Comments on: Teacher Forces ‘the Only Friend the Five-Year-Old Boy Has Ever Made’ to Denounce Him Publicly http://www.bloggernews.net/115912 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:28:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Lisa http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-357994 Lisa Thu, 29 May 2008 01:13:08 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-357994 The FLA DA's ruling that teacher, Wendy Portillo's behavior was not emotionally abusive to Alex Barton needs to be appealed. The teacher's behavior meets the definition of a hate crime. The teacher targeted Alex because of behavior related to his disability and then verbally abused, harassed and bullied a defenseless five year old child. I am confident that a jury of her peers would rule on Alex's behalf. The FLA DA’s ruling that teacher, Wendy Portillo’s behavior was not emotionally abusive to Alex Barton needs to be appealed. The teacher’s behavior meets the definition of a hate crime. The teacher targeted Alex because of behavior related to his disability and then verbally abused, harassed and bullied a defenseless five year old child. I am confident that a jury of her peers would rule on Alex’s behalf.

]]> By: Polly http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-356384 Polly Tue, 27 May 2008 22:30:17 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-356384 Apparently the state attorney general's office can no more recognize emotional abuse than could the teacher--and who hires teachers like this in the first place? We live in a country that still does not tolerate differences, and that celebrates programs like "Survivor" (and, not so long ago, made EST destructive-encounter groups a fad), a country that bullies other nations. And it takes time to form bullies; this teacher was merely doing what the nation's culture has taught her--and teaching a new generation to do the same. Good for the two kids with the guts to vote against this group abuse! Apparently the state attorney general’s office can no more recognize emotional abuse than could the teacher–and who hires teachers like this in the first place? We live in a country that still does not tolerate differences, and that celebrates programs like “Survivor” (and, not so long ago, made EST destructive-encounter groups a fad), a country that bullies other nations. And it takes time to form bullies; this teacher was merely doing what the nation’s culture has taught her–and teaching a new generation to do the same. Good for the two kids with the guts to vote against this group abuse!

]]> By: Rich http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-356312 Rich Tue, 27 May 2008 21:25:40 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-356312 The teacher and kids should appologize to the child in a respectful way that would not make him re-live his tramatic experience. The teacher and kids should appologize to the child in a respectful way that would not make him re-live his tramatic experience.

]]> By: RAL http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-356251 RAL Tue, 27 May 2008 20:16:09 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115912#comment-356251 Yeah, what you say is very good, but you're being way too lenient on the teacher. She ALWAYS had the option to remove the boy to the office if he was out of control. She NEVER had the option to use the other children to belittle, humiliate and ostracize him. Maybe there should be an assembly where the teachers can publicly critique her performance, humiliate her and force her removal. Of course, that would never happen, that would be cruel and unprofessional. Right? Hell, they didn't even remove her from her job, they just "reassigned" her. Yeah, what you say is very good, but you’re being way too lenient on the teacher.

She ALWAYS had the option to remove the boy to the office if he was out of control.

She NEVER had the option to use the other children to belittle, humiliate and ostracize him.

Maybe there should be an assembly where the teachers can publicly critique her performance, humiliate her and force her removal.

Of course, that would never happen, that would be cruel and unprofessional. Right? Hell, they didn’t even remove her from her job, they just “reassigned” her.

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