Couple bug Ohio student to hear teacher bullying

[n2doc]

By KANTELE FRANKO, Associated Press

Wednesday, November 16, 2011


A couple raising a 14-year-old developmentally disabled student say they hid a recording device on the girl to prove a teacher and school aide were bullying her, and the audio and subsequent investigations have led to a lawsuit, the aide's resignation and disciplinary action for the teacher.

The girl's mother and the woman's longtime boyfriend said in court documents that they complained about the mental and emotional abuse to school officials in the Miami Trace district, about 30 miles southwest of Columbus, and then secretly recorded instructors' comments for four days last spring after their claims were rebuffed.

In the recording, voices identified as aide Kelly Chaffins and teacher Christie Wilt are heard questioning the girl's weight and how active she is and making derogatory comments about her character.

"Are you that damn dumb? You are that dumb?" Chaffins said. "Oh, my God. You are such a liar. You told me you don't know. It's no wonder you don't have friends. No wonder nobody likes you because you lie, cheat."



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/16/national/a093438S71.DTL

[NYC_SKP]

1. Miami Trace District, Well One Could Write to the Superintendent or the Board, Here:

..

http://www.miamitrace.k12.oh.us/

Shameful.

x(

[MADem]

2. The school district got off cheap.

How can people be such assholes?


A $300,000 settlement was reached in a lawsuit filed this year by the girl's family against the school district, Wilt and Chaffins, the attorneys said.

The lawsuit alleged verbal and emotional abuse and inappropriate comments by the aide and the teacher, as well as failure by school officials to report suspected child abuse. It also said the instructors put the girl on a treadmill if they were not satisfied with her work.

The school has said the treadmill is used strategically to help students focus.

Chaffins resigned, and the State Board of Education on Tuesday accepted her decision to give up her educational aide permit "based upon her inappropriate comments to students," according to documents from the board. That prohibits Chaffins from getting another job as an Ohio teacher's aide.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/16/national/a093438S71.DTL#ixzz1dvlfkRnY

[Occulus]

3. That settlement amount seems to be missing a zero.

"the instructors put the girl on a treadmill if they were not satisfied with her work."

Yeah. Definitely missing a zero.

[MADem]

4. I agree with you. nt

[Odin2005]

5. There are no words!

:grr: