Boy, 9, Suspended for Saying Teacher was 'Cute'

[cmack]

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/29910470/detail.html

Mother says son was suspended for calling teacher ‘cute’

Posted: 5:35 pm EST December 2, 2011Updated: 6:06 pm EST December 2, 2011
GASTONIA, N.C. -- A Gastonia mother says her son was suspended for calling a teacher "cute.”

Chiquita Lockett said her 9-year-old son, Emanyea, spent the last two days at home.

Lockett said the principal of Brookside Elementary called her Wednesday to say the incident was a form of “sexual harassment.”

Emanyea told Eyewitness News a substitute teacher overheard him tell another student a teacher was cute.

Then he was suspended.

"It's not like he went up to the woman and tried to grab her or touch her in a sexual way," Lockett said. "So why would he be suspended for two days?”

A district spokeswoman said she could not go into detail, but said Emanyea was suspended for "inappropriate behavior" after making "inappropriate statements."

The district's Code of Conduct doesn't list "inappropriate behavior," but says "disruption of school" is punishable by five days of out-of-school suspension.

Copyright 2011 by WSOCTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[cmack]

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/12/03/s ... -was-cute/

Student suspended for saying teacher was “cute”
posted at 9:30 am on December 3, 2011 by Jazz Shaw

Is this an example of rude, young people with too little respect for their elders or political correctness once again run off the rails? In Gastonia, North Carolina, a student was suspended from school for “sexual harassment” toward one of his teachers. If the story were to stop right there we might all agree with the verdict. We certainly don’t need young people acting that way toward authority figures. But this case involves a nine year old boy… and what is he accused of?

A Gastonia mother says her son was suspended for calling a teacher “cute.”

Chiquita Lockett said her 9-year-old son, Emanyea, spent the last two days at home.

Lockett said the principal of Brookside Elementary called her Wednesday to say the incident was a form of “sexual harassment.”

Emanyea told Eyewitness News a substitute teacher overheard him tell another student a teacher was cute.

Then he was suspende

And this wasn’t even a situation where the boy was saying something to the teacher. He was talking to a friend and commented that the teacher was “cute.” So this was overheard by a substitute teacher and suddenly the kid is sent home.

It’s probably not a good habit to get into. While the word “cute” is not really offensive, it is a rather personal remark for a child to make about their elders. But this hardly seems to rise to the level of “sexual harassment.” We tend to overuse that term at times, though we shouldn’t shy away from it when it actually happens. But… “cute?” Really?

[DannyB.II]

Everyone wants to bang their teacher. It's human nature

[cmack]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... bled=false

N.C. principal Jerry Bostic loses job over suspending 9-year-old who called teacher ‘cute’
District apologizes to student Emanyea Lockett

BY Michael Sheridan
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Thursday, December 8 2011, 8:44 AM

 A North Carolina school district forced a principal into retirement and issued an apology after a 9-year-old boy was suspended for calling his teacher "cute."

Little Emanyea Lockett was given a three-day suspension when former Brookside Elementary School principal Jerry Bostic accused the boy of sexual harassment last week, according to WSOC 9 News in Gaston.

School officials investigated the matter and determined the principal overreacted.

"After a thorough investigation by school officials involving the suspension of a fourth grade student at one of our elementary schools, it has been determined there was no sexual harassment," the district said in a statement.

"We regret this situation happened," the district said. "The superintendent has attempted to contact the family to offer an apology to the parents and student. The school system is also sending an official letter of apology to the parents and student."

Bostic was given a choice by officials, according to the Gaston Gazette: Accept a demotion to assistant principal, or be fired. He opted to retire.

"One mistake in 44 years, and I'm not given the benefit of the doubt. I really don't believe I was treated fairly," Bostic told WSOC 9 News.

Emanyea’s suspension will not count on his record, officials said, and he will be given extra instruction to make up for the missed class time.

"This is something that everyone needed to see, just to see what's happening within our school systems," Lockett's mother, Chiquita, told WSOC 9 News.

msheridan@nydailynews.com; or follow him at Twitter.com/NYDNSheridan