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What a mess!

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pilotwyf

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? NC

My daughter began high school in late August 2007 and by September she began telling me about some disturbing behavior that her male teacher was exhibiting. She watched him lean over and attempt to touch a student's breast. The student attempted to back away but the teacher leaned in further and stated that she had fuzz on her shirt. This made the student and my daughter very uncomfortable. Turns out, he apparently pulled the same trick on another girl in another class that same week. His behavior continued, by making degrading comments about my daughter in front of the class (told her she was fat and insinuated that she was stupid).

I went to the principal and filed a complaint. The principal brought each of the girls who experienced these assaults and questioned them. And then turned it over to the Asst. Superintendent and the whole process started over again.

In November 2007 we found out that this teacher was suspended from his previous school for consuming alcohol on school property while watching a sex tape of another teacher and his student. And since he failed to turn that teacher in, they suspended him for that as well. Meanwhile, the teacher was informed that an investigation was underway and he proceeded to retailiate against the students. He held the students in the classroom and told them that they could not leave until someone told him who "told on him". When the students refused, he proceeded to assign tons of homework which was inconsistent with his prior behavior.

This teacher was also a head coach for the girl's basketball team. I asked the principal to remove him from this position given the threat that it could pose and he refused. In fact the teacher was allowed to remain on staff until the end of February 2008.

Thats when the school system called in their lawyer from raleigh who began pulling each of the complainants out of class without the parents being notified and when I asked if I could be present while they interviewed my daughter the principal said I could not be in the same room but I could wait outside while she was questioned. My daughter was made to sit in a room for twenty minutes alone and then was bombarded with questions requiring her to recreate the scene and remember everything in great detail five months after it occurred.

It is very likely that they will simply allow this guy to resign and not pursue revoking this license which means he goes on to another school and potentially another victim. So, finally (sorry!) to my questions: Can I sue the school system for mishandling this case? Does my daughter have a case for a violation of her civil rights? Keep in mind, I am not interested in pursuing a bogus, frivolous case. I simply want to send a message that the school system can't disregard these claims when someone comes forward and should investigate quickly and vigorously. What options do I have? Thanks.What is the name of your state?
 


GaAtty

Member
GaAtty

In my opinion, your daughter's civil rights have not been violated. You have no case against the school for that. Besides, school districts have immunity from that type of lawsuit.

There is no reason at all that your daughter needed to agree to being interviewed by the school attorney, if she didn't want to be.
 

pilotwyf

Junior Member
Thank you

Perro, thanks for the info. I'll contact them.

GAatty, thanks also for the info. Unfortunately, we were lead to believe that the investigation would go nowhere and be dropped if she did not speak with their lawyer. And instead, she was made to feel like she was some sort of criminal and had done something wrong by speaking up about the things she saw. Seems a little backwards to me.

Thanks to you both for your comments. I really appreciate it!
 

Perky

Senior Member
You're welcome. I hope you're successful in yanking his license if he did those things. You will probably get more attention from the State Board of Ed if the parents of the other students complain as well.
 

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