A YouTube video made by an angry New Jersey father entitled "Teacher/Bully: How My Son Was Humiliated and Tormented by his Teacher and Aide," has gone viral. According to a report on Fox News, the father, Stuart Chaifetz, sent his 10-year-old autistic son to school with a hidden microphone. On the recording, shared in a 17-minute YouTube video, staff could be heard berating the boy, including calling him a “bastard.”
Multiple voices can be heard on the tape and the school district has reportedly said that those identified as participating have been fired. But the child's teacher, Kelly Altenburg, is still employed with the Cherry Hill Public School District. Chaifetz was told, however, that she has been “reassigned.”
A spokesman with the New Jersey State Teachers' Association said Altenburg’s voice is not specifically identified on the tape. Chaifetz said he believes the teachers' union is protecting her because of tenure and he wants her fired.
What do you think? Should she be fired?
Was the teacher present? Only the school and the children in the class can answer that. However, those clearly identified are stated as having been fired and the teacher, due to the questionable nature of the evidence and suppositional situation, is reassigned (meaning no contact with the child. For the moment, until culpable presence is clearly and reasonably indicated, the action is appropriate. Also, if the teacher is found guilty, whe will face both legal action and the loss of her teacher's certification. If she did prison time, her next teaching assignment (if she lived), might be teaching GED classes in prison. Only question not seemingly asked: "Why did the child not speak up to the teachers?" Possible answer: fear that another person in authority in the same setting would simply repeat the bullying, or that those already shown as guilty would hear about it and punish him further. (e.g. "If you tell, we will kill your parents")