Student voted out of classroom!!!

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

As the father of an Aspie kid, I can't even begin to describe how utterly mindblowing and saddening this is. Fortunately, I can say that the teachers in our public school experience have been the polar opposite of this ignoramus.

I found this line in the second story linked particularly interesting:

"She said she then asked him to listen to what the children didn't like about the things he did, and she asked him how it made him feel."

Clearly she is not only clueless about disciplining kindergarterners in general, but she is clueless about Aspergers and how kids with Aspergers think and process information. I understand as well as anyone the challenges that these kids can present (though, again fortunately, our son never had these same kinds of discipline problems and frequent trips to the principal's office), but she's supposed to be the adult in the situation.

Just beyond sad.

Are we certain that the teacher ever had any indication that the child had the "autism-spectrum disorder" he was (later) diagnosed with?

If she did not, and if the problems were repeated (and without any accompanying diagnoses to help explain the behavioral issues), I can see where the teacher would resign to a more direct, hands-on approach (although I do agree, the apparent utility of her approach seems hilariously low).

I feel bad for the teacher to an extent, because it appears she will be tried in the Court of Public Opinion under the guise of a post-hoc analysis (and diagnosis) that she may not have understood or even had any awareness of.

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Are we certain that the teacher ever had any indication that the child had the "autism-spectrum disorder" he was (later) diagnosed with?

If she did not, and if the problems were repeated (and without any accompanying diagnoses to help explain the behavioral issues), I can see where the teacher would resign to a more direct, hands-on approach (although I do agree, the apparent utility of her approach seems hilariously low).

I feel bad for the teacher to an extent, because it appears she will be tried in the Court of Public Opinion under the guise of a post-hoc analysis (and diagnosis) that she may not have understood or even had any awareness of.

I understand this, but does it really matter? The kid was what, 5?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I understand this, but does it really matter? The kid was what, 5?

I think it matters as to the teacher's intent, in my mind.

I cannot envision a rational, intelligent, well-adjusted teacher ever subjecting a child with any sort of high-functioning autism to this sort of "rule-by-peer" or whatever. I can't really understand this at all.

I can see a well-intentioned but misguided teacher attempting to include the class, to try to "soften" the blow and create a relationship between actions and effects in the child's mind through his peers and (presumably) friends if the child were considered an otherwise normal five year old who acted out. In fact, I think it's actually a relatively accepted practice (the "I statement" method) - and while it looks like she implemented it poorly, I can at least understand where she's coming from.

One is more of a basic or (possibly) well-intended error, while the other is a borderline abomination.

Then again, since what she did was pretty much incorrect either way, you could certainly argue it doesn't matter in the slightest, and I wouldn't argue.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Are we certain that the teacher ever had any indication that the child had the "autism-spectrum disorder" he was (later) diagnosed with?

I haven't seen anything that says one way or the other. However, if I recall, one of the articles linked said that it was the principal who suggested that the kid be evaluated for Aspergers. I would find it strange that the principal would make such a suggestion without talking about it with the teacher.

Of course, strange happens.

But despite my posts and "closeness" to this as the father of a kid with Aspergers, I think my reaction would have been the same if the kid didn't have it. I can't imagine doing this with any kindergarten class, for any reason. The Aspergers aspect just provides an additional facet for me.