teacher's outburst put on web

IowaStatePhiPsi · #1 03-02-2005, 12:51 AM

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...503010489/1070

Quote:

Video of teacher's outburst is on Web
Incident may lead to cell phone ban
Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/1/05
By NAOMI MUELLER
TOMS RIVER BUREAU

BRICK -- The Board of Education may toughen its policy on use of wireless telephones in schools, after a videotape showing a Brick Township High School teacher screaming at his students to show respect for the national anthem — and then pulling the chair from underneath one student who refused to stand — was posted on several independent Web sites.

The tape was made by a student in Stuart Mantel's class and shows Mantel screaming at his students about standing quietly while "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played. When a student, identified on the Web site only as "Jay," refused to stand, the video shows Mantel yanking the chair from under him.

Although state statute does not specifically address whether a student must stand during the national anthem, Ron Rice, a spokesman with the state Department of Education, said there have been numerous court rulings stating that a student cannot be punished for refusing to stand while the Pledge of Allegiance is recited. Rice said those same rules apply to the anthem.

On the video, Mantel tells the class to stand and keep their mouths shut. At one point, whistling can be heard, to which Mantel screams for the student to stop. He also told the students to stop whispering.

Then, while the anthem is playing, Mantel approached Jay, who was sitting, and told him to stand. When Jay told Mantel he did not have to stand, Mantel pulled the chair from under him.

"Are you serious?" Jay asked.

"I am damn well serious," Mantel replied.

Undisclosed discipline

According to a written description posted on some of the Web sites, the student who taped the confrontations was suspended for 10 days. Mantel was not disciplined.

District spokeswoman Jennifer Strano declined to say whether anyone had been disciplined, but said "appropriate administrative action" had been taken. School officials also would not identify "Jay" or the student using the camera phone.

Mantel has worked in the district since 2001, according to a state database.

Schools Superintendent Thomas L. Seidenberger issued a statement that "not all details cited on the Internet regarding this incident are factual." The statement did not elaborate.

"We as a Board of Education realize that we are ushering a new era and will be forced to review our policies and perhaps enforce a more stringent districtwide policy regarding electronic recording devices in the classroom," Seidenberger added.

Strano said each school in the district has a policy prohibiting the use of wireless phones in school during school hours.

In the statement, Seidenberger said he may ask the school board to adopt a stricter policy. He also said he may ask the board to consider developing a policy regarding unauthorized taping.

According to at least one Web site, students knew Mantel "was gonna go nuts because he frequently used to" over disrespect for the anthem, and that the students brought the camera into the classroom "to expose the teacher in case he did anything again."

hoosier · #2 03-02-2005, 01:25 AM

With apologies to any of you all who are teachers, or whose parents are teachers, it is true that "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach; and those who can't teach, teach teachers."

During my days on campus, the weeniest people were always education majors. My room mate and little brother flunked out of the business school, and was welcomed into the School of Education with a scholarship. They accepted everyone.

Of course, now these weenies have banded together as the Teachers Union (NEA, AFT) and are the single most powerful force opposing improvements in education, except they do want more jobs for teachers and higher pay, with less accountability.

About 15 percent of Georgia's students are now home schooled or in private schools, and that's the fastest growing stat in education.

DeltAlum · #3 03-02-2005, 02:11 AM

"With Apologies"

Rubbish.

Ever been a teacher. Try it for a while. It takes a remarkable person to be a good one and put up with all the BS from every side.

TriDeltaGal · #4 03-02-2005, 03:03 AM

Thank you DeltAlum! I'm sure many GCers out there would agree with you!

sugar and spice · #5 03-02-2005, 03:32 AM

The school of education here has, I believe, the highest average GPA of accepted applicants of any school within the university. They routinely average around a 3.6-3.7 (whereas business is a 3.5, nursing and journalism 3.4, etc.).

Of course, GPA has nothing to do with whether or not somebody will be a decent teacher. But come on now.

Optimist Prime · #6 03-02-2005, 09:47 AM

yeah...but most teachers still suck

Kevin · #7 03-02-2005, 10:55 AM

Why would the district forbid these phones? They would not know that they had a nutjob teacher like this otherwise. Those cameras really gave that kid some extra protection that I'm sure he needed.

DeltAlum · #8 03-02-2005, 11:47 AM

I think there will be some interesting invasion of privacy cases surrounding these video phones.

Even though this teacher may be a nut case, there are better ways of dealing with him then streaming stuff on the web. Like take it to the Board of Education.

Oh, and KT, a lot of boards have forbidden these phones because they have been used inappropriately in places like rest rooms and gym classes.

Think about it.

texas*princess · #9 03-02-2005, 01:01 PM

Cell phones are being banned in school districts by my hometown. Not only for the video-capability, but text messaging capabilities that have allowed some students to cheat. (some were caught in the act cheating w/ their phones

)

Kevin · #10 03-02-2005, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I think there will be some interesting invasion of privacy cases surrounding these video phones.

Even though this teacher may be a nut case, there are better ways of dealing with him then streaming stuff on the web. Like take it to the Board of Education.

Oh, and KT, a lot of boards have forbidden these phones because they have been used inappropriately in places like rest rooms and gym classes.

Think about it.

Then you punish illegal/inappropriate uses and you reward valid, helpful uses. In the above case, this young man did a service to his classmates, and really the school by outting this teacher's inappropriate behavior.

This moron teacher should absolutely be fired and the kid rewarded for what he did. The school may not have liked the outcome, or the way that the information was given out to the public, but from the student's perspective, that was the most effective way to get his message out. In this case, the cell phone hopefully helped to get rid of some idiot who had no business in the education profession.

Peaches-n-Cream · #11 03-02-2005, 03:00 PM

I saw this story on the news last night. The student said that he used a video camera wrapped in a sweatshirt to record this teacher's outburst which had become a regular part of that class.

Has anyone seen this videotape of the teacher? He looks like an absolute lunatic screaming at this classroom. It made me cringe and wish that I had brought a video camera to my class when I had a teacher like him. I think that the teacher is the one who should be suspended.

texas*princess · #12 03-02-2005, 03:33 PM

I haven't seen the video, but it can't be much worse than my psycho marching band director

He was pretty bad!!!

I'm pretty sure some football coaches are pretty crazy too (at least I KNOW they are in certain parts of Texas).

I don't like cell phones in schools period, but that's just my opinion.

For the record - I'm not condoning how the teacher behaved. Sometimes teachers get pushed to the edge by their students. I obviously do not know this teacher or how his students behave normally in class, so I'm just making a statement, that sometimes it does happen.

When I was in school, in 4th grade, I distinctly remember our new teacher. My class was BAD. I will seriously never forget the day she completely blew up and started yelling. I honestly don't blame her. Our class was terrible, but after that day we never were again!

KillarneyRose · #13 03-02-2005, 04:15 PM

Sounds like young Jay needs some manners. It wouldn't have been that hard for the little shit to stand up during the National Anthem.

Just my opinion, though

sugar and spice · #14 03-02-2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Sounds like young Jay needs some manners. It wouldn't have been that hard for the little shit to stand up during the National Anthem.

Just my opinion, though

Why should he have to?

IowaStatePhiPsi · #15 03-02-2005, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Sounds like young Jay needs some manners. It wouldn't have been that hard for the little shit to stand up during the National Anthem.

Sorry, our schools aren't here to force your Nationalism on others. If you want to force people to stand and salute a flag, etc- start a police state where we can put them in re-education camps when they don't.