Teacher Banned After Ripping Out Boy's Insulin Pump (zero tolerance=zero intelligence)

WKMG TV, Central Florida ^ | October 4, 2005 | Staff

[ChildOfThe60s]

School Officials: Teacher Thought Pump Was Cell Phone

POSTED: 4:24 pm EDT October 4, 2005 UPDATED: 4:37 pm EDT October 4, 2005

A substitute teacher in Lake County, Fla., was terminated and banned from teaching in the county after he ripped out a student's insulin pump during class apparently thinking it was a ringing cell phone, according to a Local 6 News report.

Officials said a ninth-grade student at East Ridge High School, who is a Type I diabetic, was in class Monday when his insulin pump began to beep, indicating he was low on insulin.

Witnesses said the class teacher, Richard Maline, 51, asked the student what the beeping was.

School officials said Maline then grabbed the device, thinking it was a cell phone beeping and detached the tube that connects the insulin pump to the student's leg.

The student went to the school's clinic and had the tube reinserted.

Lake County school officials then acted quickly and terminated Maline, Local 6 reporter Louis Bolden said.

"This is a very serious incident," Lake County schools spokesman Russell Anderson said. "Our substitute teachers, we provide them training on the behavior we expect of them in the classrooms. When they do something as serious as this, we don't hesitate to remove them from being a substitute teacher."

Maline told Local 6 News off camera that his is an unfortunate situation.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident and trying to determine if there was any criminal intent.

[ChildOfThe60s]

This struck a chord with me because the *principal*, when my daughter was in HS, tried to do the same thing to one of her friends. So, trust me, it isn't just the Subs that are idiots. They'll try to bame it on that, but the distorted thinking that drives public schools is responsible.

As an aside, if it had been my daughter, I would exact some serious punishment from the "teacher". My kid was homeschooled except for high school. That's why she was so amazed at how dumb the teachers are.

[andyssister]

How awful! My five year old just started school. He wears a pump for his type1 diabetes! Communication and parental presence is so key

[andyssister]

And by the way... I think it would hurt like hell to have your infusion set ripped out!

[Firefigher NC]

If that was my kid, the principal would've had to send the substitute out with a police escort.

[elli1]

I guess it didn't occur to the idiot to ask the kid to hand over the device. Assault charges are in order, IMO.

[andyssister]

Agreed. In this day and age there are so many students with asthma and food allergies.Ask first and worry about the zero tolerance B%%%s&&t later!

[Fierce Allegiance]

If that was my kid, the principal would've had to send the substitute out with a police escort. on a coroners gurney.

[Brainhose]

This makes me ill. This teacher should be in Jail for assault and battery.
This zero tolerance is crap.
Like the young girl that was expelled when she gave her friend a pamprin because she was having menstrual cramps. and may other cases like it.