Throwing Stones

So what's up with the mob mentality, people? Did you all forget that here in America we are innocent until proven guilty? Are you certain that every article you see in the media is actual, carved-in-stone fact? And speaking of stones, are we all really prepared to throw them?

I've been on the road a lot in the last two weeks, but when I got home there were three email messages waiting for me, each demanding that I sign a petition to remove an elementary school teacher from her job. The message explained that the teacher had made a student stand in front of the class while his classmates told him what they didn't like about his behavior. He had just returned from being disciplined in the principal's office. The petition also reported that the student "was in the process of being diagnosed with autism."

So here is the problem: this petition does not explain any of the events leading up to this one. Nor do any news articles I could discover. So we have only one side of the story, and it's a sensational one.

Before you get all excited, I agree that the story told in the petition is a horrible one. But that's all I know for sure.

The student "was in the process of being diagnosed". WTF does that mean? Were his parents concerned about his behavior and thinking of taking him to a doctor? Was he undergoing tests to determine if he has a disorder? Had the doctors already decided that he was autistic, but holding off on an official diagnosis until they caught up on paperwork?

It makes me wonder if Wendy Portillo knew anything about Alex and his pending diagnosis. Were the school and the teacher aware that Alex was in the process of being diagnosed? Did anyone discuss - with the teacher - how to handle his behavior?

Did this teacher have any special ed training? Was this a special ed classroom? Or was Alex in a regular classroom, where his behavior was beyond disruptive and making it impossible for the other students to learn?

Excuse me if this sounds politically incorrect, because I am really not being insensitive. I believe that we need to understand autism and provide an education for everyone. I also believe that "everyone" includes students who do not suffer from behavioral disorders, but who DO suffer when their educations are disrupted by other students in the classroom. Regardless of what disorder might be behind disruptive behavior, other students are often placed at a disadvantage when a teacher has to devote more of his/her energy to managing behavior problems than to teaching.

I'm not defending Ms. Portillo. What has been reported seems pretty inexcusable. All I am suggesting is that before lining up to destroy someone's life, we should all be very certain that we have sufficient evidence to wield the death blow.

Wouldn't you want to have your side of the story heard?