Most Annoying Award

Last week, an article from my local newspaper, The Times of Northwest Indiana, received national attention: “Teacher mocks autistic student with ‘most annoying’ award, parent complains.” In this news report and two follow-up articles, education reporter Carley Lanich describes how a fifth grade student with nonverbal autism received a trophy inscribed with “Bailey Preparatory Academy 2018-2019 Most Annoying Male,” and she details the school district’s response to the teachers’ involvement in this unprofessional and unkind act. [To read “Teacher says she’s a scapegoat after student with autism given ‘Most Annoying’ trophy” and to access links to two previous articles on this story, please click here.]

According to The Times, on May 23, 2019, fifth graders from Bailey Preparatory Academy, a public school in Gary, Indiana, celebrated the end of the school year with a luncheon at a restaurant for teachers, students, and students’ families. This event included a “Students’ Choice Awards” ceremony where students chosen by their peers were awarded trophies for various categories. Prior to the awards ceremony, students had been given ballots prepared by two fifth grade teachers with categories and explanations of each award, such as, “Most Positive (always encouraging or motivating others).” Students were to write in the name of a female and male student for each category, and these ballots were returned to the two fifth grade teachers overseeing this event.

When the so-called award for “Most Annoying Male” trophy was given to a boy with autism, his father, Rick Castejon, was shocked but did not want to cause a scene. He explained that his son didn’t understand the meaning of the trophy and was not upset, but as a parent he questioned the school’s judgment in giving an award for this category. Moreover, he noted that another boy, who is not a special education student, received this same designation and was teased by other students when he was called forward to receive his trophy. The next day, the father contacted the school district with his understandable concerns.

Reportedly, the teachers at the awards ceremony told the parents that all of the fifth grade students had voted for the class awards, and the teachers were just there to hand out the trophies. Apparently, they were attempting to protect themselves against any fallout and placing the blame upon the students. However, the father of the boy with autism directly criticized his son’s special education teacher, who handed him the trophy, stating: “You should have protected my son no matter what. Your job should’ve been to say, ‘We’re not going to give this one out.’”

In addition to the traditional positive awards, such as “Most Scholarly,” the teachers included the grammatically incorrect “Most Funniest” and “Most Friendliest” categories on the ballot. Besides the negative “Most Annoying,” the teachers also offered “Most Sleepiest” as a grammatically incorrect and thoughtless choice for those “usually caught trying to take a nap.” Again, these teachers used poor judgment when not considering their students’ difficult home situations that may impair their sleep and make them overly tired at school.

After the initial article about the boy with autism receiving the “Most Annoying” title, this news story received national attention and public outcry for the cruel treatment of this special needs child. Readers insisted that the teachers involved at least be fired and even prosecuted for their actions. The Gary Community School Corporation, already suffering from a reputation as one of the worst school districts in the state of Indiana, immediately attempted damage control. A school spokesperson issued the following statement: “The team is working to ensure that an occurrence of this nature will never happen again.”

Initiating an internal investigation by an education attorney, the school district placed the school principal on administrative leave pending further investigation. Moreover, the special education teacher and the two fifth grade teachers responsible for the ballot and awards have been notified that their teachers’ contracts have been cancelled based upon their “inappropriate behavior” and “poor professional judgment.” In a letter from the principal, she notes the failure of these teachers to be “an acceptable role model” and to treat their students with “dignity and respect” by giving the “inappropriate awards.” The teachers have the right to appeal the decision regarding their dismissal from the district.

Although the principal and two fifth grade teachers have not issued statements to the press, the special education teacher is loudly complaining about her fate. Alexis Anderson-Harper, who has been employed with the Gary schools for fifteen years, claims that she is being unfairly targeted. She states, “I feel like my livelihood is being taken away from me.” In a rather odd analogy, she continues, “You’re playing Russian roulette with my life.”

According to Ms. Anderson-Harper, the fifth grade teachers who organized the awards ceremony are to blame because they created the students’ ballot for the awards. She simply explained the categories to her students and even decided to omit the “Most Athletic” award since none of her students participated in school sports. However, she failed to delete the “Most Annoying” category. She claims that she didn’t realize her student would receive that designation until after his name was read and she handed him the trophy at the ceremony. In her attempt to save her job and her honor, she apparently blames her colleagues and the students, never apologizing for her part in the cruelty to her student, nor expressing regret for not doing something to prevent upsetting his parents.

As a result of the national attention this news story has generated, the family of the boy with autism has received letters of support from around the country and offers of replacement trophies and scholarship funds. However, the boy’s father states that they are only accepting the kind notes they have received and are looking into having donations sent to an autism organization. He explains that he did not want to cause trouble or get teachers fired, but he just wanted someone to be held responsible.

In a society where too many trophies are handed out just for participation to prevent hurt feelings and to promote self-esteem, this story of “awarding” a trophy out of thoughtlessness and perhaps even spite raises righteous indignation. Teachers who demonstrate such poor judgment and lack of compassion should not be working with any children, let alone special needs children, and they deserve to be fired. Whether the student with autism understands the meaning behind the trophy or not, his parents do, and they certainly must be hurt by the actions of these teachers. Moreover, the regular education student who also received the “Most Annoying” designation does understand what it means and had to endure not only the negative label but also the taunting of his peers who voted for him to receive it. Hopefully, this incident will make more people, especially those who work with impressionable children and special needs students, think about how to treat people with compassion and understanding.

