Mother Heartbroken Seeing Teacher Snatch Mic Away From Her Son With Autism Before He Can Deliver Lines In School Play

Sep 26, 2023

Parents are always filled with a mixture of nerves and excitement when the time comes for their children to perform in a school play. In 2016, one mother, Amanda Riddle, was especially anxious for her then 6-year-old son, Caleb, to fulfill his role as a turkey at his elementary school Thanksgiving performance in Nutter Fort, West Virginia.

With a mild form of autism, Caleb often has difficulty with crowds, and Amanda was both hopeful and concerned about what might happen. Sadly, the performance did not go as planned. However, it wasn’t Caleb but a school teacher who disrupted the play instead.

Caleb had waited through the entire play, patiently doing what was asked of him and performing his role as a turkey. When the end of the play was nearing, Caleb stepped forward and approached the microphone, obviously anxious to share his moment in the spotlight.

But just as Caleb reached the microphone, a teacher stepped up and snatched it away, stunning and humiliating the little boy in the process.

“Oh no!” Caleb cried out as the teacher ensured that he wouldn't have a chance to speak the line that the young boy had planned to say.

Poor Caleb was left standing on stage in his turkey outfit, sobbing for everyone to see as he tried to grapple with the shame and disappointment of the moment.

At first, it wasn't clear why the teacher unexpectedly grabbed the microphone, but what occurred that day was criticized by both Caleb's mom and others who watched the viral video of the incident.

Caleb's parents opened up about the incident that happened. As reported by The Mirror, his father wrote on Facebook:

"This is my little boy in his Thanksgiving play. He is the last kid and has level one high functioning autism. He has the biggest heart and (is) always happy. Now watch it and see what a teacher of kids does to him."

As it turned out, Caleb had only wished to say the line "Gobble gobble gobble" since he was playing a turkey. But, following the incident, the school clarified that no such line was expected to be said.

Riddle also expressed her disappointment at the incident. After being "all excited to go to Caleb's play," the mom was "left in tears" after the teacher grabbed the microphone from her son in what she described as "a mean way." Riddle continued:

"My son is a little different I know this but his heart is so big and he loves everyone. What does it matter if he wanted to say gobble gobble he was the turkey after all."

She added: "I'm sick of kids that are not considered 'normal' (being) treated the way they are. Caleb I love you and you were a hell of a (turkey)." The upset mom had the support of many others, with online commenters chiming in to say that it would not have hurt to let Caleb deliver an extra line.

Nutter Fort Primary School responded by assuring everyone that their teachers and those working within the system truly do care about each and every child. 

What are your thoughts on the incident in the video? Do you think Caleb should have been allowed to improvise his line? Let us know, and pass this on to others to get their thoughts on the matter.