May 28, 2008 9:15 PM
From Melissa Barton - Alex's mom
I am still out of town - coming home tomorrow. This morning I went down to the lobby for coffee and as I walked in, saw Melissa Barton on CNN - what incredible timing.
Melissa is reading comments here and sent this note:
Our local high school voted a girl with Down syndrome homecoming queen four years ago. [I wrote about this in New Test for Down syndrome] I have been reading hundreds of emails, letters and enough phone calls to make anyone crazy. Tmobil will be happy ;)However, when I read this I cried. Voted for homecoming queen. People like you and I “normal” people will have many very special times in our lives but, for someone like this girl or Alex, special times do not come easy. What a great thing to do for someone kudos to your high school.
Alex spoke to his only friend yesterday on the phone - it was awesome to hear two 5 year olds talk about Sponge Bob, Spiderman and other subject that only 5 year olds should be worrying about. Alex and his pal never even discussed what happened…it is understood by emotion that this person was the cause of pain between the friends and nothing Alex’s buddy did that day was in his fault. His mother is an awesome mom too, she said that she is 100% behind me as well as another so far that’s 2 for 2 that I have spoken with. There will be more.
Thank you ALL for your kind words I read them all I can.Melissa Barton
Posted in Alex Barton | Permalink
Comments
Thanks for this blog.
Just about to sortie out and give truth to power on this whole atrocity.
Mrs. Barton, we can hear you and the people who attacked your son/our hero are going to hear from us soon and keep hearing for a very, very long time!
We'd like to support you too if we could.
Posted by: Josef | May 29, 2008 1:57 AM
Melissa,
Keep the faith :0)
I hurt for you and Alex, AND for many of the other kids in that class. Probably many of them were overwhelmed by the horrible example of the teacher, and just 'went along' with it. I hope more of those parents will step up and join you in confronting the school district and teacher.
May all our children know that they are made in the image of God, and that He loves them unconditionally.
Posted by: Julie | May 29, 2008 2:22 AM
As a College student who has dealt with special needs individuals, and a person who believes that we each should have equal rights to knowledge no matter how low or high functioning we are, I think it is unbelievable that we still, in today world, have teachers that can be so lazy.
I feel the decision by Alex's teacher was an easy cop-out for her to not have to deal with someone who requires special needs. As an educator, being in an influential position as she was, there is a certain amount of responsibility and care that she assumed when accepting the role of kindergarten teacher. To put someone in front of their peers and have them publicly criticize them for their faults, no matter what age, is atrocious behavior.
I am not a law student but, I am pretty sure there is a civil case at hand here. The teacher intentionally acted outside the course and scope of her role as teacher and purposely made a public spectacle of a child who does not have the ability to; 1, stand up for himself in a situation such as this or 2, know what to do when verbally assaulted by someone he looks up to. You would never go to work, pick out an individual and ask the rest of his/her colleagues to verbally bash or criticize them. To expect that kind of situation to be tolerable when dealing with children, damn near toddlers, is unbelievable.
I wish you and your family the best with this disconcerting situation. My condolences for you, and my best wishes to your family.
Posted by: Cody Buchholz | May 29, 2008 4:06 AM
Melissa,
My heart goes out to you and your family. My seven year old daughter has aspergers. After being dissatisfied with the school's special ed programs, I began homeschooling her. This is not the right choice for all kids, but has been wonderful for her. I pray that you will also find a solution that works for you and your child.
Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia | May 29, 2008 9:28 AM
After seeing your story on the net, I think you should absolutely sue the teacher and the school for the horrible way they treated your son. And this teacher should never be allowed in a classroom again. She is a very sick person.
Posted by: Jerry Frank | May 29, 2008 9:35 AM
Melissa,
Do not be deterred. Keep on being the great mom you are and fighting for your son. This teacher should be fired immediately. Keep loving your son, he will come through this. There are lots of us that support you and can only imagine your pain and Alex's pain. Your son is handsome and will overcome this cruel teacher's actions!
Posted by: John | May 29, 2008 9:49 AM
I too have a child with "Special Needs". I personally do not care for that term. He is just a kid. I love him NO MATTER WHAT as I am sure you do Alex. I want you to know that you and your family are in my prayers! This is just the type of thing that having no traditional discipline in school leads to. It is a sad thing when our children are treated this way and it is one reason I home-school my son. I don't want to ever give anyone the opportunity to treat my son that way. I know that this will take a lot of time to move past and I wish you all the best!
