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« Have you ever googled Google? | Main | Voting the Issues in 2008 »

Voted Out of Kindergarten

By TLS | May 27, 2008

A Florida teacher took it upon herself to teach a special needs child a lesson by having his kindergarten classmates stand and tell him why they didn’t like him. She then asked them to vote as to whether the little boy should be allowed to stay in the class. He was ousted by a vote of 14-2 and spent the rest of the day in the nurse’s office.

Read the article in the Chicago Sun Times.

I find this to be outrageous. What was this teacher thinking?

I realize that some children are difficult to deal with in school and that they may require discipline. I have no problems with that. Put them in timeout. Make them sit out recess. Or, if necessary, send them to the office.

But there is something extremely wrong about making a class of 5 and 6 year olds pass judgment on a fellow child. Children should not be put in that position, especially when they are hardly at an age of accountability. And I can’t imagine how the poor child who was ridiculed and ousted must have felt.

This is another example of the failure of the educational system. The teacher should apply discipline when necessary, but should also act as an advocate for her students. What kind of example does this send to the children? Insane. I personally think this teacher should be fired.

I cannot see the teachers of either of my children (first grade and third grade) ever doing something as insensitive as this under any circumstance.

Final thoughts: What is up with Florida? Is it just me or does it seem like Florida has more bad press regarding public education (and child services in general) than any other state? Unbelievable.

Watch the interview with the little boy’s mother below:

Topics: Education |

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