could you even formulate a plan like that to humiliate and ostracize a little boy. And a little boy who might be autistic at that. I'd want my own kids out of that class immediately. Clearly there are some vicious and ethically corrosive values being taught in the lessons.
    • l3asketCase, on 05/26/2008, -0/+16It doesn't matter how he acted he doesn't deserve to be kicked out of class a detention maybe but, being kicked out of the class because no one liked it? Talk about inconsiderate.
      • luciferin, on 05/26/2008, -16/+2What if he climbed up on a desk and took a dump in front of your child's face? NOW does it matter what he did?
        • jameskong15, on 05/26/2008, -1/+12The kid could kill someone and I wouldn't support the level of public humiliation he got. Not because I don't care about his actions, but because I realize that this approach does more harm than good to all the kids involved. The teacher not only humiliated the kid, but also taught the other kids a very negative lesson. They have been shown that it is alright to trash other kids they don't like and ostracize them without any regard for the other person's issues (mental retardation, health problems, etc).
        • StarlessKnight, on 05/26/2008, -0/+6Your "argument" is as pathetic as the ones I heard postulated by Hovind in the Hovind vs Shermer debate I watched last night.
        • titorTT, on 05/26/2008, -1/+5I guess there are appropriate, institutional and humane ways to deal with these situations. Probably the kid does need special education, but that shouldve been discussed with his parents, with a relevant medical/psychological advice, and then proceed to relocate him within a special education environment if necessary.

          I mean not even when a grown up gets fired do other people at their work place tell them how much and why they hated them and how deserved to be fired.
    • Ladymongoose, on 05/26/2008, -2/+29(I'm cutting and pasting my response from the same story, but a different DIGG article)

      email the teacher herself: portillow@stlucie.k12.fl.us and let her know how you feel.

      I did.

      As the mother of a high-functioning autistic child, I can tell you that special needs kids need ALL the love, understanding and help they can get by their teachers- autism does NOT equal mental retardation or a social disease- many of our kids are highly intelligent but socially awkward. They are a part of our society and have a right to an education and anything else the 'normal' part of society are entitled to. They do not need to be broken down by their peers or ridiculed by the very person who who be teaching them. I am very sad reading this article. Autism is on the rise folks...1 in 80 boys here in Oregon alone. It's not going anywhere, sadly.

      Also email the principle and the others involved:
      CONTACT INFO:

      Morningside Elementary School Principal:
      Mrs. Marcia Cully
      cullym@stlucie.k12.fl.us
      (772) 337-6730

      St. Lucie County Schools Superintendent:
      Michael J. Lannon
      4204 Okeechobee Road
      Ft. Pierce, FL 34947-5414
      Phone: 772/429-3925
      FAX: 772/429-3916
      lannonm@stlucie.k12.fl.us

      St. Lucie County School Board Chair:
      Carol Hilson
      772-519-0397
      hilsonc@stlucie.k12.fl.us

      Vice Chair:
      Judith Miller
      772-528-4545
      millerj@stlucie.k12.fl.us


      • LMaxey, on 05/26/2008, -0/+9Thanks for the info!
        E-mail sent
      • Lavarock, on 05/27/2008, -0/+5I love when we do this. it's ***** awesome :D
    • Jauladeoro, on 08/27/2008, -8/+10While what happened to the boy is heartbreaking, and the teacher was wrong for going about it in this way --- you have to look at this from both sides. I understand the child has autism but, if his autism does not allow him to behave with age appropriate social skills, so much so that a vast majority of the children in the class don't like him - he probably needs to be in a classroom that will better suit his needs.

      The children and the teacher should not have to suffer. I'm speaking from the perspective of a parent of a, thankfully, healthy and well behaved child. Last year his pre-school class was single handedly derailed thanks to one little kid with behavioral issues. The teacher spent 90% of her time corralling and dealing with this child and as a result the other children learned more that misbehavior gets attention, than anything having to do with their ABC's. Virtually everything my now Kindergarten age son knows, he learned at home because pre-school was nearly useless while this child was in his class. The teacher even confided in me that the other children expressed how happy they were when that kid was home sick - and how relieved she felt that she could actually teach the rest of the class.

      Every child has a right to a good education - and if one child is taking that away from 20 other children, it's not fair.
      • Zempz, on 05/26/2008, -3/+6and removing the child needed to involve public/ignorant humiliation why?
        • anonymousleaf, on 05/26/2008, -3/+2Did you even read the post? The first sentence extends grief to the family.
      • RationalXubrnce, on 05/26/2008, -1/+4 Digg doesn't seem to like this kid of common sense. Better to let the masses suffer for the rights of one child who has no business being int hat class.

