6 year old autistic criminally Charged

[mrsjerome]

Have any of you seen this story

6-Year-Old Autistic Student Criminally Charged After Alleged Assault
Reported by: Lance Barry
Photographed by: Jason Garrison
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...a-52c47e6bd24f
A six-year-old autistic boy has been charged criminally after an incident inside his school where he allegedly assaulted a teacher's aide.

I just can't believe some of the stuff I come across. This is just totally unbelievable. It looks like Mili's teacher's aide has found her mentor.

[milivica]

GTF outta here, UNreal. I can believe it, but UNreal UNreal UNreal.

Wonder what they did to HIM, that he had to react with 'assault'. What about the assault on him? Oh, yeah, it's a school, the only way they're accountable is if they kill your child, and even then I swear a way will be found to blame the child and parents.

That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. The poor parents, the poor kid. Once again, Jim Crow for autistic students....unless they'd have done this to an nt child, which, they would not have because had the child been nt, he'd have been able to communicate, and suck it up once the cops got there as he would have an internal understanding of 'heirarchy'.

I can totally imagine this happening to Vince, it's been my fear for I dunno how long. I can totally imagine him telling the cops to get lost, they are not his mommy so he doesn't have to listen.

[Pamster]

http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/fresh/story.aspx?content_id=1FAAED2C-0902-4C23-8D9A-52C47E6BD24F&gsa=true

The link didn't work, seeing if this edited copy will...I can't believe this, and am reading it now...

[milivica]

Mrs.J.,

I couldn't read the article from your link, but I found it so will post it. I doubt reading it, will change my first opinion.

Also, Sometimes when you post a link the forum puts ..... in the middle of your link, then it won't come up.


Only On 9: 6-Year-Old Autistic Student Criminally Charged After Alleged Assault

Reported by: Lance Barry
Photographed by: Jason Garrison

A six-year-old autistic boy has been charged criminally after an incident inside his school where he allegedly assaulted a teacher's aide.

It's a story you saw first on 9News.

The incident happened earlier this month at Taylor Elementary School in Brooksville, Ky., located in Bracken County.

He is in kindergarten at Taylor Elementary, but 9News was told that due to his autism and other conditions, his mental capacity is the equivalent to a child half his age.

But despite that condition and his age, it still hasn't stopped a school employee there from holding him accountable: criminally.

Whether it's playing outside with his parents, or coloring SpongeBob Squarepants pictures, Nathan Darnell isn't much different than other kids his age.

But two things that do make him different from many other six-year-olds is his autism – and his criminal rap sheet.

"We are not denying that he did what they are saying, but we are denying he is culpable," said Tony Darnell, Nathan's father.

It was just last week when Nathan's teacher's aide, Glenda Schiltz, filed a juvenile fourth degree misdemeanor assault charge against him.

"What human being with a heart would do that to a six-year old?, asked Cathy Darnell, Nathan's mother. "Seriously, who would do that? I know I wouldn't."

According to the affidavit which 9News obtained, Schiltz alleges that on September 5, Nathan grabbed her by the shirt, pulled her backwards and began punching and kicking her.

"He admits to shoving her down, but he says he didn't pull her backwards," said Tony Darnell.

"She is no small person, she can defend herself," said Cathy Darnell.

So what does the school have to say about the matter?

Superintendent of Bracken County Schools Tony Johnson would not appear on camera but did say in a statement, "I believe we followed proper procedures and I have full faith in my staff".

Despite being autistic, Nathan is integrated with all kindergartners at Taylor Elementary.

His parents believe Schiltz and other teachers there are ill-prepared to handle special needs students.

His mother openly questions Schiltz's credentials.

"[She believes] you need to take him behind the woodshed and teach him something," Cathy Darnell, said. "That is her mentality, beat it out of him."

"Most of the time it [Nathan's behavior] is whining and screaming. I am sure that is hard on teachers and stuff, but we find a way to deal with it," said Tony Darnell.

On Wednesday the family went to the county courthouse, where an inquiry was held and it was decided the criminal case against Nathan will indeed move forward.

It's likely then that Schiltz will have to be there.

But until they get a chance to tell her personally, Nathan's family, in the meantime, does have something they want to say to her.

"She is a cold-hearted woman, that she has made every teacher look bad," said Cathy Darnell.

Repeated attempts to contact Glenda Schiltz were unsuccessful.

9News also was in communication with several school board members and none wanted to comment on the matter.

This is all heading to a proceeding scheduled for next week in which six-year-old Nathan will appear in juvenile court as a defendant.


PARENTS RESPONSE

The parents of Nathaniel Darnell, special minor child accused of assault, release the following statement to the press.

