Should This Teacher Be Fired?

[TripTango]

I just think its crazy that people immediately call for termination. His story is believable and he has an 18 year history of no incidents. Plus the video doesn't prove much, as it's edited.

Sure, punish him. Put record of this in his file and tell him the next time something even remotely similar happens, he's fired.

His "story" is a non-story. It's just a bunch of euphemisms like "horseplay" that don't explain anything. I hear you on the edited video issue, but I'm really struggling to see ANY context for that kind of activity in class that would vindicate this guy. What -- do you think the video was edited to remove the part where the tiny kid was possessed by demons, thus justifying a massive takedown by four students AND THE TEACHER? Did we miss the part where the boy was begging to have his socks pulled off and shoved in his face? Please. At best this teacher lacks both professionalism and classroom management ability, and at worst he's a bully and a danger to the students in his care. In my mind, his extensive teaching experience is more of a negative than a positive -- if he's gone this long without figuring out how to manage students appropriately, he's not likely to change his ways just because of a 10-day suspension.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I just think its crazy that people immediately call for termination. His story is believable and he has an 18 year history of no incidents. Plus the video doesn't prove much, as it's edited.

Sure, punish him. Put record of this in his file and tell him the next time something even remotely similar happens, he's fired.

Allowing a helpless kid to be bullied and to participate in any way = you're fired.

Period.

It is beyond comprehension you stand for such crap.

 

[44Thrilla]

His "story" is a non-story. It's just a bunch of euphemisms like "horseplay" that don't explain anything. I hear you on the edited video issue, but I'm really struggling to see ANY context for that kind of activity in class that would vindicate this guy. What -- do you think the video was edited to remove the part where the tiny kid was possessed by demons, thus justifying a massive takedown by four students AND THE TEACHER? Did we miss the part where the boy was begging to have his socks pulled off and shoved in his face? Please. At best this teacher lacks both professionalism and classroom management ability, and at worst he's a bully and a danger to the students in his care. In my mind, his extensive teaching experience is more of a negative than a positive -- if he's gone this long without figuring out how to manage students appropriately, he's not likely to change his ways just because of a 10-day suspension.

I have seen kids that were good friends mess around like that in that video many times. My friends and I used to do similar stuff when I was that age. I can see why the teacher would think they were just kidding around and having fun if none of the boys were protesting. Sure, he shouldn't let any of it happen in a classroom setting, but I can totally see how he didn't realize this kid didn't enjoy it, if the kid never said anything.

 

[44Thrilla]

Allowing a helpless kid to be bullied and to participate in any way = you're fired.

Period.

It is beyond comprehension you stand for such crap.

sure, if that's what actually happened, I would agree with you. The problem is, I wasn't there. I don't know all the facts. I just read a little article and saw an edited cell phone video. I feel like there's some question over what exactly occurred in the classroom, and I believe 18 years of no incidents is enough to give the guy a second chance.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I feel like there's some question over what exactly occurred in the classroom, and I believe 18 years of no incidents is enough to give the guy a second chance.

No second chances for allowing and participating in bullying- or either of the two, as a teacher is so reprehensible that I don't care if he has 30 years in, he's toast. There are some things that are fireable offenses- and this is one of them.

 

[jlprk]

If only the U.S. would apply that standard at its torture centers.