FL Teacher Sues Orange County District over "Kindergartner from Hell"

WND.com ^ | 06-01-03 | WND.com

[Theodore R.]

Teacher sues over 'kindergartner from hell' Claims disruptive boy caused 'loss of enjoyment of life'

Posted: June 1, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

A veteran teacher has filed suit against Orange County public schools over the humiliation, emotional and physical distress, and "loss of enjoyment of life" she claims she suffered because the district failed to remove a disruptive child from her class, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Teacher Cheri Dean (Courtesy: Orlando Sentinel)

"What I want out of this is justice," the paper quotes teacher Cheri Dean as saying. "What's so amazing is that these kinds of things are going on in other schools, and teachers won't say anything because they are intimidated."

The lawsuit contains multiple pages of examples of the boy's bullying and reportedly violent behavior at Lockhart Elementary in the fall of 2001.

Dean, 51, claims she kept a log of his misbehavior after the boy was reassigned to her classroom from another teacher's class.

Among the child's offenses, the suit details how he purportedly stabbed a classmate with a fork at lunch, started another fight and then told a teacher's aide to "kiss my butt."

On another occasion, according to the Sentinel, the boy hit two students, one in the back of the head and the other in the face, swung his fists at a third student and then punched a fourth who was reading, calling him an "ugly faggot."

Other students support Dean(Courtesy: Orlando Sentinel)

Dean said she repeatedly asked her principal to remove the child from the classroom, but was rebuffed.

"She was angry because no one was helping her or helping the child, who wasn't at a place where he should have been," Don Dean, the teacher's husband told the paper.

It is unclear to what extent the parents of the child were consulted on the matter.

Ultimately, Dean was reassigned to Catalina Elementary.

According to the Sentinel, school records indicate she had become disruptive to the school. She was reprimanded for filing a false complaint against her principal just before her transfer.

The school district's attorney defended the administration's handling of the matter.

Frank Kruppenbacher told the Sentinel a committee considered Dean's complaints, the child's behavior and how it affected the rest of the class before recommending that the student remain in the classroom.

Kruppenbacher also questioned the authenticity of Dean's log about the boy's actions.

"I find it incredible that anyone would put this kind of litany of student problems in a court case," he said.

As for the boy, he has mended his ways, according to his mother, who describes him as easily bored, wound-up and has trouble sitting still.

"There's been no fighting, no kicking and no punching at the new school," she told the paper.

At the same time Dean was transferred from Lockhart Elementary, the boy was transferred to a nearby school where certain teachers are certified to deal with challenging students.

Dean didn't fare as well from her transfer. The veteran of 18 years claims the events of the fall of 2001 so traumatized her she has been on medical leave since last fall, using all the sick days she had collected through the years, reports the Sentinel.

She has formed an informal group called Teachers Against Violence in Classrooms.

Supporters describe Dean as a good teacher. The week she left Lockhart Elementary, parents held signs in front of the school protesting her departure.

[Dakotabound]

When my son would act out in public...so would I.

You'd be surprised what breaking out into a rather garish song-and-dance routine in the aisle at WalMart does to calm a child.

[AppyPappy]

Better you pick his butt up and walk him out of the mall to a spanking.

Except that eventually you can't spank them anymore. Then what do you do? Spanking is only used for direct defiance. Otherwise, it loses its powers. They throw a fit, you spank them, they throw a fit because you spanked them. Then what? Another spanking? My mother had to draw blood to get my attention.

I have a parent like you in my kindergarten class. Her kid lies kicking and screaming on the floor until he gets "embarassed".

Isn't a parent a bit old to be in kindergarten? If a parent whacks a child in kindergarten around here, they'll get a visit from Social Services.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

That is my greatest fear. In the future, on the playground, a child calls another a terribly inappropriate word, and is charged with a hate crime. I truly think it will happen. We have all heard of the cases where kindergarteners were charged with sexual harassment, for kissing on the school bus. A ridiculous claim, since most kindergarteners that I have known are basically asexual human beings!

[who knows what evil?]

Lifebuoy? Please. Try 20 Mule Team Borax. Not only was it endorsed by the greatest President this dying country will ever have, the grit will stay in a child's teeth for ages. Heh, heh...

[RHINO369]

no they are going to execute this kid, he insulted homos, and thats why she will win teh suit

[Thinkin' Gal]

It's been my observations over the years that lead me to believe that a big part of the liberal mindset is "knowing" what's best for others, even though the liberal doesn't have a stinking clue about the subject matter. As long as they can rule what is going on, they're happy, and the final results really don't matter much. Because they care...