“We do not, cannot, and will not deny our son’s accuser (Glenda Schiltz) her right to due process just because we disagree that this criminal case is the best thing to modify the future actions of and outcomes for our son. We have not, nor has our precious son, denied his action and poor behavior. We have not anytime in our son’s three year academic career hidden the fact that our son is a child with multiple disabilities, both emotional and mental. We only deny that our son has NO worth and no equal protections, due process, or civil rights. We were and are angered that the actions taken were seen as the only way to help a child with multiple emotional and mental disabilities. We believe that our son can learn nothing from this action except that he is “different” and that he is undesirable and separate.

We have simply asked the school, going on a third year now, to provide a free, affective, and appropriate education for our son, yet he has not advanced a grade nor advanced his educational goal. We find it ironic that when you demand what the United States Supreme Court has already repeatedly told schools they must supply, you become a trouble maker who is unreasonable. We simply ask after two years, and now going into a third when are we supposed to become worried about our son’s long-term outcome. Autism has a window of opportunity in formative years and must be both CAUGHT and SERVICED to yield better outcomes. We contend that 45 minutes a day of special instruction is nothing close to intense intervention. We too contend that we have asked repeatedly for alternative placement inside the school only to be told the “law” says he has to be in a normal classroom.

We want our son’s accuser to know that after many tears and much searching for belief that humanity is not gone from mankind, we realize that she is just a soldier in a battle. We hope for her sake that she hasn’t been used as a diversion to the root causes that have lead to her incidence with our son.

We believe and allege that our son has been denied civil rights, due process, equal protections, a right to self-determination, and even self worth by some people and some policies in his school district and if not the policies then their failure to follow them.

Contrary to the superintendent’s statement to the media, we believe that in whole the district is a good school system, and even submit that for students without special need it is very, very good. We, indeed have three other students who thrive there and are exceptional students. We simply say that some employees there that work with children who need extreme assistance and patience may be feeling that they are forced to work harder than they are paid to work and that may lead to disdain for those they claim to serve. Still, even if the problem is pay or funding, we all, as parents, citizens, and as advocates both for education and special children have a right and a duty to make sure this isn’t the case. We hold that our son and other witnesses have allegedly seen denial of his rights and mistreatment of his person. Would any of us be better parents if we did not ask for answers when such things occur? If the problems are rooted in the above then we all must ask is the above criminal or is it all to ride on our son? This nation must soon look at the laws commonly called “zero tolerance” and at our education funding policy with eyes that politics cannot glaze. How can our nation reward, monetarily, a school for improving its test scores yet, not have oversight to make sure that it isn’t an incentive to push problem and special needs children away. Then ask our leaders how a set of laws---again known as zero tolerance---- can be so easily, without regard for the sanctity and sanity of families, used as a means for this push away form dignity and rights. Columbine and all other such tragedies that drew forth these laws were tragedies that sickened and terrified everyone with a stake in education and rearing children. Still, as loving parents, we will scream ( even to the detriment of our persons) out to whoever will hear that our six year old child, who performs at the development of a four year old and who is mentally and emotionally troubled also in other ways, was not at those tragedies and will not pay for them. Laws cannot serve their purpose if they are not used for their purpose. Why is common sense so uncommon? The Darnell Family issues and supports all the above.”

THE PICS BELOW ARE OF THE BOY, BOY AND HIS PARENTS, BOY COLORING, and the 'victim' (wonder how $much$ she though she could get?)

[mrsjerome]

6-Year-Old Autistic Student Criminally Charged After Alleged Assault
Reported by: Lance Barry
Photographed by: Jason Garrison
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...a-52c47e6bd24f
A six-year-old autistic boy has been charged criminally after an incident inside his school where he allegedly assaulted a teacher's aide.

It's a story you saw first on 9News.

The incident happened earlier this month at Taylor Elementary School in Brooksville, Ky., located in Bracken County.

He is in kindergarten at Taylor Elementary, but 9News was told that due to his autism and other conditions, his mental capacity is the equivalent to a child half his age.

But despite that condition and his age, it still hasn't stopped a school employee there from holding him accountable: criminally.

Whether it's playing outside with his parents, or coloring SpongeBob Squarepants pictures, Nathan Darnell isn't much different than other kids his age.

But two things that do make him different from many other six-year-olds is his autism – and his criminal rap sheet.

"We are not denying that he did what they are saying, but we are denying he is culpable," said Tony Darnell, Nathan's father.

It was just last week when Nathan's teacher's aide, Glenda Schiltz, filed a juvenile fourth degree misdemeanor assault charge against him.

"What human being with a heart would do that to a six-year old?, asked Cathy Darnell, Nathan's mother. "Seriously, who would do that? I know I wouldn't."