        And no I don't think what the teacher did was right at all.
      • BGog, on 05/27/2008, -0/+5Your points are good but irrelivant. It isn't about removing the kid.. It is about doing it via public class vote to provide the most humiliation possilbe. This is at best a VERY ignorant act and at worst pure evil.

        A disruptive child can be removed quietly via the normal school procedures that are in place.
      • ghettofobulous, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1Speaking as someone who has spent the last two years working with children with autism and studying to become a teacher, so I can understand both sides. This teacher is a disgrace to the teaching profession. If anyone knows how critical self esteem is for a child, it should be. Even if you know nothing about early childhood education and social development, (which she should) common sense should tell you this is WRONG!!

        Aside from that boy, every child in that room has been damaged by her. The 14 children who learned ostracizing is okay when you are in the majority.

        The two children who voted to keep the kid in class cause what they knew was right, has been overturned by corrupt authority (good job getting them ready for the real world)

        She should be suspended and the teachers college vote on her reinstatement. Let he know how he feels.
    • sonofman1984, on 05/27/2008, -3/+2This is by no means a blanket statement....but many teachers are absolute idiots. Teaching draws some very lazy people because of its schedule. You also get a large amount of women who watch like to watch reality television and they actually think the world works that way.
  • WordsnCollision, on 05/26/2008, -12/+683Can the local school board now vote out that moronic teacher?
    • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -40/+7Even if they did, are they gonna find a better teacher? In my experience, most teachers don't give a ***** about teaching or about their students. They just figure "I don't know what I want to do, so I'll just be a teacher". These ***** retards are ruining so many children's education. This is not all teacher's, just most.
      • WillNavidson, on 05/26/2008, -3/+22Your name perfectly punctuates your level of intelligence. I'd like to see you try to teach a class of students and engage them in thoughtful and critical thinking; apparently, though, that task would require some rational thought.

        And yes, I am a teacher, and no, I did not choose the field because "I don't know what I want to do." I chose it because I want to make a difference and I love to teach and learn.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -15/+3How does making fun of someone's user name on a website lend anything to your argument?

          You didn't disprove what I said, you just got angry and defensive (as I should expect from someone name willnavidson).

          Why would you like to see me try it? Do you think I can't? Does my teaching ability have any effect on the ability of other teachers? Of course not, that is a ridiculous idea.

          Maybe you think that I meant I would be a better teacher. I don't really know, but I think it's a tough job (if you care enough); I would really be worried if I'm teaching the right way and if I was getting through to my students. I've never professionally taught, so I don't know, but I do know that I would be stressed because I wouldn't want to let the students down.

          Are you telling me that there are NO teachers who don't give a *****? Think of University professors.

          I never pointed my finger at you specifically. Maybe you thought I was because you may have doubts about yourself.

          But seriously, my opinion is that teaching/teachers are a very important part of society, and I really hate it when they are taken lightly.

          (Bravo again on "dissing" my screen name. I bet you're a debating coach at your school!)
        • threemagic, on 05/26/2008, -1/+9@Stupiddumb:

          You disparaged his/her profession, of course he/she got upset. He/she obviously takes his job seriously and cares and maybe the few bad apples spoiling the bunch theory stands here. You made a broad statement about teaching and teachers not anything specific. Your debate skills have nothing to do with anything since you failed to provide one statistical fact to back your broad assessment.

          So I agree with their take on your screen name because you followed through with your original paragraph.

          Anytime someone starts an argument with "In my experience" and ends it with a broad statement about the whole of the subject it's usually a sign of deep seeded resentment, somewhere.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -8/+31) When did I boast my debating skills? What are you getting at?
          2) I didn't disparage his profession, I am weary of the STATE of his profession. No need to take offense.
          3) There may be some resentment, what's your point? I have to be happy about having experienced terrible teaching? I have to be happy that my young relatives might get a terrible education?
          Yes, I did not provide any facts. Yes I made a broad statement. That is how I see it. I never said "I am %100 sure all teachers are retarded". Take my statement with a grain of salt. I'm not gonna show up at your PTA meetings.

          btw, when I said "Bravo again on "dissing" my screen name. I bet you're a debating coach at your school!", I was being sarcastic. I don't actually applause that "insult".
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -6/+2Hey, I just checked your info and noticed you are 21. I'm sure you had plenty of time to prepare for being a teacher, what with all those years of training under your belt. Education forecast: Clear and sunny!
        • senatorpjt, on 05/26/2008, -2/+1Well, I have a Masters and i've thought of going into teaching just because it's easier than working in industry, the hours are less, the job security is better, less pressure, etc etc. The actual job of teaching was the furthest thing from my mind. I'd basically just do what I had to in order to collect my paychecks.
          Then again, while I don't think I'd make a great teacher, I wouldn't be horrible either. The kids would probably think I was just a boring *****, but they'd have learned the material. shrug.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -4/+1If you think you would do a good job and get through to the students, great. I don't know if being a boring ***** actually helps kids learn. flap.
        • WillNavidson, on 05/27/2008, -2/+1@ Stupiddumb:

          I did get angry because when ignoramuses make blanket statements about a profession or goal in life with no basis in their feeble argument, anger and rebuke usually follow swiftly. You made a thoughtless, careless, insensitive, and plain stupid comment. You deserve the negative reaction you got from me and others, so, in fact, I did prove a point using your name as evidence.

