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

Tue Nov 20 16:23:32 PST 2012

Couldn't agree more!

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Tom Hansen
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 2:24 PM
To: Art Deco
Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Investigation into Summer Larsen, Declo Elementary
4th Grade Teacher

What Ms. Larsen did was no different than . . .

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

=======================================================

=======================================================
			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

=======================================================

		=======================================================
		 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

	 <http://users.moscow.com/waf/WP%20Fox%2001.jpg> 

	=======================================================
	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
	=======================================================