Protest Held After Student with Asperger's Put in "Bad Kid Fort"

By: Courtesy: WTAP

Updated: Wed 4:46 PM, Jan 09, 2013

A protest was held Tuesday outside a West Virginia high school because of the way a teenage student with Asperger's Syndrome, or high functioning autism, was disciplined.

The mother of the 15-year old boy e-mailed KOLN's sister station, WTAP in Parkersburg, West Virginia, saying he was disciplined recently with posterboard put in front of his desk that says "Bad Kid Fort".

Outraged, his mother complained and met with the principal, the teacher and special education director.

The teacher no longer teaches the boy, but PHS Principal Pam Goots Tuesday declined to discuss the teacher's status further, citing personnel issues.

Still, the family posted the story on Facebook, and Tuesday a protest was held in front of the school, some calling for the teacher to be fired.

"Our goal here is to help him out and make sure this does not happen to another child again."

We spoke with PHS Principal Pam Gootz, who says the teacher in question is a good teacher, who showed poor judgment.

She says the district is requesting extra help in how to teach children with Asperger's.

"I sent an e-mail to (Wood County School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Law) yesterday, and I asked him to perhaps look into some training for the staff, Goots said Tuesday morning. "I think as the times change, and we have a lot of different personalities and diagnoses in the classroom, we really need to educate our staff."