          Also, what in the world does my screen name have to do with anything? Name me the novel from which that name occurs: it is generally regarded as a modern masterpiece, so good job on that end. Perhaps you should read a good book and know a bit about post-modernist/post-structuralist literature before you make a truly stupid comment. Bravo.

          Indeed, I can assure you that you would most definitely be a lousy teacher. To think that anyone with such a closed mind should teach is horrifying.

          And you're right: there are plenty of lousy and, quite honestly, terrible teachers; however, those that care about learning and the student body greatly outweigh the negative ones.

          On that end, yes, I'm 21, and yes, I guarantee you that I'm confident of myself and my abilities. I have a great job that pays well, I enjoy what I do, and I make a difference. Can you say the same?

          Also, on one final note, thanks to the rest of you for your thoughtful rebuttals. It's refreshing to see the public defend the honorable profession of teaching. Thank you.
        • WillNavidson, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1@Stupiddumb:

          Also, you're thick sarcasm didn't escape me. Ironically, your cognizant and well-developed argument parallels your own vast and impressive career in secondary debate. I applaud you on a job well done (Here's another example of sarcasm. See? Just about anyone can do it!).
        • Mattarang, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1"I did get angry because when ignoramuses make blanket statements about a profession or goal in life with no basis in their feeble argument, anger and rebuke usually follow swiftly. You made a thoughtless, careless, insensitive, and plain stupid comment. You deserve the negative reaction you got from me and others, so, in fact, I did prove a point using your name as evidence."

          It sounds like you are saying, "someone said something that I think is stupid, so I think it's fitting that I put them down." You seem like a smart person. You can't tell me that what you said makes sense. We both know that, though you type eloquently, you're not handling the situation with the maturity you ought to be using.

          "Also, what in the world does my screen name have to do with anything? Name me the novel from which that name occurs: it is generally regarded as a modern masterpiece, so good job on that end. Perhaps you should read a good book and know a bit about post-modernist/post-structuralist literature before you make a truly stupid comment. Bravo."

          Stupidumb brought up your name because you brought up his. You may have thought insulting his name and him were wise, but again, the adults in us clearly know that it isn't. I know that you know better than that. Not only that, but you continue the meaningless Internet argument by insulting his intelligence, but simultaneously making yourself out to be better than he is because you have read books which attest to your intelligence. Again, we both know that this is an immature thing to do.

          I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just bringing up the obvious- what we both know to be true. Stupidumb said something you don't like (as some people are prone to doing on the Internet). Instead of disagreeing with him with maturity, you opened the door with insults. As a 21 year old, I know that you should know better. AS A TEACHER, I know that you should know better. Let's call a spade a spade here- you insulted him because you disagreed with him. I hope you never show your students that level of immaturity.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1
          If I read House of Leaves, will that make me as smart as you?

          Why did you read that book? You must have had a reason to read it. If it is generally considered a modern masterpiece, it is probably no coincidence that others have read it too. Maybe because a few people in the "intellectual leaders group" decided that was "the" book to read, so you read it. I doubt all you intellectuals just happened upon the book in a glamorous show of serendipity only to find that you make up the core of humanities geniuses...because you read a book...that maybe someone else did not?

          Honestly, I don't get it. Probably because my digg screen name is Stupidumb. I totally see how my screen name is the leading cause of why I don't read modern masterpieces. It has nothing to do with life being filled with so many wonders that the human life span cannot accommodate experiencing everything. Perhaps there is something great in the world that you have not done/read/seen/heard. Does that make you stupid? Does that make you dumb? No, of course not. Do you want me to believe that? Do you want your students to believe that.

          Please don't turn your leading students into elite, pseudo intellectual bastards. Try helping them all, not just the ones you identify with; not just the ones who read the same books as you.

          It angers and saddens me that you are "teaching" human beings.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1"On that end, yes, I'm 21, and yes, I guarantee you that I'm confident of myself and my abilities. I have a great job that pays well, I enjoy what I do, and I make a difference."

          Confidence does not result in talent or skill.

          "Can you say the same?"

          I could, but why do you want me to? Stop competing with me. Stop insulting people and thinking that it counts as a valid argument.

