Posted on 09/10/2008 2:05:09 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan
Peyton Elementary Principal Michael Auclaire apologized to students and parents Tuesday afternoon for a "lesson" the previous day in which he told students to don a glove and look inside a soggy bag of human feces and urine.
The incident occurred because he and the school's janitorial staff were frustrated by ongoing messes left in a girl's bathroom generally used by fourth- and fifth-graders, Auclaire said. While his intention was to get the kids to understand how inappropriate it was to defecate on the floor or a toilet seat, or to leave a bag of excrement, he said Tuesday that making the students handle the bag of waste "was not the best thing to do."
"So today I went in and apologized to the kids, and I wrote a letter to apologize to their parents," he said.
He heard from several parents Tuesday, who questioned why he made the children handle the soggy bag.
He said each child was given a janitorial glove and was told to remove it by pulling it off from the sleeve - not the fingers - and to wash their hands. He said he believes most of the students washed their hands after the incident, although they were not monitored. Brian Tally, the father of a fourth-grade girl and also the fourth-grade girls basketball coach, said he learned of the incident from his daughter after school.
"My daughter said it was absolutely disgusting," he said. "I was just appalled. I couldn't believe anyone would do something like that."
Tally and parent Kerri Peters said no note of explanation or information about any ongoing problems in the bathrooms had been sent home prior to Tuesday.
Tally said that he spoke briefly with Auclaire on Tuesday morning, and that he told the principal he thought the action was inappropriate and that he was concerned about the health risks.
When asked what they would like to see happen, both Tally and Peters questioned whether Auclaire, who is new to the school this year, should keep his job.
"I don't know if an apology is enough," Peters said. "How is he any better than the child who did this?"
While Tally said his initial reaction is that the principal should be removed, he said he is willing to listen if Auclaire will have a discussion with parents.
"I just really want to make sure my daughter is safe," Tally said.
Auclaire, who is retired from the Air Force and taught math at Peyton High School last year, said he's invited parents to come to the school Thursday afternoon to talk about the incident and anything else that's on their mind. He also said he has worked hard to get to know all students at the school, and played basketball with some on Tuesday.
As for the bathroom problems, Auclaire said the messes likely are being made by a troubled student, and when he talked to the classes on Monday he emphasized that he wanted to talk to and help whoever was responsible.
He said the bathrooms will be monitored more closely in an effort to prevent further problems.
Mothers are delaying potting training until their children learn to read. Haven’t you seen the TV ad, LOL.
ROTFLMAO!
It’s Mystery of the Urinal Deuce! Another South Park episode brought to life!
Geez, that town’s just a few miles east of here.
or to leave a bag of excrement
If 4th 5th graders are crapping in bags and leaving it lie in the restrooms this school has many more problems then 1 idiot teacher.
I can not understand why any parent wuld have their children in the Government schools....
Nothing speaks to a 4 or 5 year old like a long hearty EUWwwwwwwwwwwe.
Not AGE 4-5
Grades 4-5.
Something like, oh... crapping on the floor in the girl's bathroom and leaving it for the janitor to clean up, maybe? Talk about disgusting.
Add another voice.
As one who has cleaned restrooms, among other jobs, the junior high school females were the absolute worst of all sexes/ages.
Where’d he get the bag of excrement? Was he shouting in the street outside one of the political conventions with a scarf over his face?
My uncle was a janitor of a Jr. High School. The boys used to whiz on the radiators in the wintertime...apparently, they made a satisfying hissing noise, as well as stinking the joint up.
Uncle's solution? Go to all of the urinals in the boys room and put a dot of Nail Polish on the back of them. Gave the kids something to aim at....problem solved.
Of course, Unc passed away 15 years ago...he'd probably get sued for inappropriate use of makeup, now, or some such nonsense....
Your tax dollars at work in the gov’ment skools!
Of course, if the 4th and 5th grade BOYS were asked to do this, they would’ve thought it was cool.
Me? I would’ve asked for the bag of crap, to light on fire and put on old man Johnsons front stoop!
I know, I am a reprobate.
People are strange. I talked with someone who worked at a department store and they said it wasn’t uncommon to find used tampons in the women’s changing rooms. And someone took a bunch of clothing into the changing room, made a pile and peed all over them.
It’s like people that leave dirty disposable diapers all over the parking lot and other places.
So, because there is obviously one sicko in the group, then why not punish all of them. Makes good sense (/sarc)
With out the whole story there are always misinterpretations. Since my child was one of the 4th grade students I can accurately make a comment. And you Mr. Jazzy, are some what correct.....Boys do think differently than girls. The boys were instructed to “take a peek at the poop” My son was more scared because he was being told to go into the girls bathroom, and as he said it “That was not normal.” I figured with that kind of response, my child is innocent. I feel the principal could have handled it differently, but hine-sight is always 20/20. The fact that a parent would call in the media before even speaking to anyone at the school to get all the facts really baffles me. I can’t believe how fast this story has spread.
Somewhat correct is about par for me, according to Mrs. Jazzy.
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