It was either 1993 or 1994 at Lathers Elementary School
in Garden City, Michigan, that my daughter, Nicole, came home with a paragraph
of apology she had to write, fifty times, in regards to disrespecting the
substitute teacher, Ms. Ousterhout. Since Nicole had never been in trouble a
day in her life, I questioned her about the circumstance that led to the
punishment. She told me stories about the other kids, and the statement: “The
only job you will ever be able to get will be flipping burgers,” which Ms.
Ousterhout made to another student for not standing correctly in line. I was
livid. I told Nicole she wasn’t allowed to write the paragraph, because she
wasn’t going to apologize for something she didn’t do. She was upset. She was
afraid she would get in trouble. I called the school, talked to the principle
who switched me to Ms. Ousterhout. I asked her what role Nicole played in the
trouble she had with the class. She admitted Nicole was not responsible for any
of the trouble, but the whole class was ordered to write the paragraph. I
refused to allow it. I told her as a parent, I trump her. I also raised the
issue of telling any kid they were so dumb they would grow up flipping burgers.
Ms. Ousterhout began to cry. She didn’t need to be in a classroom setting. The
next day Ms. Ousterhout was on every television news broadcast for hitting a
second grader. Today, I read about an elementary school in Texas that forced
about twenty-four kids to pull down
their pants and show their underwear. They were searching for the perpetrator
who was defecating on the gym floor.
While researching this incident I ran across another
case of tenured protected molestation. In San Diego, assistant principle, Rita
Wilson, lifted girls’ skirts and dresses as they entered a school dance to
see if they were wearing thongs. This was not done in private; this was done at
the entrance of the dance, in front of boys and male and female adults. Not
that doing it in private would make it any better, it would just bear less
humiliation for the student. If the girls were wearing thongs, they were sent
home to change before they would be admitted into the dance.Rita’s punishment was demotion. She lost her position and is now a teacher of the same students of which she played peek a boo.
I thought about Ms. Ousterhout, egotistically ordering
all to apologize for the act of one. I thought about how angry I was that my
daughter was expected to admit responsibility for something she didn’t do and
pay the price for it. Writing paragraphs is one thing, dropping your pants,
lifting your skirts, that’s another.
If a preschool acted in the same manner they would be
fully investigated and closed down. If a neighbor asked the kid next door to
show either a thong or his underwear he would be arrested for molestation and
put on the sexual predators list. Should high school or elementary school
teachers be treated any differently? Should the penance be less than any other
person who chooses to molest a child or should the consequence be higher,
because children are taught to obey educational officials?
I am appalled that Rita was only demoted. I am
disgusted that she still has a teaching position in a public school. Though, it’s
unclear what will happen with the Texas school officials, I’m sure it will be
another slap on the wrist and the remains will be swept under the entrance ramp
rug of the public educational facility.
Next, it will be said that the teachers had a right to
force the Texas children to drop their pants for a poop check. It will be okay
Rita humiliated young women by her thong check. Why? Because their religion
says it’s okay. The storm is brewing in America. Leave our children alone. Angry parents are a force that should never be pushed.
Till the next time, keep your pants up and your skirts down kids…JUST SAY NO!!! And your parents will be proud.
Pam
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