          You're completely lost and I doubt that you'll find you're way.
      • blechler, on 05/26/2008, -1/+9I don't think it's most. Most teachers want to genuinely help. Perhaps people become jaded after a while. The media jumps on extreme cases. The fact that we hear about all these extreme cases may lead one to believe that the system is rife with corruption, but it is not. The system consists of people who genuinely want to do the right thing. The few exceptions taint our perceptions.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -4/+1Well, of course the media reports all the stupid stuff that goes on. It's more entertaining. I was just going on personal experience and what other's have told me. Call me jaded all you want, most of my teachers were retarded.
        • xtinamo, on 05/26/2008, -1/+3@Stupiddumb:

          Takes one to know one.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -4/+1OH ***** *****!!! THAT'S AWESOME. YOU GOT ME SO WELL! AT LEAST YOU DIDN'T S...oh, wait, you're replying to someone else. Sorry.
        • luciferin, on 05/26/2008, -0/+2I'd agree with you. I had more than my fare share of teachers who did not appear interested in the subject at hand or in educating me. I have had a few fantastic teachers in my life too though, and I remember each one of them by name. But I can count the number of them on one hand.
        • Speed, on 05/26/2008, -1/+2stupiddumb, you ever stop and think maybe it's not the other six billion people on this planet that's the problem, and it's just you? Obviously I've had some bad teachers in my experience, everyone has, but the vast majority of my teachers and professors did a decent job and genuinely cared about their students.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -2/+1It's my problem that teacher's are *****?! *****! Why didn't anyone tell me I was the head of the school board for earth?


          Seriously though, did you miss the part where I said not all of them?

          And how is it my fault?

          It's not my problem because I caused it. It's my problem because I had to endure it. It's current and future generation's problem because they must endure the state of education.

          The people who need to fix it are the ones "at the top". I have no delusions of fixed it by complaining on digg. I'm just venting.

          Btw, I'm happy that you had a vast majority of great teachers.
      • walugi, on 05/26/2008, -2/+8You're a *****.
      • Netrilix, on 05/26/2008, -0/+2In my entire career of K-12, I only remember two teachers who did not give 110% every time they walked through the door. If I add that up real quick, that's a bit over 50 teachers, with only two who weren't completely up to the task. Saying most teachers are like this one is an insult to every teacher out there who does care, and there are a damn lot of them. People like you are one of the main reasons there is such a low retention rate for first-year teachers. On a side note, I grew up in one of the poorest school districts in my state, and all that did was encourage the teachers to work even harder. They didn't miss a beat when we were a desk or two short, or didn't have enough textbooks for the whole class.

        Edit: On second thought, there was really only one teacher who didn't give 110%. The other tried his best, but he lost respect from the students too early into the semester and never really recovered from that.
        • luciferin, on 05/26/2008, -1/+3I've had the opposite experience. In my entire career, including college, I've only had 5 teachers who gave "110%". Two of them were in college. The rest, well, the majority had silent classes where we worked out of the book, another dropped assignments left and right, etc. etc.
        • Mattarang, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1I think there may be a difference in opinion on what 110% actually is. Is 110% when a teacher sees that a student is failing, and then endeavors to tutor or find a tutor for the student? I've never seen that, though I don't doubt that teachers such as those exist. I wish I had those teachers, obviously, haha. The majority of the teachers I've had merely presented the information, and then proceeded to hand out assignments or issue tests. Would you consider this teacher 100% or 50%?

          It's here that I think opinions begin to branch. Personally, I've felt that one need not even graduate from teacher's college in order to present information. To me, a teacher that is working 100% is one that not only understands the differences in the way students learn, but is knowledgeable to teacher each way of learning to said student. 110% would be when the teacher realizes his or her pitfalls, and works beyond school hours to help the student learn. I've never seen a teacher teach at that 100% mark, let alone the 110% mark. But, again, that could just be me and my series of unfortunately educators.
      • astrofrank128, on 05/26/2008, -1/+2Stupidumb, I'm having trouble understanding your argument and how it relates in any practical way to the issue at hand. Are you suggesting that teachers who allow (and in this case, *encourage*) such despicable things not be fired? That argument would at least be relevant and could make at least some sense if you backed it up with something meaningful. But it seems like your argument not to fire a teacher is that the kids are likely to get a teacher who is just as bad. It doesn't matter if you're not asserting that all teachers are terrible, you're still making a huge generalization that is pessimistic and childish. I suspect you have no clue about the statistical ratio of "good teachers" to "***** retards," frankly. Go back to middle school where you belong.
        • Stupidumb, on 05/26/2008, -2/+1Forgive me, I wasn't clear. But you are right, I am pessimistic and that simply comes from my personal experience. Of course, I think this teacher should be fired, or at least suspended (I think we can agree why). I'm sorry you couldn't understand my sarcastic pessimism (or maybe you did and were just being coy).