GOOD LUCK to you!
Posted by: Rachel Moss | May 29, 2008 11:01 AM
Melissa:
I broke down and sobbed when I read this, you see, my son used to tell me "Nobody likes me but you, Mommy", so I felt your pain...and my brother has Asperger's, so I felt Alex's as well.
I have a six year old who is a bit "different", he is called "high-needs", which means he is very very intense in his emotions and becomes hugely overwhelmed by what seem to most people to be normal, everyday occurrences. He is also a sweet, loving, and very bright boy with a ton of joy in his heart. If you would like to set up a pen-pal or phone correspondence between our boys, I bet they could become long-distance friends. (Of course we should email and talk first!) I am at: fairyredfir@aol.com My name is Star, and my wee son is Seamus.
Posted by: SHansen | May 29, 2008 11:32 AM
Melissa,
Thanks for going nationwide with this. Someone wrote on another blog that Alex was a disruption to the class and a bully. Raising a special needs child myself (autistic), it is hard and they don't act normal (as normal is defined). My son is blessed to be in a special needs class with other more severely handicapped children. He has been in the same class for 4 years. He is mainstreamed into 2 "normal" classes and is probably the most well behaved child in the class from what I am told.
A teacher like this one your son has/had shouldn't be allowed to teach again. I know teachers are people and get frustrated, but the way she handled it was totally wrong. If there was an ongoing problem, they should call you and let you handle it...I know my son's school does if there are problems.
Blessings to you and Alex!
Posted by: Keith | May 29, 2008 12:50 PM
Hi Melissa,
I just watched the video of your interview with CBS. You were very courageous to speak up about this issue and not just let it go by. Good for you! I fear this type of thing goes on too often, but often no one hears about it. That teacher should definitely not be teaching ever again!
I pray you can find a better schooling situation for your son. He definitely deserves better! As a homeschool mom myself, I'd like to recommend homeschooling to you. It has proven to be a good option for many children, including those with disabilities.
Blessings to you and your family!
-Catherine
Posted by: Catherine Mikkola | May 29, 2008 4:15 PM
Melissa, as a mother, special educator and above all, human being, I felt physically ill when I read Barbara's first post on your experience. No matter how 'stressed out' this teacher may have been, subjecting a child to this sort of degradation and forcing his classmates to participate is inexcusable. This woman's conduct was appalling, unconscionable and indefensible. She is a disgrace to the field of education and should never set foot inside a classroom again.I also don't know whether I am more disturbed by her behavior or the fact that no one in a position of authority seems to be taking any kind of action.
Keep fighting the good fight and God Bless your son and your family.
Posted by: KatieButler | May 29, 2008 8:02 PM
For Melissa:
I just watched your interview on CBS youtube I think it was and felt like I was reliving the last 5 years of my son's problems in school.
I have seen this happen with my own son. We finally called Child Protective services and showed up to the school with attorneys. We were about to file formal charges, take them to court, and make reports to the Texas Education Agency and the Civil Rights Office in Dallas, Texas when we finally got the satisfaction of a fair education and appropriate classroom environment for our special needs child. Keep up the fight for your son's rights. You should be filing charges of harassment, and abuse against them. THis was in-excusable
Posted by: Chris Moore | May 30, 2008 2:27 PM
Melissa,
Keep strong, my friend. I am a 20 year old with something that has gone undiagnosed in the autism spectrum as well. I am outraged about what happened to your son, Alex. Your son is a gift from God and shouldn't believe anything else. What that teacher did is horridous and terrible. God bless mothers like you, you are a wonderful gift from God.
God Bless you,
Alex
Posted by: Alex | May 31, 2008 10:59 PM
Melissa,
I'm a mother with a nine year old son with autism, and an aunt of two nieces, and two nephews with autism. I'm sorry that your family had to go through this. This teacher should be fired, I can't understand how a teacher could do such a thing. Stay strong and keep fighting for your son.
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | June 3, 2008 1:29 PM
Go get them, Mrs. Barton! My son is an autie. How often these children get mistreated because they don't "look disabled"!
Our son is low functioning on the spectrum, and, even with a diagnosis, we fight to get proper placement and speech therapy at his school. Autism is so widespread that no one has the excuse of ignorance now.
Good luck you and your family, and our best wishes to little Alex. The damage done to children by adults who don't get autism is just overwhelming. If she doesn't lose her job, I don't think our educational system can ever be fixed.
Posted by: Janice | June 4, 2008 8:09 AM
