This was an assault on an entire classroom of children, with Alex Barton as the focus.

Absolutely right.

Several years ago, I found another school for my kids after they told me that the principal had been holding assemblies where she would gleefully announce the names of all the students who had been suspended. Although my kids were not her targets, no child should be in such a toxic environment.

Christschool has done a masterful job of compiling draft letters of complaint to the authorities and the media over at Thinking in Metaphors. Anyone who wants to use them please let Christschool know and also forward copies to ASAN who are trying to coordinate responses.

Yep, exactly! I found this on Cafe Mom and I had a fit!!

I noticed Joey is white and the teacher is black. What if the races had been switched? I know Jesse Jackson would be marching the streets by now and calling this discrimmination!

I'm an adult with AS. My son has AS. When will this kind of discrimination end? Why is it always Kindergarten teachers who are the only ones caught guilty of crap like this? And why isn't the school making reparations to the Barton family for the emotional abuse inflicted, not just on Alex, but the whole family, his best friend, and the other children?

Alex,
Honey sometimes there are big people out there who are mean, just like some kids. I am afraid your teacher is a bad lady. No one should have done this to you. Alex, you be proud of yourself. You are a special little boy. There are alot of us out here who love you & understand. You almost have to feel sad for your teacher Alex. She doesn't understand how special you are. Sometimes big people are mean. Your teacher was mean. When they are they usually aren't happy with themselves. She may never like herself. Alex, so many people out here love you. You be proud of who you are. The other kids were intimidated (explain that to him Mama), into voting against you. They really do like you honey. They were just afraid of your mean teacher. Alex, God Bless You. You are a special, precious young man.

You'd be thinking of suing if this was your child? Well, of course you would. People like you who overreact to every little thing that happens to your child. And when this happens to a "special needs" child, suddenly the reaction turns into rage.

Sure it's the teacher's fault IF the story is competelely true. It's also partially the (and here's where you'll probably hit the roof) mother's fault for coddling the child to an extreme. Children, "special", 5, or whatever, can discern what other kids feel and think about them, and I can be sure that from what others have said to him, he doesn't want to be a "special child" anymore. He wants to be like the other kids, running around, playing, getting into mischief, not being hounded over for every little thing by society.

But his mother, and all of you, won't let the child be his own person. Alex is not special, he's a boy like some of your kids I'm sure. If you knew Alex and were asked to describe him to someone, would you say he's, "special"? If so, you are one terrible person. And my point is that if Alex was treated like a child (with proper precautions for his conditions, but not excessive precautions), his classmates surely wouldn't have seen anything different with Alex and would therefore have no conflict with the child. They would have stood firmly against what the teacher was doing to the child.

If, of course, the teacher did what the story says she did.

Why does it matter that this was a special needs child? What gives any adult the right to publicly focus humiliation on a five-year-old?

Oh, and we're just going on what the teacher admits she did. Sorry if that isn't good enough evidence for you. Usually holds up in court.

The entire situation is outrageous. SWPaul, I have to wonder what your little issue with the world is when you think it is okay to crucify a child in a room full of peers? Maybe you should put down that heavy chip you have obviously been carrying around for so long?
And you think his mother should rear him as any other child is reared in the world? You have obviously never dealt CORRECTLY with any human being with a disability of any kind.
The teacher admitted what she did. My suggestion would be she find a new career path, one that doesn't involve interacting with humans on any level.
Alex is very much his own person. If he weren't, he wouldn't have had the courage to share with his mom the horrific event he was forced to endure. That shows strength and self confidence. I am sure somewhere in the back of his mind he was fearful that if all those other people cared for and trusted thought he was so rotten, maybe his mommy might too? Thank GOD his mom is his mom and that SWPaul is not his dad.
To Alex and his mommy, you can overcome this and emerge with self confidence again. To all the other children in the classroom, be thankful you were not standing there in front of that class that day. I am sure classmates could have found something cruel to say about any child that day. I hope your parents are teaching you what was wrong about what happened.
To the teacher, ah, I am sure you have heard it all and are already hanging your head in shame.
To SWPaul, man am I glad you aren't in a parent in my kids class!