          It's also absolutely true that I don't know about statistical ratio of 'good teachers' to '***** retards'". Usually I do exhaustive research and surveys before making a clearly experience-fueled comment on digg. I was just lazy.

          Regarding my choice of words regarding "***** retards", I kind of regret it. You see, usually when I dislike someone I try to highlight the finer points about them, rather than focus on the negative. Then, I open a thesaurus and use high class words to describe them. This way, people know I'm smart. But, today, I was lazy and I even forwent the usual formalities of digg. I gotta be honest, I'm not even wearing my tux, a clear violation of digg's dress code. It also proves how apt my user name is.

          But seriously, if you think I'm dumb enough that I need to return to middle school, doesn't that indicate that somehow, somewhere along the line, the school system failed me? Naw, that's impossible, it must've been all my fault, all teachers are infallible.
    • da_bradler, on 05/26/2008, -0/+7isn't voting what got them into this trouble in the first place! What they need is a firm handed monarch. OFF WiTH THEIR HEADS!
    • kc23266, on 05/26/2008, -0/+4School boards generally don't do crap about this sort of thing. It's just an ego trip for them.
    • pudly, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8not until she poses online in a bikini in her off time will she be fired ....

      what a sad, twisted little world we live in
      • fuzzybeard, on 05/27/2008, -1/+2Apparently you haven't seen the picture of the teacher in question.
      • connorf, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1I know a guy whos pretty good at photoshop.
    • MaskedSlacker, on 05/26/2008, -0/+7You must be new to America. Welcome. School boards here tend to reward this sort of behavoir, not punish it.
      • yuanzhoulu, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8yep. my experience exactly in a new jersey school. teachers kept getting ever more power, censorship, and discipline happy.

        by the time i graduated we had close to no freedom at all. highly restricted computers, censored and randomly monitored internet access, had to wear IDs around school, couldn't go to a bathroom without a pass, monitored by 56 security cameras, couldn't get off the bus until a bell, ...

        my old school in southeast asia let us go to lunch in the city (if parents approved) and just go to the bathroom whenever required, and bum around the school whenever, as long as we attended class, maintained decent grade standards and didn't do anything specifically bad they didn't restrict us. no "hall passes", no security cameras, no computerised ID-swipe auto-reporting-of-tardiness attendance policies, no internet censoring crap or power-happy IT folks (they even let me help set up the school's servers as a way of teaching me about something i wanted to learn about and eventually trusted me with most of the admin passwords), ...

        yep, welcome to America, the "free" country.
    • RumaruDrathas, on 05/26/2008, -0/+1I doubt the school board will ever do anything remotely constructive on the matter. I've spent my childhood in that area and if my previous experience would serve as any indication to any formal action, especially to a sensitive case such as this, don't get your hopes up. The most probable case is that whatever action the school administrator would take would always be for the worse.

      Coupled with the fact that there are a plethora of under-trained and under-appreciated teachers in the area (and the State), cases such as this would only become the norm. Take it from me, I myself is an "aspiring educator".

      God bless this phallic-shaped state!

    • connorf, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1We should vote with guns.
      • Professr, on 05/27/2008, -0/+2Only when all other voting methods make no difference.
  • SeaweedWater, on 05/26/2008, -14/+488"Alex, please bring your torch to the front of the class"
    • rrbest, on 05/26/2008, -6/+66Though completely inappropriate, i laughed.
    • philthetechie, on 05/26/2008, -6/+173"Alex, please pack your crayons."
    • pckbeta, on 05/26/2008, -3/+32Probably the hardest I've laughed at a Digg comment in a long time. I'm going to Hell.
      • fuzzybeard, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1Same for me.

        /aisle seat please, and did you have my kosher meal onboard?
    • PaulRay, on 05/26/2008, -1/+24Damn You! I laughed, that was so wrong, but I laughed.
    • Quenlin, on 05/26/2008, -2/+13I have aspergers myself and I laughed. I don't have little obsessions like that though.
    • ZeirosLion, on 05/26/2008, -1/+9Well damn, I laughed too. Further evidence that I'm going to hell.
      • JesusHimself, on 05/26/2008, -0/+0I think we all laughed, don't worry.
    • DemDude, on 05/26/2008, -0/+11I don't get it. Care to explain? Possibly language related (I'm a foreigner)
      • mwomorris, on 05/26/2008, -0/+14Survivor (TV reality show)
      • plaing, on 05/26/2008, -0/+9i assume 'demdude' doesn't mean 'democrat dude?'
        • JustinHopewell, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8No, he's just one of... them dudes.
        • DemDude, on 05/26/2008, -0/+6Actually, "Dem" is a german article which is used in Dative cases.
          I had used the Nickname "Dude" for a couple of years, but when I tried to register for new services "Dude" was usually already taken. So I tried "TheDude", which was gone also. "DerDude" (The Dude in german) already existed, so I went with "DemDude", which doesn't make any sense gramatically and therefore is usually unused =)

