Grand Ridge teacher duct tapes student
Published: November 21, 2008
Updated: November 21, 2008
A Grand Ridge teacher faces investigation by the Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of Professional Practices, after the Jackson County School Board confirmed Friday she duct taped a student to a chair.
It is not known exactly when the investigation began. District officials said it was within the past few weeks.
Linda Harris, a sixth grade teacher at Grand Ridge School, duct taped the male student to his chair during class a few weeks ago, according to Deputy Superintendent Larry Moore.
According to Superintendent Lee Miller, who was not in office when the incident occurred, the incident was resolved by the parents and school staff.
School board administration reported Harris to the Bureau of Professional Practices for an investigation, said Miller
Moore said Harris remains employed at Grand Ridge School and has not been suspended.
“It was confirmed that child was out of their seat and the teacher duct taped the child to the seat while he was in his chair,” Miller said. “I assume it was an attempt to keep a child in their seat.”
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freedom, we do have MANY in our school that needs tons of disapline at school & HOME. Your wrong I don’t take you way to serious, but I do take what this school & school board are doing VERY seriously. When it comes to my kids & the children of my friends I don’t take these issues lightly at all. If we don’t stand up for our kids or pay attention to them, than what in the world did we have them for?
WOW! Elektra, you take me to serious. If the parents of the children are satisfied with the actions taken then it is none of my business nor yours about this situation. I think if the parents want our help they would ask for it. I’m just saying some good ole fashion discipline could relieve some of the frustrations the teachers may feel and produce some very fine students that have actually learned something in school. Now, don’t take ole fashion discipline to mean beating, I didn’t say that. I didn’t condone any action, such as duct taping or hitting, but spanking will not damage or kill at least it didn’t me. I have said before that if anyone had hit my child I would be eye ball to eye ball with that person in a hurry. I don’t know the full story behind the duct tape situation and I don’t need to, if the parents are satisfied so be it. Also don’t think that I’m ready to jump down the school boards throat, I’m not looking for a cause or a battle to fight with them. I think they need help to find solutions to the problem not people to be just another problem. Has anyone out there got any constructive thoughts for the school board, realistic thoughts?
freedom, Mr Crump is a civil rights lawyer, that doesn’t mean just a racial thing. Both of these childrens rights were violated in major ways. So Mr Crump COULD be very busy if he does so decides to. The incident where the teacher hit the child was not an issue of a bad child, so disapline is not the answer here. Don’t know all the details yet on Mrs Harris as to say if that is what was going on there either. This just simply is not acceptable in any way!
Procraft if that child was taped in a chair as a means of decipline then it is a big deal.There has always been problems at Grand Ridge School.I know of one teacher there striking a student.Thank God she is gone not for that reason but for coming to work drunk.Seems we need more leadership at the higher levels
Procraft, I think may be you are right. It must not be racial either since Mr. Crump is not involved. Thank God, because we would have another law suit and would never hear the end of it.
I wonder what the rest of the story is? Or, the other side of the story. It is so easy to make a claim without hearing both sides of the story. I would hope if the school adminastors and the parents have settled this matter and the teacher was not suspended then maybe it was not as big a deal as it sounds here in the paper.
I wonder if some of the poor decisions the teachers are making come from frustration. If a problem student could be sent to the principal’s office for a dose of the board of education (spanking) instead of the threat of detention (ha!, in my day vacation) order in the class might prevent the frustration. Not defending poor decisions but something has to be done for the teachers trying to teach as well as the students trying to learn. Duct tape deffinitely is not the answer. Hitting a student (not spanking) is most asssuredly not the answer. Both could cause much trouble by an angry parent. The system needs to be looked at closely on both sides. Discipline in school is neccessary and should be done responsibly. Boy oh boy do we need help! What is the answer?
debpaco, this is nothing. we also have a teacher (male) that earlier this year hit & knocked down a female student & nothing was done by the school to him! Keep watching the paper! This school is out of control!
You have got to be kidding! This woman physically abuses a child. She gets to keep her job and it just now makes the newspaper. Mr. Howard uses an offensive word and he makes national news?
Let me get this straight.The teacher duct taped thestudent to a chair.If the Dept.of Children and Families got a call that I duct taped my son or daughter to a chair.Then that child would be removed from my home and I would be arrested for child abuse.Why was this teacher not arrested.Suppose the building had caught fire.Then we would be reading an obituary.
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