CA - 14 Year Old Told To Urinate In Front Of Class

[MSM]

And then people would have discussed you on here, saying they hope you got locked away for years, because of parents like you this country is going to heck, and they'd hope your own kids would be taken away from you seeing how bad of a parent you are. You know, one of those ones that says 'not my kid'.

Maybe I should just quit reading the Up To The Minute forum.... lol. All news like this is shown one-sided and being how I'm someone who is always able to see the other side's viewpoint, it gets more and more tiring to read threads like this.
We don't know exactly what transpired in the minutes, days, weeks leading up to this - why the teacher said what he said (if this is what he said) and why the kid didn't just say heck no and walk out.
I'm not saying y'all need to 'shut up', just that I'm getting tired of the media I guess. I've worked as a reporter from 1987 to 2003 and in the last years of that I could see integrity go down the drain. And it's only getting worse. And people are getting slaughtered because of it.

These are such great points. I love Websleuths and really enjoy discussing cases and incidents in the news with everyone here, but you are right that the threads can be very predictable sometimes. Typically an inflammatory or outrageous story is posted, then everyone chimes in with "How terrible!" or "This is awful!" or what-have-you, accepting everything presented in the story at face value. Sometimes it's rather obvious when there is not another side worth listening to, but often the stories leave out important information like you said.

 

[Amraann]

These are such great points. I love Websleuths and really enjoy discussing cases and incidents in the news with everyone here, but you are right that the threads can be very predictable sometimes. Typically an inflammatory or outrageous story is posted, then everyone chimes in with "How terrible!" or "This is awful!" or what-have-you, accepting everything presented in the story at face value. Sometimes it's rather obvious when there is not another side worth listening to, but often the stories leave out important information like you said.

There was a time when what the media said was taken at face value (even if back then MUCH was not true or omitted)

About this incident I don't really have any sympathy for a teacher who would say that.
On the same token I would wonder why a FOURTEEN yo would listen?
I know damn well at 14 I would have walked out.
Probably would have gotten detention... I had some real wonders as teachers.
So I can and do believe that not all teachers are great or kind ... I have also met some really wonderful teachers.
I would defend my child to the ends of the earth but I have also made it clear to their teachers that if mine is messing up that they have my FULL and TOTAL backing.

When my second oldest was 14 I get a call from the school principal saying he was suspended for 3 days for fighting on the bus..
Now although he was a little smart A$$ and did not always complete his work and probably talked to much in class ..... fighting he had never done.
So I was a bit shocked but not like "oh! not my child"
I figured he was 14 it could happen..... I made the principal put him on the phone and laid into him and told him he was punished until further notice..
I was seething mad at him.
Now there was no mention that he was injured as a matter of fact that was the very first thing I asked, if my son and the other were both OK.
I was told without hesitation that they were both fine and "unmarked".
So my son walks in the door 8 hours later with this RAGING SWOLLEN almost shut black eye. Trust me when I say this was not a bruise that slowly evolved over the course of the day.. (this fact was later confirmed)
So by then I had calmed a little and I say to my son WOW! what does the other kid look like?
This is when my son explains that this was no boys will be boys and two start fighting... This was TWO boys held my son down while the one started beating him up...
HOLD THE *advertiser censored** UP! IMO that IS a far far cry from a "fight" and why the hell is my kid suspended for being attacked??
I did first confirm he did not in anyway touch any of these boys at ANY time.
I don't know why the bus driver ever permitted it.
At any rate my son told the principal this and the stupid jerk simply asked the other 3 boys involved if it was true.
Hello??? DUH! Why not ask the other children on the bus?
Let me tell you I did not even bother calling this a$$hole (whom by the way was a total condescending jerk on the phone)
I immediately called the superintendant and explained what had happend.
The next day they put another principal on it to investigate.. He kind of himmmed and hawwed while he tried to back the first one....
But he did not know I had already called parents of other children on the bus and asked them to ask their kids what took place.
Needless to say I nailed their butts both to the wall. They both had to apologize.

 

[txsvicki]

:clap: Thank you so much for responding to this as someone who has been on the other side. I don't think that what happened was right, but my husband is a middle school teacher and he comes home every day saying how he can't believe the way the kids act these days. We are not old, either - he has been teaching for 3 years and he can't believe how progressively worse it is getting - the disrespect - the attitude that if they don't like something, they will get their parents involved and blow everything out of proportion to get the teacher into trouble for the "fun" of it. They do not understand the consequences of their actions. I do not know exactly what went on in that classroom, but I can almost guarantee that it wasn't as simple as the teacher not letting the student go and seriously telling him to pee in a bottle. Honestly, I can see a kid that age doing it to get major attention from everybody - So, please everyone that is bashing the teachers these days - give them a little credit. They are dealing with a new generation of kids who think they are on the same level as them - one of my husbands 6th grade students told him she wasn't going to participate because class was getting "too political" and if he had a problem with it, he could talk to her parents! ha. wow.