          @mwomorris: Thanks a lot! I know that show, didn't ever watch it though, so I didn't get that quote.
        • iiBeLiEvE, on 05/26/2008, -0/+3Holy crap German must be confusing. There isn't even a "dative case" in English.
        • DemDude, on 05/27/2008, -0/+2Absolutely, german grammar is terrifying!

          But actually, if you ask i.e. "whom" that umbrella belongs to, that "whom" is dative case. Look up "Dative case" in wikipedia for more information
      • LinkGCN4, on 05/26/2008, -2/+0Democratic Republic of the Congo dude? Demon dude? Demonstrative pronoun dude?

        How you liking these "dem" jokes?
        • eatbeast, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8i think you mean:
          how you like dem jokes
        • LinkGCN4, on 05/26/2008, -0/+2Well played, sir. You're a gentleman and a scholar.
    • FFandMMfan, on 05/26/2008, -2/+1I hear the weather in Hell isn't so bad this time of year.
      I feel so bad that I laughed at that, I better start packing my bags.
    • jeremyosborne81, on 05/27/2008, -0/+2The tribe has spoken.
    • Krystof82, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1*hums the Survivor theme in a teletubby voice*
    • brycehun, on 05/27/2008, -0/+0bahahahahaha
    • connorf, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1already got my ski boots on.
      Hell is hot? WTF?
  • Alael, on 05/26/2008, -21/+147Part of the problem is that schoolteachers and kindergarten teachers are alway neurotypical (ie, the opposite to autistic) people. They see autistic traits as 'faults' in a child that they have a mandate to correct.
    Another part may be the tendency for a teacher to side with the class against any unpopular classmate; in turn, this may be due to the teacher's own insecurity and need for approval.
    • jumbalia, on 05/26/2008, -3/+43How exactly does not being autistic "alway"(s) equate with seeing autism as a fault that must be corrected? I'm neurotypical and I'm not so dense as to think autism is something that needs to be - or even can be - corrected.
    • nathanww, on 05/26/2008, -5/+13It's more of a statistical tendency--somewhat like how heterosexual people are more likely to discriminate against homosexual people than other homosexual people.
      • Professr, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1Other homosexual people are USED to the thought of some guy doing them in the ass.
    • excession, on 05/26/2008, -5/+23I'm a schoolteacher, and I'm not neurotypical. Thanks for your discrimination.

      It is definitely a challenging job for someone with ASD. But you learn to understand the pupils just as you learn to understand anyone else.

      I will agree with you though that some of my (especially older) colleagues do not deal with autistic or ASD children in a particularly constructive way. But then, at their age, I was disruptive in the classroom.
    • Nudar, on 05/26/2008, -13/+4Autism does not need to be corrected? Are you kidding? It's a severe mental disorder that is a total burden to their families. Parents will still love their child but nobody is suing the vaccine manufacturers for not making their kid autistic.
      • tehbored, on 05/27/2008, -0/+3It's Aspergers, a specific type of autism that does not, in fact, need to be corrected.
      • connorf, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1aspergers dumbass it's the "good" autism
    • thePuck77, on 05/26/2008, -11/+2You ***** hippies who try to pretend that obvious faults are somehow just "being different" are going to render us extinct. ANYTHING that is not functional is a "fault". Deal with it. To whatever degree they are functional is the degree to which they are not unfit, and vice-versa.

      And yes, I would have stoked the ovens. Deal with that, too.
      • Sreta, on 05/26/2008, -1/+1Have a look at the population count, and then tell me you're really worried about us becoming extinct. What makes you say they aren't functional, the fact that they have trouble understanding our artificial world?
        • Nudar, on 05/26/2008, -2/+2Artificial world? Methinks you've been watching too much of the Matrix and have never spent a minute with an actual autistic child.
        • Puirtabeul, on 05/27/2008, -1/+2Actually, Nudar, that's a very autistic way of interpreting Sreta's comments... a literal understanding of words, etc. Nearly every aspect of modern urbanized human life is artificial--i.e. man made, arbitrary--which can be confusing for developing autistics (again, the particular flavor being discussed is Asperger's, which is high functioning). Unfortunately, a lot of educators and schools tend to teach specific methods for doing schoolwork, not helped by the increasing pressure to "teach to the test" in the US, and will dismiss any other method (regardless of its accuracy and efficacy) as incorrect. So what appears to be "not functional" is often a case of doing or thinking about something in a way that the other students and teachers aren't able to follow.
    • lemur, on 05/26/2008, -8/+9Yes, actually autistic traits are "faults." Autism is a psychological disorder (note "disorder" as opposed to "order").

