What it means to be different?
Article Review: Teacher testifies in case hearing
in http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/feb/03/teacher-alex-barton-case-testifies-hearing/
I have blogged extensively about the issue of 'Ms Wendy Portillo vs Alex Barton' in my other blog (Night Owl 1967). And even though the issue was a grey area, where both parties were in the wrong at the time, what the teacher (Ms Portillo) did was handle the situation incorrectly, by getting other children to vote either for or against Alex Barton from her class (Alex was a boy diagnosed with Autism or Asperger's syndrome).
The reason being is that the boy was 'singled out' and was publically humiliated in front of the other children. All I knew about what he allededly did wrong was lift the desk with his feet and throw crayons about the place, and that he said to his mother that he felt 'bad' and 'hurt' by what the others said about him. There was never anything about what the other kids said specifically, nor was there any thing as to what happened to Alex to make him behave that way. In other words, what was his side of the story? Was his side of the story heard out? And what was the response to that by the teacher and the principal if he did get to tell his side of the story?
The unfortunate reality is that many people with ASD have difficulty vocalizing and 'using their words' without having a 'meltdown' (a tantrum or hissy fit). This is even more so when they have to justify their behaviour in front of others, like in front of a class full of people who don't understand.
Comare this to another story of someone, who in the past was dianosed with autism, and also had a meltdown in the class room. This individual was quietly and gently removed from the class room, allowed to calm down and explain their side to the story, and allowed back in class.
http://news.psydir.com/Psychology-Articles/compassion-in-the-classroom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PsydirNews+%28Psydir+News+%7C+Published+News%29. Then tell me the difference one can make showing some compassion.
Relevance to this blog is how one teacher encourages a 'herd mentality' by the majority of students, while another encourages showing compassion for others, whether they are different or not. Had the same types of compassion been shown to the likes of the Columbine shooters, Martin Bryant and many others like them, they would be free today.
While I don't know for certain how much 'attitudes cause handicaps', I do know they most certainly contribute to them.
cheers,
Night Owl.
in http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/feb/03/teacher-alex-barton-case-testifies-hearing/
I have blogged extensively about the issue of 'Ms Wendy Portillo vs Alex Barton' in my other blog (Night Owl 1967). And even though the issue was a grey area, where both parties were in the wrong at the time, what the teacher (Ms Portillo) did was handle the situation incorrectly, by getting other children to vote either for or against Alex Barton from her class (Alex was a boy diagnosed with Autism or Asperger's syndrome).
The reason being is that the boy was 'singled out' and was publically humiliated in front of the other children. All I knew about what he allededly did wrong was lift the desk with his feet and throw crayons about the place, and that he said to his mother that he felt 'bad' and 'hurt' by what the others said about him. There was never anything about what the other kids said specifically, nor was there any thing as to what happened to Alex to make him behave that way. In other words, what was his side of the story? Was his side of the story heard out? And what was the response to that by the teacher and the principal if he did get to tell his side of the story?
The unfortunate reality is that many people with ASD have difficulty vocalizing and 'using their words' without having a 'meltdown' (a tantrum or hissy fit). This is even more so when they have to justify their behaviour in front of others, like in front of a class full of people who don't understand.
Comare this to another story of someone, who in the past was dianosed with autism, and also had a meltdown in the class room. This individual was quietly and gently removed from the class room, allowed to calm down and explain their side to the story, and allowed back in class.
http://news.psydir.com/Psychology-Articles/compassion-in-the-classroom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PsydirNews+%28Psydir+News+%7C+Published+News%29. Then tell me the difference one can make showing some compassion.
Relevance to this blog is how one teacher encourages a 'herd mentality' by the majority of students, while another encourages showing compassion for others, whether they are different or not. Had the same types of compassion been shown to the likes of the Columbine shooters, Martin Bryant and many others like them, they would be free today.
While I don't know for certain how much 'attitudes cause handicaps', I do know they most certainly contribute to them.
cheers,
Night Owl.
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