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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><h1 style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Idaho teacher whose 4th graders used markers on classmates' faces now subject of complaint<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=published style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Published November 20, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=source-org style='background:white'><span class=org><span style='color:black'>Associated Press</span></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span class=dateline><span style='color:black'>DECLO, Idaho – </span></span><span style='color:black'>A southern Idaho teacher whose students used a permanent marker on the faces of classmates who fell short of reading goals is the subject of a formal complaint.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Cassia County School District officials said Monday that they filed the complaint against Declo Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Summer Larsen. The Idaho State Department of Education's Professional Standards Commission, which has the power to suspend or revoke teaching licenses, will examine the case, the Twin Falls Times-News (http://bit.ly/UcSdwv) reported.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Some parents and administrators said the face-marking punishments given to six students in Larsen's class were inappropriate and left the children feeling shamed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>One 10-year-old came home in tears after his entire face, including his eyelids, had been scribbled on with green, red and purple markers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>The students were allowed to choose their own incentive to meet the reading goal. But instead of a reward, the class chose a punishment: Students who failed to meet the goal could either stay inside at recess until it was met, or have their faces written on by classmates who met the goals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Nine students didn't meet the goals, the paper reported Friday. Three chose to forgo recess, and the other six opted to have their faces marked on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>The ink was difficult to wash off, and some of the children said they felt humiliated — especially when they had to ride the bus home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>"The investigation on this is also ongoing in the district," said Cassia County School District Superintendent Galen Smyer, declining to give specifics on the complaint other than to say it's a "personnel issue."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>He said Larsen remains employed with the district but he wouldn't confirm whether she was placed on administrative leave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Efforts to contact Larsen were unsuccessful.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>