      Also, there is no such word as "neurotypical." The correct term is "normal." Neurotypical is just a loaded term that shows bias on behalf of the autistic against society at large (culturally, referring to someone as "typical" is often only used as an insult).
      • MiamiRox, on 05/26/2008, -5/+2Sir, I'd like you to cite your sources for this claim.
        • DevilInPgh, on 05/28/2008, -0/+2Don't even test him. He'll probably cite some Bettelheim BS that's been debunked 10 million times over already.
      • connorf, on 05/27/2008, -2/+1ur a ***** idiot.
    • Zempz, on 05/26/2008, -8/+1i would just like to point out that school teachers statistically have the lowest SAT scores among professional careers. (that stat was given to me by an ap psych teacher)
      • Eganj, on 05/27/2008, -1/+3Although I scored very high on the SAT's I’m the first to admit that they mean exactly jack *****. IMHO they are worst way to find out how "intelligent" someone is.
    • Cecil077, on 05/26/2008, -2/+4The article states that the child was in the "process of being diagnosed with autism". So chances are the teacher had no clue about the kids' condition. She should be punished for humiliating a kid that is perceived as disruptive by the majority of the class but quite frankly this looks just like another case of you get the service you pay for.
    • pbhj, on 05/27/2008, -2/+1In the article http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/24/30gtteacher ... ... yes I know, I know, who reads those [rolls eyes] ... couple of curiosities:

      1) Barton (the mother) was informed of the event by Portillo (the teacher) so all we know about it is the parents filtering or exaggeration of what the teacher told them happened.

      2) the other kids describe "Alex" as annoying and disgusting ... what did he do?

      I can see if the kid did a piss in the middle of the classroom and the teacher thought it would help to know how that made his classmates feel ... the teacher was possibly wrong, but it doesn't sound like it was a vindictive action.

  • upick, on 05/26/2008, -49/+10Life's unfair, but for a kid, common he don't deserver this now.
  • PolarBearCa, on 05/26/2008, -14/+653Digg needs a "Florida" tag.
    • sylvok, on 05/26/2008, -4/+78We do this is getting pathetic. How long till we can revoke statehood
      • Hangly, on 05/26/2008, -0/+11Think Spain will take it back?
        • jaydoj, on 05/27/2008, -0/+12I just got a voicemail from Spain, they just laughed.
    • Spoomeister, on 05/26/2008, -1/+46Pretty sad that I *knew* this was Florida before even opening the article.
    • MOJIRA, on 05/26/2008, -4/+49Hey, I live in Florida and even I want to filter this crap out.
    • Woaz, on 05/26/2008, -17/+9What about a Texas tag?
      • trunkster, on 05/26/2008, -0/+10The Ron Paul people must be voting you down.
    • sClubDevin, on 05/26/2008, -6/+16Maybe we can sell Florida back to Spain or something. It'd be an easy way to get rid of our national debt, and about 10million rednecks. We could kill two really big birds with one stone.
      • Quicksilver4648, on 05/26/2008, -1/+18Fine then, kick us out. But we will be taking Miami and the keys with us. Where are your spring breakers and retirees going to go now? Muah, ha, ha, ha.
        • Heiminator, on 05/26/2008, -0/+10take miami and the keys,we just go to cancun :-)
        • Speed, on 05/26/2008, -0/+7Spring breakers: I think California will do.
          Retirees: use the Canada method: put 'em on an ice berg and let them float away.
        • LMaxey, on 05/26/2008, -0/+2I still prefer my warm gulf waters, but I must admit I lol'd at your iceberg method. They would be moving much faster on a glacier than in their cars on the interstate.
        • senatorpjt, on 05/26/2008, -1/+2Damn, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to get rid of Miami.
      • eternal464, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8don't forget the huge portion of elderly sucking my social security.




        j/k
      • bravo1995, on 05/26/2008, -1/+4Florida, please pack your Keys and go.
      • str1fe, on 05/26/2008, -1/+1Rednecks are more the Tennessee/Kentucky/Georgia/Alabama/west until Texas region.

        I'd know, I like in Georgia. We have a lot of them here.
      • lolgamoff, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1NO, NOT DISNEYWORLD!
    • justinmorley, on 05/26/2008, -4/+5Florida, our most f*ked up state.
      • jfowler27, on 05/26/2008, -0/+1There's plenty of ***** up to go around in this country.
      • bravo1995, on 05/26/2008, -0/+0There's a reason why its unofficial nickname is "The Second Chance State."