Middle school kids are still children and are human beings deserving of respect by people who are entrusted and paid to watch them during the day, and I think it's great that they are not afraid to let people know that they will get their parents involved. They are only voicing the opinions of their parents and is a sign of how many in people are feeling towards educational issues. Actually, I think parents should be very involved, much more than they ever were in past years. I know how kids are though because I have been raising 8 of them for about my whole life and also dealt with all their friends. I'd never treat others' kids in any way that I wouldn't right in front of a CPS worker either. I knew the teacher wouldn't get in any trouble for having the teen go in the bottle. There's no way he didn't tell the boy to do it, because if he didn't, the boy would have been arrested on the spot and probably still be in detention. He would have definitely been in trouble and the fact that he's not, tells it all for me.

 

[Mygirlsadie]

I have to say that I agree with you. My daughter is this age and believe me if she reallyyyy had to go that bad she would just get up and walk out Taking the time to go pee in a bottle in the corner at 14?? Kind of sounds to me like this boy knew exactly what would get this teacher in trouble and went with it..he could of easily walked out of that class to the bathroom. I think also there is more to this story.

I have a different take on this, so don't bash me. I definitely agree that to urinate in the classroom is totally inappropriate, but I think there's more to this story then what we're hearing. Maybe the teacher is sick and tired of this kid disrupting the class and doubted he really had to go to the bathroom but was just looking for an excuse for getting out of class. That doesn't excuse how the teacher addressed this situation, and I'm sure he'll lose his job over it. I'd like to know the history of this boy and if he tends to disrupt the class. Also, at 14, the boy didn't have to follow through and urinate in the bottle in the classroom. He could have just as easily walked out the door letting his teacher know he really had to go and he was going. I don't want to judge this boy, but 14 yr olds can be real smart mouths and love attention. No one forced this boy to go in the bottle. I honestly don't see this a case for a lawsuit. I think America is "sue" crazy!

 

[Megs]

Middle school kids are still children and are human beings deserving of respect by people who are entrusted and paid to watch them during the day, and I think it's great that they are not afraid to let people know that they will get their parents involved. They are only voicing the opinions of their parents and is a sign of how many in people are feeling towards educational issues. Actually, I think parents should be very involved, much more than they ever were in past years. I know how kids are though because I have been raising 8 of them for about my whole life and also dealt with all their friends. I'd never treat others' kids in any way that I wouldn't right in front of a CPS worker either. I knew the teacher wouldn't get in any trouble for having the teen go in the bottle. There's no way he didn't tell the boy to do it, because if he didn't, the boy would have been arrested on the spot and probably still be in detention. He would have definitely been in trouble and the fact that he's not, tells it all for me.

I never said they weren't deserving of that respect - but what about the kids having respect for that teacher that is entrusted and paid to "watch" them during the day? I have 3 children myself and agree that parents should be totally involved - the problem I have is that the parents don't want to hear how their children really are most of the time - it might just be where I live - I don't know, but I highly doubt it.

The part about the children voicing their parents opinions is right on and it's frustrating because these parents are basing their opinions on children who like to embellish and get attention by stretching the truth - they do not even attempt to hear the teacher's side of the story.

 

[Pandora]

I'm curious about how y'all would feel about my policy when I taught. Every student received three "potty passes" at the beginning of the semester. They could be used at any time, but they had to be turned in and only one person could leave the room at a time. However, if these passes were not used for the restroom and were turned in at the end of the semester, low grades could be dropped: 1 pass= 1 low homework or quiz grade; 2 passes = 2 low homework or quiz grades; 3 passes = 3 low homework or quiz grades OR 1 low test grade. I figured out for each student what would help his/her average the most.
I'm sure some will probably think that it isn't fair, BUT if I received a legitimate note from a doctor, I modified the policy as appropriate. (By legitimate, I mean from a GP or specialist--dentists, chiropractors, etc. . ., need not apply.)
I taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

 

[KarlK]

"It was really, really embarrassing," Michael said. "It's still embarrassing."

Even though I disagree with the teacher I suspect that Patterson wasn't embarrassed the least bit. Any guy who reads this thread will likely agree with me, for obvious reasons (obvious to men at least).

 

[KarlK]

I'm curious about how y'all would feel about my policy when I taught. Every student received three "potty passes" at the beginning of the semester. They could be used at any time, but they had to be turned in and only one person could leave the room at a time. However, if these passes were not used for the restroom and were turned in at the end of the semester, low grades could be dropped: 1 pass= 1 low homework or quiz grade; 2 passes = 2 low homework or quiz grades; 3 passes = 3 low homework or quiz grades OR 1 low test grade. I figured out for each student what would help his/her average the most.
I'm sure some will probably think that it isn't fair, BUT if I received a legitimate note from a doctor, I modified the policy as appropriate. (By legitimate, I mean from a GP or specialist--dentists, chiropractors, etc. . ., need not apply.)
I taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

Piss pass? That's creative

 

[Nova]

I'm curious about how y'all would feel about my policy when I taught. Every student received three "potty passes" at the beginning of the semester. They could be used at any time, but they had to be turned in and only one person could leave the room at a time. However, if these passes were not used for the restroom and were turned in at the end of the semester, low grades could be dropped: 1 pass= 1 low homework or quiz grade; 2 passes = 2 low homework or quiz grades; 3 passes = 3 low homework or quiz grades OR 1 low test grade. I figured out for each student what would help his/her average the most.
I'm sure some will probably think that it isn't fair, BUT if I received a legitimate note from a doctor, I modified the policy as appropriate. (By legitimate, I mean from a GP or specialist--dentists, chiropractors, etc. . ., need not apply.)
I taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

Sounds quite fair to me. And productive. Kids need to learn to schedule their urination breaks around other activities. Your system was an excellent encouragement because it encouraged the kids to take responsibility for their own behavior (in the bathroom and with regards to homework).

