Okay. So, up until this episode, Betty never once worked with autistic kids nor did she seem to have any inclination to do so. However, after one of the teachers of autistic kids is killed, Betty becomes a teacher with these kids. But, more importantly, she seems to know EVERYTHING about these kids and sometimes has the temerity to tell professionals trained in working with autistic folks how to do their jobs! Wow...is this crazy!
As for the murder, the teacher was killed in front of one of the kids. And, the totally untrained Betty spends the rest of the episode working with the kid trying to get her to talk about this...even though the child is not verbal at all. The does, occasionally, act out some of what she saw so perhaps this might give Betty a clue. Regardless, I cannot understand how anyone would allow Betty to be the child's teacher.
So is this any good? Well, I do applaud the episode for dealing with autism, as back in 1980 it was still rarely talked about and was new to most viewers. It tries hard to do something positive. But unfortunately, the writing isn't great and it's another 'Betty' episode...where Barnaby's secretary takes on yet another odd job in order to investigate a murder.
Oh, and despite what you see, most autistic kids do NOT spend most of their day brushing folks' hair. That is pretty weird.
As for the murder, the teacher was killed in front of one of the kids. And, the totally untrained Betty spends the rest of the episode working with the kid trying to get her to talk about this...even though the child is not verbal at all. The does, occasionally, act out some of what she saw so perhaps this might give Betty a clue. Regardless, I cannot understand how anyone would allow Betty to be the child's teacher.
So is this any good? Well, I do applaud the episode for dealing with autism, as back in 1980 it was still rarely talked about and was new to most viewers. It tries hard to do something positive. But unfortunately, the writing isn't great and it's another 'Betty' episode...where Barnaby's secretary takes on yet another odd job in order to investigate a murder.
Oh, and despite what you see, most autistic kids do NOT spend most of their day brushing folks' hair. That is pretty weird.