What can be done about this teacher?

A former 5th grade teacher of 2 of my daughters has had anger management issues for decades. She has tenure, obviously - so it's hard to get rid of her because of the teachers union.
My older daughter had no issues with her personally, other than saying Mrs. M had singled out 5 boys and was mean to them throughout the year. My younger daughter only had her for math class and toward the end of the year, Mrs. M became upset with her and attempted to grab my daughter. My daughter ducked and fled to the office, called me and I came up there and said she would no longer have Mrs. M for math. My younger daughter was in a full blown panic attack, unable to speak or respond, when I arrived at the school. She had shut down - I have NEVER seen this in a child before.
SO - when my son entered 5th grade this year, I told them under no circumstance was he to have Mrs. M or any contact with her. ZERO.

Well, on Friday Mrs. M slapped a child across the face. I just learned of it and I heard she is still at school. How is this possible? I will be going up there today to talk to the principals, but seriously - what would you do? I'm thinking about calling the Superintendent, the news, the newspaper, etc.... The mother is taking her to court and I have been asked to make a statement. I want to know why she's not in jail.

2008-10-29T06:21:08Z

Past incidents include throwing desks, tables, screaming at children, throwing books (that my kids could hear being in a classroom directly downstairs from her - then heard she had thrown books), etc...

2008-10-29T06:47:12Z

Yeah, I'm just sorry I didn't pay more attention to the needs of my kids' classmates. I have a lot of regret about it. I knew the school threatened her a few times and sent her to anger management classes more than once.
A friend of mine (whose daughters are in the same grades as my younger daughter and son) are going up there today to find out what is going on. My son will not be returning to school until she is out of the building.
Another mom has already tried calling me, so a parental group is coming together. All 5th graders go to 1 school now (this is the first yr) so we're trying to network with other parents we don't know yet.

nicemeryla2008-10-29T09:05:14Z

Favorite Answer

I am in shock! I am a teacher not in TUSD....and she should be placed IMMEDIATELY on leave by her administrator (thats what they have done in cases where a teacher was accused of a sexual crime-like in MBUSD when a teacher was eventually found not-guilty...they immediately suspend the teacher with pay DURING the investigation)...EVEN IF The district has to pay her due to union agreements and due process.... I think you should call the Daily Breeze...this is WHY we need CHANGE in TUSD... this is archaic... I cannot beleive this is happening in our local schools. I am so sorry for the parents and children that had to endure this pycho.!!

jack of all trades2008-10-29T13:36:34Z

You might not have any recourse at all simply because your children are not the teacher's students any longer. If you can find out if the child was really slapped, and if you can find out who her parents are, you can join with them to complain to the school board and to threaten legal action as well. The parents of the assaulted child can prefer charges. They can call the police, and the teacher, I was one for many years, can be arrested, lose her job and her teaching credential. And, she should.

I had one of those teachers in elementary school, fifth grade, and I taught with one. They need to do something else for their own good, but especially for the students' good.

By the way, tenure is granted by state law, not teachers' unions. It was originally instituted to keep districts from hiring a young teacher and keeping him for a couple of years then letting him go so they could hire a younger, cheaper, teacher to take his place. Tenure should not protect an incompetent teacher or a teacher who in any way abuses her/his students.

Ritu Wazirchand2008-10-29T13:31:20Z

Such behavior and it has not come to the notice of the authorities?I feel all parents should get together if there is parents union and sure something could be done .U are right call up the newspapers, tv show if u could manage and talk about it .Once its out to the media surely a reputed school ill take action.Hope things fall in to place.

Anonymous2008-10-29T13:27:10Z

Do all of the above! That is horrible and it makes me sad to think of the children who go to learn and instead have to be scared of their teacher. When I was in first grade I had a teacher who would knock over desks and throw things when she got upset, she would make someone cry everyday, she would walk by your desk and if she got mad at you she would knock it over while you were sitting by it...I was terrified of this woman and my stomach was in knots every day, Im 28 now and I still remember her like it was yesterday...what that woman did was assault and your damn right she should be in jail. I would call the news an whoever else and humiliate her like she has been doing to those kids

heymom2008-10-29T13:59:22Z

I can't believe that teacher still works there! If you get no satisfaction from the principal or superintendent, definitely call the most respected news station in your town. Good luck.

Show more answers (2)