According to the affidavit which 9News obtained, Schiltz alleges that on September 5, Nathan grabbed her by the shirt, pulled her backwards and began punching and kicking her.

"He admits to shoving her down, but he says he didn't pull her backwards," said Tony Darnell.

"She is no small person, she can defend herself," said Cathy Darnell.

So what does the school have to say about the matter?

Superintendent of Bracken County Schools Tony Johnson would not appear on camera but did say in a statement, "I believe we followed proper procedures and I have full faith in my staff".

Despite being autistic, Nathan is integrated with all kindergartners at Taylor Elementary.

His parents believe Schiltz and other teachers there are ill-prepared to handle special needs students.

His mother openly questions Schiltz's credentials.

"[She believes] you need to take him behind the woodshed and teach him something," Cathy Darnell, said. "That is her mentality, beat it out of him."

"Most of the time it [Nathan's behavior] is whining and screaming. I am sure that is hard on teachers and stuff, but we find a way to deal with it," said Tony Darnell.

On Wednesday the family went to the county courthouse, where an inquiry was held and it was decided the criminal case against Nathan will indeed move forward.

It's likely then that Schiltz will have to be there.

But until they get a chance to tell her personally, Nathan's family, in the meantime, does have something they want to say to her.

"She is a cold-hearted woman, that she has made every teacher look bad," said Cathy Darnell.

Repeated attempts to contact Glenda Schiltz were unsuccessful.

9News also was in communication with several school board members and none wanted to comment on the matter.

This is all heading to a proceeding scheduled for next week in which six-year-old Nathan will appear in juvenile court as a defendant.

[mrsjerome]

Don't know why the link didn't work. I found the story along with pictures & video on an autism speaks message board. Hope you can gain access to it. As I said earlier Unbelievable.

[tgrimes]

This is horrible... but the charge won't stick, if he doesn't understand the charge against him, right? This qoute from the mom is sad:

>>We simply say that some employees there that work with children who need extreme assistance and patience may be feeling that they are forced to work harder than they are paid to work and that may lead to disdain for those they claim to serve.

Wonder how many teachers do feel that way.

[milivica]

Mrs. J.,

when you posted the link, for some reason, it posts as:

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...a-52c47e6bd24f

If you'll notice, after the word story there are ...

Those dots, are not the address, the address got shortenend, that's why the link doesn't work. Sometimes when I post links here it gets shortened like that too.

ALSO, I love the fact the parents mentioned CIVIL RIGHTS, I'd love to hand deliver this to the Jack/Sharp duo and ask....would this have happened if this was only a black child?????

See my meaning? Cause no way, this would happen to an nt - who first of all would have all the developmental tools to cope.

Good point the parents brought out about the woman being used as a 'tool'. Who knows? Maybe so.

[mrsjerome]

http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=1770

[tgrimes]

I'd love to hand deliver this to the Jack/Sharp duo and ask....would this have happened if this was only a black child?????

.


Yeah, but he'd have been tried as an adult

[Pamster]

My link works, you just need to click on the one I posted using the BbCode for URL posting here it is again:

http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/fresh/story.aspx?content_id=1FAAED2C-0902-4C23-8D9A-52C47E6BD24F&gsa=true

[Pamster]

Where is the video link? I don't see one on the site there or at Autsim Speaks' board...That would be interesting to see. :(

[mrsjerome]

If you scroll to the left you will see the video to click on to. It's on the very right of the page

[Pamster]

zThanks for the info on how to find it Mrs. Jerome, definitely a sad day in schooling for something like this to happen to a 6 year old...

[Isabelle]

the game is up, provoke the autistic into reacting, cry wolf, blame the autistic and collect money....:mad: :( :mad: grrr

I heard similar situations, excuses, I lived through "I have faith on my staff" or I have to believe on my staff..... and use that episode to sedate the child into a zombie state, if he is not already on some crazy meds....

[peglem]

This is horrible... but the charge won't stick, if he doesn't understand the charge against him, right? This qoute from the mom is sad:

>>We simply say that some employees there that work with children who need extreme assistance and patience may be feeling that they are forced to work harder than they are paid to work and that may lead to disdain for those they claim to serve.

Wonder how many teachers do feel that way.

Well, one year, when I was teaching, the teachers had gotten such a small pay increase that it didn't even cover increased insurance rates so I was bringing home less money than the year before. Teacher morale was at an all time low. (especially since the school board in its infinitesmal wisdom had once again fired the superintendent to the tune of a $300,000.00 payoff) Anyway, I resolved to just put in the bare minimum-what they paid me for only. I couldn't do it. I was so caught up in the achievement and growth of my students.

