Harrison County Schools Superintendent discusses Nutter Fort Primary play incident

A story that centers on a video posted to Facebook Tuesday night has been the buzz of the social media world Wednesday. In that video, an autistic boy apparently had a microphone taken from him by a teacher at Nutter Fort Primary School.

In the video that was recorded by the boy's mother at the school's Thanksgiving play you can see the boy walking up to the microphone to speak but before he can a teacher at the school walks up and takes the microphone away. Immediately after, the child begins to cry. That's what the video shows, but 5 News wanted to hear what school officials have to say about the incident. We reached out to the school principal as well as the Harrison County Board of Education. We were able to get a hold of the superintendent.

Doctor Mark Manchin told 5 News; "It's a mistake that was made. There was no malice. This teacher, as all of our teachers, truly care about these young boys and girls. The program was over, at least as I understand, and the teacher had taken the microphone".

Doctor Manchin also mentioned that the moment featured in the video came after the play had actually ended and that the boy was part of the play. He did not confirm the name of the teacher.

The reaction on social media has been immense. here is a comment on the 5 News Facebook page from Christy Baxter:

"I'm tired of people in positions of trust mentally and emotionally abusing our children. This little boy had every right to participate in that play with his peers. My worse thought was if she thought that was ok in front of a room full of people then how does she treat kids behind closed doors"

Lauri Moore Stout said:

"It shows her true colors. If that was my son I would have said something then and there. That was totally uncalled for."

5 News will continue our investigation and will have even more coverage Thursday on First at 5.

The full video is available under Related Links. However, we have chosen not to feature the full video directly on our website out of concern for the other children visible in the remainder of that video.