 

[JBean]

I'm curious about how y'all would feel about my policy when I taught. Every student received three "potty passes" at the beginning of the semester. They could be used at any time, but they had to be turned in and only one person could leave the room at a time. However, if these passes were not used for the restroom and were turned in at the end of the semester, low grades could be dropped: 1 pass= 1 low homework or quiz grade; 2 passes = 2 low homework or quiz grades; 3 passes = 3 low homework or quiz grades OR 1 low test grade. I figured out for each student what would help his/her average the most.
I'm sure some will probably think that it isn't fair, BUT if I received a legitimate note from a doctor, I modified the policy as appropriate. (By legitimate, I mean from a GP or specialist--dentists, chiropractors, etc. . ., need not apply.)
I taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

This is what my kids had in middle school. They saved them like cash.

 

[Pandora]

I'm glad my potty passes are getting positive feedback.
In regards to the saving them like cash. . . .I'm sure there were a few cases where money exchanged hands.

 

[gitana1]

I totally agree. I am not sure why the NAACP is involved... perhaps the family doesn't have the means to hire an attorney and the NAACP is helping them that way. I don't think this is about race. It would be just as upsetting is the races were reversed (black teacher, whole student).

That poor kid. I am not sure I would have been able to contain my anger... I think I would have found that teacher myself and had it out.

Here's why:

Teachers Of All Races Are More Likely To Punish Black Students http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/27/black-students-punished_n_7449538.html

Another article about discipline, humiliation and minority students:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=3TMRH4vxz0bwrSlt381pWg&bvm=bv.96339352,d.cGU

 

[JSinUK]

Whether racism was a motivating factor here I cannot say. But that teacher was an idiot.

He wouldn't let the kid go to the bathroom to pee and instead made him do his business in a bottle in full earshot of the class - only to let him go to the bathroom afterwards to dispose of it and let him clean up anyway! So going to the bathroom after all was not such a big deal.

This was clearly about humiliation. For whatever reason - whether it be for racist motives or not I cannot say - that teacher wanted to humiliate that kid by forcing him to urinate in the presence of his classmates, presumably some of whom would have been giggling girls? Putting myself into the mindset of a 14 year old boy, the fact of girls being present would have trebled the humiliation.

That teacher definitely deserved to be fired and sued at the very least. And some people do have a sexual interest in urination and/or humiliation. I could not rule that out with this teacher, which thought would seriously anger me were I the kid's parent. I know this - if that boy were my son and a teacher did that to him......well let's just say that I'd be having "serious words" with the guy. Then I'd kicking up one unholy stink with the school and legal authorities, and making sure the teacher's name and his disgraceful actions were plastered all over the media.

 

[PrairieWind]

I know this is an old topic, but I just wanted to add something. Seems everyone was calling for the teacher to be fired. However, in the end, the teacher was just transferred to a different school and the student was suspended. The only comments I could find was that the school district said their investigation showed that the student had acted on his own. So I am guessing that the other students in the classroom did not back up the student in his claim of what the teacher did/said. The news reports sounded pretty outrageous, but they were entirely based upon the statements of the 14 year old boy and his family, which the teacher and school were unable to refute publicly for privacy reasons.

 

[JSinUK]

I know this is an old topic, but I just wanted to add something. Seems everyone was calling for the teacher to be fired. However, in the end, the teacher was just transferred to a different school and the student was suspended. The only comments I could find was that the school district said their investigation showed that the student had acted on his own. So I am guessing that the other students in the classroom did not back up the student in his claim of what the teacher did/said. The news reports sounded pretty outrageous, but they were entirely based upon the statements of the 14 year old boy and his family, which the teacher and school were unable to refute publicly for privacy reasons.

Well, there are two sides to every story. The outcome could be due to to your assumptions about what happened being correct. And yes we perhaps only heard the boy's side of the story.

But it could also be a case of misuse of power and deliberate humiliation of a nuisance kid wha was also considered a jerk by his classmates and thus were behind what was done to him and thought he deserved it. And the school authorities therefore could have unduly sympathised with the teacher's inexcusable actions and protected him as far as they could. The fact that he was transferred to a different school is suggestive of the possibility that he might not have been entirely innocent in this, and was treated so leniently purely because the victim was an unpopular jerk.

Fact is, we don't know either way. I'd listen to his account for sure. But as long as the boy's account goes unchallenged it needs to be taken seriously. And I don't think it appears to have either been treated seriously enough, nor refuted in any significant way.