Duct-taping student’s mouths and their consequences
Michelle Rhee’s much-touted account that she gleefully describes of duct-taping the mouths of her 35 students, making them cry and bleed, has prompted many questions by readers:Wasn’t this child abuse? Why wasn’t Rhee disciplined?
We conducted a quick survey of similar incidents. Here’s what happened to others who committed virtually the same acts against their students: (Rhee’s is the only case that records the duct-taping of an entire class 35 students)
Fired and/or fired with criminal charges filed or criminal sanctions imposed (this was the most common action taken):
- A Denver school secretary who taped the mouth of a six year old was fired, and sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor child abuse, in February of 2010
- In March of 2009, a Rison, AR elementary teacher was fired and charged with false imprisonment and tampering, for taping student’s mouths and taping them to chairs.
- A substitute teacher who taped the mouths of two students and restrained them by taping them into their chairs was given two years of probation and eighty hours of community service in July of 2008. The incident took place at Harvard Elementary in McHenry County, IL.
- In January of 2009, a Lafayette, Indiana school teacher was fired for taping the mouth of a special needs student.
- In January of 2008, a teacher at the Driscoll School in Brookline, MA was fired for taping the mouth of a 12 year old student.
- In September of 2007, a Salazar Elementary School substitute was “dismissed within minutes” after taping the mouth of a seven year old student.
- A substitute teacher in Terre Haute, Indiana was fired after taping the mouths of several students in May of 2005.
- In January of 2004, a substitute teacher at Norwood Elementary School, in Sacramento, CA taped the mouth of a first grade student shut “to keep him quiet”. The substitute teacher was fired.
- A substitute teacher at the Bruce School in Lawrence, MA was immediately fired for taping the mouths of 20 of her students in February of 2003.
- A teacher’s assistant at Park Hills Elementary, in Spartanburg, SC was fired in December of 1997 for taping shut the mouth of a student.
Placed on administrative leave:
- In January of 2011, a San Antonio, TX elementary school teacher was placed on leave after taping the mouth of a seven year old student.
- In January of 2011, a teacher in Schertz, TX was placed on administrative leave for taping the mouth of a handful of students at Schertz Elementary School in December 2006.
- A teacher’s aide at Flintstone Elementary in Prince George’s County, MD was placed on leave for taping the mouth of a student in March of 2009.
- In May of 2008, a teacher in Cleveland, TX was placed on administrative leave for taping the mouth of a five year old student shut.
- A Bakersfield, CA teacher was placed on administrative leave in December of 2006 for duct taping the fingers and mouth of a student at Bakersfield High School.
- A teacher at Sidecreek Elementary in Aurora, CO was placed on leave after he wrapped tape around a fifth grader’s head several times, covering his mouth. The incident occurred in May of 2005.
Suspended without pay:
- A teacher at the Della Lamb charter school in Kansas City, MO was suspended without pay for taping the mouth of a six year old student. Missouri child welfare authorities are investigating.
- A metro Nashville, TN teacher was suspended in February of 2009 for taping several students’ mouths shut, and taping one student into a chair. The teacher taught at Park Avenue Elementary.
- The Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school district in New York settled a lawsuit in September of 2007, arising out of a 2004 incident where a teacher taped the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears of a student for talking during class. The teacher involved was suspended for thirty days without pay. The settlement amount was quoted as $33,250.
- A teacher at Peterstown Elementary in Union, NJ was suspended without pay for ten days in March of 2007, for putting masking tape under the noses of twenty-five third graders. According to the superintendent, “At no time did she seal any of their mouths shut. The masking tape curled up under their noses. Our investigation revealed that no child said their mouths were taped shut”.
Reassigned:
- In April of 2011, a teacher at New Renaissance Middle School was reassigned after taping the mouths of two students. That teacher was named #1 on a list of the Ten Worst Teachers Ever.
- In March of 2009, a teacher at Kingstone Elementary in Prince George’s County, MD was reassigned after taping the mouth of a student.
Resigned:
- In November of 2003, a fourth grade teacher at Susie Tolbert Middle School in Jacksonville, FL resigned after admitting to taping a student’s mouth shut with scotch tape.
Written by Laura Hubbard for the Huffington Post. Read the entire article here.
“A paraprofessional at Whitehead Road Elementary School in Athens, Ga. was put on leave after putting clear packaging tape over a girl’s mouth to prevent her from talking, WXIA-TV reported.
Clark Country Superintendent of Schools Philip Lanoue told the Athens Banner-Herald that this kind of treatment isn’t allowed at the elementary school.
“This incident is counter to our philosophy and how we work with kids, and we will not tolerate it. Swift action will always be taken if there are any issues like this in our district.””
Posted: 8:18AM, October 3, 2011