Teacher From School Where Microphone Was Snatched From Autistic Student Responds on Facebook!

In reference to the autistic child at the Thanksgiving Pageant:

Nutter Fort Primary teacher Sarah Howarth shares her version of the Thanksgiving Pageant.
#supportthefort
"I am a teacher at Nutter Fort Primary. Yes, that Fort Primary, the school that along with its teachers and administration is getting dragged through the mud on social media and the news. This past week I have read Perez Hilton calling for my coworker's resignation, I watched Sharon Osborne rip her to shreds on The Talk, and I have scrolled past comments on my own Facebook from personal friends saying they'd "go off on that woman" if that had been their child. And that doesn't even begin to describe the outlandishly large number of vulgar and threatening phone calls, emails, and social media posts my coworker and the school have received from keyboard warriors across the country. It's been a rough week to say the least. And the worst part of it all? It's all over a completely misinterpreted 17 second clip. The claimed action that drove so many people, famous or housewife, to gather up their picks and torches and join the angry internet mob is completely untrue. I'm sorry to disappoint so many who were apparently looking forward to tar and feathering my coworker, but it's not going to happen. Because what she is blamed of doing did not happen. It's that simple. Yes, she removed a microphone from a stand. That is true. However, despite what is being passed around the internet, that is the extent of her actions. There was no malice. There was no plan to break a child's heart. The play was over.
Despite what people are saying, no, the show was not to end with the little boy saying "gobble gobble", because there was no turkey in the play. There has never been a turkey in that play for the last 10+ years the school has performed it. In fact, the poor little guy at the center of all this unnecessary grief wasn't even suppose to be there. His family brought him at the last minute, even though he hadn't turned in the permission slip that was due weeks prior, nor did he ever practice the show. Despite all of that, my coworkers graciously found an extra costume and allowed him to join the chorus so he could be included. What no one saw outside of that 17 second clip, was our friend running up to the microphone several times and speaking in it, even though he was never to be near it because he did not have a speaking part and therefore in doing so added some confusion and chaos to the play. But that was ok, we as teachers work in chaos all day long, so we're pretty good at rolling with it. Plus, the child was having fun, and that's the whole point of it all. However, the show could not go on all night with children rushing the microphone to say or shout whatever they please, so after the designated last speaker said "Happy Thanksgiving to all.", that was when my coworker was to take down the mic. And that is what she did. No harm. No malice.
Now I know that my explanation may potentially fall upon deaf ears, and although not ok, it's something that I have to accept in my attempts to set the records straight for the sake of clearing my coworker's name. At this point, everyone is still entitled to their opinion, and if their opinion is that they desire my coworker's head on a platter rather than a turkey for their thanksgiving feast next week, then so be it. But the following still needs to be said, even if in vain. My coworker is an amazing teacher. And a wonderful person. I can promise she would not be working at my school if she weren't. My school, despite what the Internet is claiming, is a wonderful place that strives to always put the kids and their needs above anything else. People ask me all the time why I drive an hour one way to work each day, and my answer is simple. I get to wake up and go to my dream job every day. And I don't feel that way solely because I get to wake up every day and go teach. It's because I get to wake up and go teach at Nutter Fort Primary. NFP is an amazing place, filled with even more amazing people. I have never felt so welcome and at home at a job. I have never felt so supported by a boss like my principals support me, and even on stressful days, I have never felt so happy to go to work. In the few months I have been there, the Fort staff have become like family to me. We love our jobs, we love each other, and we especially love every one of our kids. No matter what lies get spread, we know the truth, we support each other, and we will continue to love, support, and educate every child that walk through the doors of Nutter Fort Primary."

As with most things, the truth seems to be somewhere in the middle. What do you think? Do you believe what's being said on the internet or the teacher? You can check out the post here.