        If you needed to declare bankruptcy, change your identity, and flee the authorities, where do you think you'd end up?

        Nine times out of 10, it's the Sunshine State! So glad I live here!
      • chiefbandit2200, on 05/26/2008, -0/+3Isn't Florida the state where a teacher got fired for doing a magic trick and being accused of "sorcery"?
        • DevilInPgh, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1Apparently, there was more to that story than we were led to believe. From what I heard, the teacher spun it like a tornado, while leaving out other stuff, like using vulgarity in class.
    • josefresco, on 05/26/2008, -0/+16Fark!
      • yuanzhoulu, on 05/26/2008, -6/+1it's spelled "*****"
        • djcreamy, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8it's spelled "Fark", as in Fark.com which has it's own Florida tag right alongside "Dumbass".
    • trunkster, on 05/26/2008, -6/+1Ever since 2000, I've been saying that Florida should lose it's state-hold status. Now they are trying to ***** the democratic party once again. Flordia, you need to kick all your stupid people out, and that doesn't mean autistic...
      • Seemefearme, on 05/26/2008, -0/+5Where would we send them? Texas?
        • Tyrghast, on 05/26/2008, -0/+3don't send them here, we already have no say in what goes on in our state gov, much less federal gov.
    • Soulbow2, on 05/26/2008, -0/+27I live in Florida. So the rest of America really isn't this stupid?
      • jgzman, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8Not quite, although we have our moments.
      • Hangly, on 05/26/2008, -0/+5There's Kansas, but they're more crazy than stupid.
      • Professr, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1Well, there's Washington D.C... but if you don't count that, we're good!
    • elliotys, on 05/26/2008, -4/+13I think a "the south" tag would be more inclusive.
    • h4mx0r, on 05/26/2008, -2/+9go fark yourself.
    • binorgog, on 08/07/2008, -4/+5I wish i could digg your comment up 1000 times
    • sparsely, on 05/26/2008, -0/+8Yeah, Florida's just getting out of hand. If they keep it up, we should just dig a big ass moat, and make an island out of that funny little boot, That's right, Florida! You're voted off the continent! Go hang out with Cuba or something!
      • poiuytrewq44, on 05/26/2008, -0/+2That'll also come in handy when the sea levels rise... like a Superfence or something...
      • blorc, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1Sorry, Cuba's already hanging out here with us.
    • CrossCanyon, on 05/26/2008, -0/+10If only I had a Superdigg button for this comment . . .
    • rentmitchum, on 05/26/2008, -0/+6I laughed hard at this, but seriously, my girlfriend lived in florida in her earliest school days and moved eventually here to PA where I met her. Her self-esteem has been permanently damaged by florida's teachers, as one of them told her she had "rocks for brains", and she's a smart girl too. It saddens me whenever I think that kids are getting treated that way.
    • 4ntigravity, on 05/26/2008, -3/+3Fred Durst is from Florida, and look at what he contributed to society.
      /Limp Bizkit bashing of the day.
    • uberdilly, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1Florida is so bad because we have to deal with the rest of the country's garbage stopping in for a week.
    • DevilInPgh, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1As a Floridian, I would have to concur.
  • dotlizard, on 05/26/2008, -11/+167this is heartbreaking and sickening. the teacher should be fired and banned from ever working with children again -- as terms of the settlement of the HUGE lawsuit the parents are hopefully filing as we speak.
    • marx2k, on 05/26/2008, -11/+7Yay.. more lawsuits at the taxpayers expense. We certainly need more of those.
      • tehbored, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1As long as they sure the teacher and not the school, it's OK.
        • marx2k, on 05/27/2008, -0/+1I'm not sure how much anyone plans on getting in a lawsuit against someone who makes a teacher's salary. In their position, they'd be better off suing the school.
    • b3owulf, on 05/26/2008, -12/+10We hurt your kids feelings, here's a million dollars.

      What the teacher did was certainly wrong, but why does this entitle the family to money???
      • shadovvman, on 05/27/2008, -1/+1Comment's getting buried, but he's still right. Millions of dollars for a humiliation? Seriously.
      • marx2k, on 05/27/2008, -2/+0It doesn't. People are just conditioned to thinking they're entitled to money for everything.
    • Alegoo92, on 05/26/2008, -1/+9It really is heartbreaking. The feeling people get in their throat before they start to cry- I felt that in the middle of reading this. It's heartbreaking but also extremely aggravating..

      ..And to b3owulf, it's more than hurting the kids feelings. It was a disgusting act that no decent human being would take part in- a witch hunt in an elementary classroom. I would definitely sue her (try to leave the school district out of it), not so much so that I have money- but so she feels an impact in some way for her terrible actions