Why wasn't the assistant trained to deal with aggressive behavior anyway? I've spoken to many sped staff who routinely deal with aggressive behavior, but they seem to just brush it off. They've been trained to deal with it and know how to protect themselves and the student when it happens. But then, my child is not in a regular ed setting, so maybe that's different.

This whole thing seems so stupid. I wonder if there is some kind of school politics behind it. The school's not charging the kid, right? It seems like the aide should be charging the school, instead, for not providing a safe work environment. What could she hope to accomplish by charging a 6 year old?

Just for the record, I hate it when they assign a "mental age equivalent" to autistic people/people with autism, or anybody else for that matter. Wouldn't it be fun if they attached a mental age eqivalency to everybody? Let's see- my husband would work out to about 13, I think. I'd probably be like 90 yo senile!

[Kristen (ColeysMom)]

OMG! I gotta tell you I just had the widest range of emotions with this story...

First I've sorta been avoiding it since it was posted, cuz it just seems so ridiculous! Do you guys have any experience with family court? I have my share of frustratins with them, indirectly. But a friend of mine is a clerk and she explained to me once, that like most manicipal workers they are over worked and underpaid...which I agree is NO excuse! But it certainly does play a part in the frame of mind...but she explained to me that judges and clerks and DAs see the scaries things all day long...and I'm not saying that this isn't appauling, cuz it is...but I can just imagine the resentment that will be thrusted toward this woman IF it ever reaches court. There are children that are being horribly abused and worse that will have to wait because this ridiculous charge has been brought...A HUGE WASTE of taxpayer money AND TIME!

SO seeing all the posts, I had to come check it out...

And I had to laugh at the reason that the charges were brought. I mean, take a HUGE step back for a second. Forget all the other posts about the missing and the stun gun...

I thought I was going to read about a kid that hurled a desk at a teacher and severly injured her or something...uhmmmm, what's the point here? Can you tell me what kid, any kid that hasn't had there fit? OK, maybe not TOWARD another person in all cases, but it's certainly not out of the ordinary. Kids get frustrated and they release it.

I had to LAUGH! OMG! What a HUGE joke...if this woman EVER makes it to court it'll be something to see!

Then reading the parents statement...what AWESOME people!!! They are taking this whole thing and using it to SHOW the world how terrible the school system, actually the whole damn system is to autistics! WAY TO GO! Well the laugh is on that woman (sorry can't call her a teacher)...

And then Pegs...I wonder what her mental age equivalent would be! LOL!!!

Thanks for the laugh you guys...

I know this isn't a laughing matter...but exactly how ridiculous can this get before someone, anyone says TIME THE F OUT!

I bet her IEP gets met now!!! This may turn out to be the best thing that could have ever happeneded to her kid!!!

Everyone send your kid to school and tell them to pull their teacher down....BAWAAAAAAAA

[LauraP]

Kristen--you're right. It was only when Sierra's behaviors got so serious that the school could no longer ignore them that we were able to make headway with a non-private placement and move to the school where she is now. She'd still be festering in the old school, and probably in an institution, as they had no concept of how to help us at home either.

This aide needs to spend some serious time of introspection and think about whether she wants to do the job. I think good aides who can (no pun intended) roll with the punches are worth their weight in gold, but the bad ones can make it soooo much worse. It was a bad aide who (even knowing that Sierra bit herself) called the Police and Child Welfare folks to anonymously accuse us of abuse and neglect. Sigh

[mrsjerome]

Contributor: Candice Terrell Last Update: 4:19 pm

6-Year-Old Autistic Student Criminally Charged After Alleged Assault

The charge against a 6-year-old autistic boy accused of assaulting a teacher's aide has been dropped.

According to a judge, reasons for the charge dismissal include the boy's age and his lack of ability to defend himself.

The Bracken County Schools Superintendent Tony Johnson said no one from the district will comment on matter because of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.

[gynwhyver]

Thought you'd also like to know someone from my organization contacted the national P&A and that they have forwarded this story to the P&A in this family's state to help this family. With luck, maybe this family will be bringing suit against the stupid school district.

On a related note, haven't forgotten about you Milli. And will contact the P&A in your state probably Friday. I have to go out of town for a few days (related to what's prevented me from calling before now. Will definitely explain when I get back!)

Take care,

Gwyn

[milivica]

God THANK YOU.

I still have to send you the school's name too. I forgot to pm, better do it now.

Thank you.
:) Mili

[Kristen (ColeysMom)]

WOOHOOO!

Too bad in one respect...the public outrage would have been awesome to see...but glad someone came to their senses none the less!

I hope something good comes of all this!!!

Everyone say their prayers!