“You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.” Proverbs 25:22

Pleasant Plateau

For the past few weeks, every evening after Alex goes to bed, Ed will remark in a questioning way, “He’s been good all day?” When I nod and answer in the affirmative, Ed will say, “Knock wood, he’s doing really well,” and we will both rap our knuckles on the nearest wooden table. Knowing that I really shouldn’t buy into this superstitious ritual and should give proper credit, I add, “Praise God!”

Because Alex’s progress has not been a linear path as we have seen setbacks along the way, we fear speaking about the good could somehow make him regress. When he is dealing with anxiety that causes his behavior to decline, we pray mightily for change. However, when Alex is sweet and calm, as he has been lately, we worry that doing anything differently might cause an unwanted change.

For years, we have prayed for God to heal Alex. At times, frustrated by regressions and waiting, I have been jealous of those who have experienced complete healing from autism. Researching diligently, I have thought if I kept reading and praying, I could find a cure for Alex. While some children with autism have been healed by chelation therapy to remove heavy metals, vitamin B12 shots, special diets and nutritional supplements, and other methods, none of these gave us the miracle I desperately sought. Nonetheless, the efforts have been worthwhile because these interventions did make him better.

In addition, I have been frustrated that acne has left mild scars on Alex’s face, even though he cooperated with methods to treat the inflammation and never picked at his face. He also has a small bald spot left behind by a minor scalp infection, folliculitis, that we treated immediately under medical supervision. Thinking that Alex has suffered enough from the obstacles autism has presented, I hate that he has small scars as reminders of previous infections.

However, perhaps these minor flaws are evidence of healing, reminders that sickness is not a permanent state. Over time, the acne scars have faded their angry redness, and the bald spot has shrunken from the size of a silver dollar to that of a penny. I cut and comb his hair to cover the small bald spot so that no one really sees it, and the acne scars along his hairline are fading with nightly applications of Mederma scar cream and time. Most importantly, these slight imperfections don’t bother Alex a bit. The only mirror he uses is a toy mirror that softens and slightly distorts in its reflection, much like that described in I Corinthians 13:12: “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror…”

Nonetheless, we still battle infection and its lasting effects. Two years ago, Alex had a bad case of yeast infection in his mouth and throat that ruined his healthy and hearty appetite. While we have been praying that he would regain his love of nearly all foods, he still chooses to eat a rather limited diet. Even after the yeast infection has been controlled by weekly doses of anti-fungal medication and after working with a fantastic speech therapist to overcome sensory issues related to eating, Alex is still a picky eater, which is not uncommon in autism. However, sometimes he will surprise us and ask for a food not usually part of his chosen menu and devour it happily.

Since we have seen him overcome other issues with time, we wait expectantly for the day when he returns to his varied appetite. Furthermore, we are thankful that he has regained the weight he lost from his self-selective diet because he has cooperated with drinking nutritional non-dairy protein smoothies I make for him every evening to increase his daily calorie intake. Every week as I weigh him on our old-fashioned doctor’s scale, I say a prayer that I can push the bar a little farther to the right, and God has been faithful, as Alex has continued gaining weight at a healthy pace.

Along with gaining weight, Alex has also shown reduced anxiety lately. He’s not just content but happy, skipping through the house and grinning from ear to ear. He has once again enjoyed going places, and he’s chatty and interactive, making appropriate comments that intrigue and amuse us. For example, he nicely asked me the other day to adjust his wristwatch because “It’s too close to the armpit.” Mind you, it was just a little above his wrist, but the exaggerated description made me laugh. The professionals who work with him have also noted how well Alex is doing and have commented on how pleasant and observant he is, asking good questions. Last week, his companion came to stay with him while Ed and I enjoyed lunch at a restaurant. When we returned, she told us that he had been “perfect.” She also shared that when she asked him who was winning the baseball game he was watching on television, he told her––knowing that she’s not a fan of the sport––“The team that has the most points is winning.” She found his literal explanation amusing; he was trying to explain something he thought she didn’t know.

When we reach these pleasant plateaus where things are going smoothly and every night and day I thank God that Alex is doing so well and Ed and I knock on wood in hopes of keeping the trend going, we closely analyze circumstances to make sure nothing happens to change the peaceful existence we gratefully savor. However, sometimes things occur that we cannot control. A few weeks ago, we learned that one of the medications that helps keep Alex calm is no longer available. Despite the best efforts of a dedicated pharmacist, we cannot get that medication, so the nurse practitioner who prescribes Alex’s medications has given us a plan to wean him off that drug.

While my first instinct was to panic that this change would upset Alex and cause a setback, I had to remind myself that God sometimes shoves me forward with both hands because He has plans to move Alex into something new and better. Although I would have preferred to enjoy the pleasant plateau a bit longer, not being able to get this medication means that we must make a change. Remembering that Alex has always responded to medication reductions favorably, I prayed that this change would be equally smooth for him. As we have decreased his doses over the past few weeks, he doesn’t show any negative side effects. If anything, he actually seems even better with this medication reduction, and we pray that once we take him off completely, he will continue to do well and perhaps even get better. I have to believe that God was showing us that Alex no longer needed this medication because the weaning process has gone so well, and Alex continues to be calm and good natured.

Perhaps healing looks different than I had imagined. Certainly God’s ways and plans are better than mine. Maybe God reminds me that all my searching for a cure is not nearly as important as trusting Him to make Alex better. Definitely, I have witnessed His hand in our lives, guiding us and healing Alex in unexpected ways that make us know He was responsible. For us, healing and progress have rarely been the sudden and dramatic changes I prayed for and expected, but instead the culmination of small signs that reveal God has been there all along. Knock wood and praise God!

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19