There is a news story that left me with my jaw on the floor this morning. This story out of Florida offends me on so many different levels.

A five year old boy was “voted” out of his classroom by his classmates in the style of Survivor members voting each other off the island. This was the teacher’s idea. She said it was her way of correcting the child.

This young boy had to listen to each of his classmates say what they did not like about him, and a 14 – 2 “vote” ejected him from the classroom.

In case this situation is not appalling enough, the child is a special needs child. He has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism. This teacher was disciplining the child for behaviors that are part of his disorder, as if he has control of these things.

I saw the mother of this little boy being interviewed on the news this morning and I was in shock. She is so well composed and was able to conduct this interview and convey her thoughts and concerns in a rational manner. I’m not sure I could have done that. I give her the utmost credit for being a great advocate for her son.

How could a teacher do this to a child, much less a special needs child? The teacher is on “administrative duty” right now, which means she’s working in an office somewhere and fortunately, is not dealing with children.

Apparently authorities do not feel that she is guilty of emotional abuse. I strongly disagree. What else would you call it? This is not constructive criticism. This child heard that he was “disgusting” and “annoying” from his classmates and from his teacher. I can only imagine what he feels about himself now.

Here is the definition of emotional abuse from the Alabama Department of Human Resources:

Emotional Abuse is the willful or reckless infliction of emotional or mental anguish or the use of a physical or chemical restraint, medication or isolation as punishment or as a substitute for treatment or care of any protected person.

Isn’t that what this teacher did? Rather than deal with this child’s behaviors and disability in an appropriate manner, she subjected him to criticism. How was what she did helpful to the treatment of this child?

How many of us have a child who could be “voted” out of a classroom? I know the kids Sammy has attended school with would certainly vote him out. Some days I bet Hannah’s class would vote her out as well.

This leads me to the other part of this story that concerns me. What about the other students in the classroom? What did they take away from this? Children with already low self-esteem may be worried about being the next child kicked out of the class. Other children may feel that they have an incredible amount of power and that they can have a child kicked out if they don’t like him or her.

The little boy’s mother also spoke about physical abuse in her interview this morning. Apparently her son said that the teacher had hurt him and another child has corroborated her son’s story. That adds a completely different dimension to this story.

I hope and pray that if all these allegations are true, that the teacher loses her license and is charged for all of this. I wouldn’t ever want her near my kids.

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