[Vision2020] Investigation into Summer Larsen, Declo Elementary 4th Grade Teacher

Janesta janesta at gmail.com
Tue Nov 20 14:43:28 PST 2012 

This episode reminds me of a third grade teacher I had. The classroom had a
supply closet, and if we misbehaved, Mrs. M would lock us in the closet for
hours. One little boy, W, was frequently locked in for the entire day. No
bathroom breaks. W, came from a troubled home, and would sometimes return
to school wearing the same clothing he wore the day before. Remembering
third grade is made more painful for me because I wonder what happened to
W. Five, six years passed, Mrs. M was finally fired, she also abused her
children, and they taken from her. She died of cancer not long after.

Summer Larsen should be fired.

Janesta

A brief note~ the school was in Southern California, not Moscow.

On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 3:24 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> What Ms. Larsen did was no different than . . .
>
> [image: loser_by_sketchingheaven2.jpg]
>
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares"
> http://www.MoscowCares.com
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
> On Nov 20, 2012, at 1:48 PM, Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I agree that face painting of under-achievers besides is of very dubious
> ethical correctness, and is not likely to lead to positive changes in
> behavior, but to long lasting self-image harm.
>
> There are some things about this incident that are especially disturbing
> and in my opinion should not only include a professional standards review,
> but a criminal investigation also.
>
> 1.  Permanent ink marks were used, and on the eyelids.  One slip and
> serious damage to visual tissue could have been done.  The same for
> removing permanent ink from the eyelids.  The application of the toxic
> permanent ink could be construed as felony battery.  The whole incident
> also appears to be child abuse both for the paintees and the painters.
>
> While the offending ink appliers would argue that they had no criminal
> intent because they were too young to understand the law, and were
> following the guidance of an allegedly correct adult, the teacher being an
> educated adult would could not make such an argument plausible without
> claiming some kind of impairment.  The teacher is an accessory before,
> during, and after the event.
>
> 2.  The offending teacher has so far offered no real apology, nor has she
> admitted to egregiously wrongful behavior.
>
> I suspect that once she lawyers up, a carefully crafted statement (mostly
> by her lawyer) of sorrow and a "poor decision" will be forthcoming.
>
> Since this incident has gained national attention, I hope that responsible
> educators and psychologists will use this as a teachable moment.
>
> w.
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 3:54 PM, Sue Hovey <suehovey at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>> Now the professional standards commission can deal with it. I was worried
>> that a parent wouldn't file a complaint. Looks like they did. Good for
>> them.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Nov 19, 2012, at 11:18 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>>
>> Courtesy of Rose's link to KTVB . . .
>>
>> <image.jpeg>
>>
>> Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .
>>
>> "Moscow Cares"
>> http://www.MoscowCares.com
>>
>> Tom Hansen
>> Moscow, Idaho
>>
>>
>> On Nov 19, 2012, at 10:48 PM, "Rosemary Huskey" <
>> donaldrose at cpcinternet.com> wrote:
>>
>> by Karen Zatkulak****
>>
>> KTVB.COM****
>>
>> Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:08 AM****
>>
>> Updated Friday, Nov 16 at 5:10 PM ****
>>
>> DECLO, Idaho -- An investigation is underway in Cassia County into how
>> some students were allowed to punish others by drawing on their faces with
>> markers under teacher supervision.****
>>
>> Superintendent Gaylen Smyer says the investigation stems from an incident
>> on November 5th and involves a fourth grade class at Declo Elementary.***
>> *
>>
>> Smyer says the class decided on an accelerated reading program, and a
>> punishment for those who didn't reach the program's goal. He says students
>> who didn't reach that goal could choose one of two options: skip recess,
>> or  have other students draw on their faces with markers.****
>>
>> Smyer tells us nine students failed to meet the goal, and six chose to
>> have their faces drawn on with markers. He says the activity happened under
>> the supervision of their teacher, and the students were not allowed to wash
>> their faces during the school day.****
>>
>> Smyer says he became aware of the situation two days after it happened.**
>> **
>>
>> "It's concerning," Smyer told KTVB. "Those students were not allowed to
>> wash their faces, and it set them apart for the entire day, and I can
>> imagine that some of the other kids made fun of them."****
>>
>> Smyer said he was in disbelief when he first heard the news, and began
>> investigating the situation.****
>>
>> "In effect, the students were punished for their achievement, and we just
>> can't condone that," Smyer said.****
>>
>> Smyer could not comment on whether any disciplinary action had been taken
>> against the teacher involved. He did say, however, that the teacher is
>> still in the classroom.****
>>
>> The Declo superintendent went on to explain that the idea originated from
>> a similar school-wide reading competition where a staff member and student
>> were allowed to paint the school principal's face and dye her hair after
>> the students reached their reading goal.****
>>
>> Smyer says this particular case has drawn lots of opinions in the area.
>> "There are some in support of the teacher, then obviously, like any issue,
>> there are some who are outraged," Smyer said.****
>>
>> KTVB News Channel 7 has a crew in Cassia County getting reaction to the
>> incident. Hear the community's response coming up tonight on the News at 6.
>> ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> =======================================================
>> List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>               http://www.fsr.net
>>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com <Vision2020 at moscow.com>
>> =======================================================
>>
>> =======================================================
>> List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>               http://www.fsr.net
>>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com <Vision2020 at moscow.com>
>> =======================================================
>>
>>
>> =======================================================
>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>                http://www.fsr.net
>>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>> =======================================================
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
> art.deco.studios at gmail.com
>
>
>
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>               http://www.fsr.net
>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com <Vision2020 at moscow.com>
> =======================================================
>
>
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
>
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