That sure sums it up. I call it "petty tyrant" mentality. It's also been my observation, that the more clueless/careless/irresponsible/soulless these types are, the more they crave control. I think they have a psychological need to mask their own faults, so the more corrupt they are, the more they must delude themselves. Hence, the do-gooders from hell.

It also explains for example, why a greenie (educrat) who can't keep his own yard (children) mowed and tidy (well-behaved and respectful), desires to anonymously dictate thru envirowacko (education) polices, what others can or can't do with their yards (children). It makes them feel better about themselves, like they really care about the environment (children). Ego-tripping leftists, all.

[Marie]

My friend's son was causing problems in his class in 7th grade. She told him that if there were ONE more problem, she would take two weeks off from her job to escort him to class every day. She would then sit by him in class (not quietly), in lunch, cheer him on in gym. She would tell the other students that he talked back to the teacher because he reallly did miss his mommy.

He knew she was really mean enough to do it. No more problems! :-)

[Marie]

My daughter is trying out a Charter school this fall. (Up 'til now she's been himeschooled.) The school tapes the class, then emails the clip showing THEIR child misbehaving that same day. Pure evidence.

[skinkinthegrass]

"There is a simple solution to all this: Birch rod & bare butt. Apply rod to butt as needed."...Good Lord, you Neanderthal!!!! Violence is NEVER the answer. The child is obviously ADHD, a serious medical condition that needs treatment. (sarcasm off)

(sarcasm off)...Glad you put that tag on there.

[The Red Zone]

Today, you could get arrested for that yourself on suspicion of lascivious behavior.

[honeygrl]

Someone needs to have a serious discussion with this kids mom and figure out what's going wrong with him and help her learn how to teach her son to respect authority figures and peers.

[honeygrl]

"Since the child was transferred to a more appropriate setting (teachers trained in dealing w/such students), why was the teacher ALSO transferred to another school? "

Especially after being a teacher for 18 yrs... maybe they were worried that the lawsuit would cause problems between her and her coworkers there?

[honeygrl]

"There is a simple solution to all this: Birch rod & bare butt. Apply rod to butt as needed. "

My sis lives in Texas and the schools still use corparal (sp?) punishment at school if the parent signs a consent form. I think this kid needs to be in a school that will whip his butt a few good times.

[honeygrl]

Student achievement Summary Details

School grade (2002) "C" This school was given a grade of "C" by the Florida Department of Education. This school received a "D" last year.

That's from the website you linked too.

[honeygrl]

"I offered her my belt. That did not go over well. :) "

That's because if we spank them in public anymore someone calls DFCS and gets them taken away for "abuse"

[honeygrl]

"We've gone through this whole gutless principal thing with our daughter who is in 3rd grade. Teacher's have been assaulted and he just can't throw the bad kids out. "

one of my half sisters in Texas had her child BANNED from the entire county (living there at all) for his behavior at school. He was in elementary school too. (in his case I wholeheartedly blame her for it too)

[The Red Zone]

If you told him to stop that tantrum and he didn't, isn't that a direct defiance? I don't think you should beat his butt bloody for it like some seem to be eager to do, but pulling him upright and giving a quick swat of your hand on the seat of the pants after he ignores your command to stop the tantrum, then telling him again to stop, would be fair.

[honeygrl]

"They've outgrown it now. I rather miss it. "

Can I send my 2 1/2 yr old to you until he grows out of it? :)

[honeygrl]

soap in mouth for the young does wonders in controlling obscenities. We use vinegar.

"We use vinegar. "

My mom used black pepper.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I had a classmate when I was very young (from first grade on) who was an extremely dysfunctional child. Total hell on wheels. He did a lot of things, most notably throwing scissors at the second grade teacher's back. She often had to have the rest of us step out of the room into the hallway while she dealt with him, in sort of a "cat and mouse"-style chase routine.

He only got worse as he grew, tormenting teachers and other students as long as I remember him being in school.

If I found out today he was in prison, it would not surprise me in the least.

Not sure what the answer to helping a child like that is (and I'm glad I'm not the one who has to try to figure that out), or what was at the root of his behavior, but it has to be incredibly stressful for a teacher. It was bad enough for those of us who were his fellow students. I have no recollection of him being suspended from school or removed from the class...he was always there, giving those poor teachers hell.

Another memory I have is of them trying EVERYTHING with him - discipline of all kinds, extreme kindness, special attention - you name it. Nothing worked.

They probably died five years earlier than they would have had they not met little redheaded Jim.