Parents Outraged
- Melissa Andrews
5/26/2005 6:23:07 PM
Angry parents react after a substitute teacher admits to taping students' mouths shut.
The sub says she was joking, but some parents aren't laughing, calling the incident a case of child abuse.
Substitutes don't undergo the same training as everyday teachers so should the schools change their requirements?
When Christina Stunich's first grader told her that her substitute teacher at Fuqua Elementary had put tape over her mouth, she was fed up.
"I was infuriated. I don't see where she thought it was right for her to put her hands on any of the children regardless of whether it was tape or anything," says Stunich.
On Tuesday, Christina says, her daughter Chassidy said sub Sheryl Smith told her class to be quiet, then taped closed the mouths of six students.
A situation that according to Christina and Chassidy's father, is not just a case of bad judgement.
"To me that's child abuse and I feel that further actions should be taken, an investigation."
Smith has been fired, but other parents like Becky Miller say it's not enough. A big change is in order.
"I think they all should be licensed. I mean, we're putting our children in the hands of teachers. Just like any other profession, there should be a background check. Make sure they're safe and that they know the proper way to handle our children without abuse," says Miller.
We obtained a substitute teacher application from the Vigo County School Corporation. If you have 60 college credits in any subject, 15 bucks and a clear criminal record, you can too can be a substitute teacher."
A professor of education for St. Mary of the Woods College says lack of experience and training may lead to problems in the classroom.
"It's a combination perhaps of training and maybe a combination of individual school system policies in terms of how well they orient teachers," says Professor of Education Debra Moore Hardin.
Meanwhile, Chassidy's parents are talking with an attorney to make sure this never happens again.
Action 10 News asked Vigo County Superintendent Danny Tanoos for an interview on this story.
But Tanoos insisted the only way he'd do the interview is if we did not show pictures of Fuqua School.
It is the policy of Action 10 News to not conduct such interviews if there are strings of any sort attached.
- Melissa Andrews
5/26/2005 6:23:07 PM
Angry parents react after a substitute teacher admits to taping students' mouths shut.
The sub says she was joking, but some parents aren't laughing, calling the incident a case of child abuse.
Substitutes don't undergo the same training as everyday teachers so should the schools change their requirements?
When Christina Stunich's first grader told her that her substitute teacher at Fuqua Elementary had put tape over her mouth, she was fed up.
"I was infuriated. I don't see where she thought it was right for her to put her hands on any of the children regardless of whether it was tape or anything," says Stunich.
On Tuesday, Christina says, her daughter Chassidy said sub Sheryl Smith told her class to be quiet, then taped closed the mouths of six students.
A situation that according to Christina and Chassidy's father, is not just a case of bad judgement.
"To me that's child abuse and I feel that further actions should be taken, an investigation."
Smith has been fired, but other parents like Becky Miller say it's not enough. A big change is in order.
"I think they all should be licensed. I mean, we're putting our children in the hands of teachers. Just like any other profession, there should be a background check. Make sure they're safe and that they know the proper way to handle our children without abuse," says Miller.
We obtained a substitute teacher application from the Vigo County School Corporation. If you have 60 college credits in any subject, 15 bucks and a clear criminal record, you can too can be a substitute teacher."
A professor of education for St. Mary of the Woods College says lack of experience and training may lead to problems in the classroom.
"It's a combination perhaps of training and maybe a combination of individual school system policies in terms of how well they orient teachers," says Professor of Education Debra Moore Hardin.
Meanwhile, Chassidy's parents are talking with an attorney to make sure this never happens again.
Action 10 News asked Vigo County Superintendent Danny Tanoos for an interview on this story.
But Tanoos insisted the only way he'd do the interview is if we did not show pictures of Fuqua School.
It is the policy of Action 10 News to not conduct such interviews if there are strings of any sort attached.
