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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Reader Reactions
Concerned 76…after reading your post, I am very interested in the parents not being satisfied with the outcome of how this was handled. I would really like to speak with these parents as I myself have also had a decision that was made,concerning one of my children at GRMS that I am not satisfies with at all also.
First of all, I stand corrected-It is MORON. Secondly, the fact remains there are school resource officers on staff at every school- middle and high school at least - and before any measure was taken he/she should have been notified. Maybe he/she was - we don’t know because they haven’t said. If everything is on the up and up, it would have not gotten to this. The school board of Jackson County has created this chaos by choosing to ignore issues in the past. Maybe the new administration and all of his new hires will improve the system. Don’t hold your breath but we can always hope. I too knew this teacher when she taught, before her troubles started and she was an excellent teaches with great scores BUT as we all know, as does time, people change too. They go through personal agendas, life changing events, whatever the reason, people change. This teacher has changed. She thought because she was an outstanding teacher she was invinceable and whatever she did would be okay because “I’m awesome”. Not so. There are limits for even the best of the best and she reached her limit. Do I want her arrest, tried and convicted? No, just remove her from doing any more damage.
scared.totell, I do have to agree with you. First of all, I don’t know if anyone posting on this site was in this classroom when this incident occurred. I was not so I will not judge. I have a child in GRMS. I do like to think she is a good girl. So let me ask you this. What right does your child have to keep my child from receiving the education she deserves because you have raised a heathen? Not to long ago a teacher would tell a child disrupting a class to step out in the hallway, and the teacher would take care of the problem. If you want to know what happened stop talking behind these people’s backs and go ask. Trust me they will tell you. I am not going to judge and say “ohh hang her from her toes” I was not in the classroom so I do not know what happened. Until all facts surface no one has the right to decide her fate unless you witnessed this occurrence yourself. I do know this teacher and I do know she is one of the best teachers in the school. I have seen her take children that were struggling and not making it and turn them into honor roll students. While sometimes we do not agree with some peoples methods, we also do not know what they are up against in these classrooms. I see what is going on in society, and in schools and it scares me to death having a teenage girl that has to come up in this. Yes I do believe it starts at home. I do believe it starts with the parents. Parents must teach children how to act when not at home. I can not come to work and just run around and do what I want. We are supposed to teach our children how to be productive members of society.
mommamad, if you are doing those things I am on your side. I am simply stating that so many people stand around and talk about the things that need to be done should be done and hasn’t been done. The three most dangerous people in the world is anybody, somebody and nobody. I get the same reaction when I walk in to the schools. I applaud you for doing what you do. I am no friend to GRMS BTW only select staff. Would I change my mind? I have to believe that if I didn’t care enough to teach my kids to obey and respect those in authority over them that I would feel a little differently about it. I am not justifying what she did either. What have I said? I said it is a problem in homes that need to be tended to. Why pity me. I have great kids, high achievers with awards in academics and character, I don’t beat them or feel the need to. I love them and my wife they love me so do the other kids in their classes. We can have a difference of opinion but don’t pity me too much because too many other people deserve it. I truly from my heart mean this in a positive manner.
It occurs to me that you did not grasp the central theme of my message, eddy. There is a problem in our society, a defect. Quality Control laws demand that you find the source of the defect and fix the cause thereby preventing future issues. Simple. Kids that do not know personal and social discipline are RESULTS of a defect a by product of parents, grandparents and generations of lack of discipline and love. That is the defect (and, softly under my breath, liberal thinking.) Yes. Yes I do beat my kids. I beat them like there is no tomorrow and today is almost over. When I get tired of beating them I pay an undocumented migrant worker low wages and spoiled vegetables to beat them while I rest. You prejudiced “moran”.
scared.totell, I agree with eddy, you are scary! Who are you to judge us we’ve done nothing wrong? God How do you know wwe aren’t in the schools? I spend more ime with my children & other peoples children than anything. I can’t walk into a classroom without a child saying “hey Mrs ****** your here again yeahhhhh” As for discipline I do take care of my own, but can’t say that for many out there. Maybe too this is one of the only ways for people to get the word out of what is going on with these kids. You need to know Grnad Ridges admin they are not to keen on doing what is right for the children of the school, just what makes them look good. Offened? NO, pitty you yes, what if this was one of your kids? Bet you would change your mind real quick on what you think.
Eddy please, when you insult me, please use spell check. If I am a moron feel free to say so but a “Moran” is a surname. But do you see the irony? If you “say” have worked with abused children I will accept that. I have worked with entire families of abused and see much more false reporting than the actual true event. Your reply really doesn’t surprise me with your wit and imagination the way you just assume because I quoted Sid that I agreed with him on anything more than that. I just thought it was a good line that fit my thoughts. I hope that I am wrong in my personal assumption that you projected the same judgment of guilt on the parents of the “abused” children “you” “worked” with. A quick note to finish up here again, and I double checked with my 13 year old, when you ask a question beginning with “how…“ you and that with a “?“ To answer that question I read this over my lunch break. And you?
Scared.totell, you scare me to quote Sid Riley. This is the man who claimed it was okay to beat his wife in one of his “columns” saying it was his business what went on behind closed doors. I guess you too beat the crap out of your child/children/grandchildren before giving them a hug and telling them you love them. I’ve worked with abused children - they always cling to their parents, never wanting to be away from them - FOR FEAR you moran - of someone finding out and blaming them if the parent(s) are ever accused. And with your busy schedule of working and volunteering in the schools, how might you have had time to read this!
You people scare me. How many of you were born without a spine? How many of you gave them up willingly? If Moms and Dads (if they care enough to stay around)would teach their kids some discipline then the teachers could do what they are paid to do! Teach. What nerve to assume you can fix the problem online by typing your shallow opinion in a group of others who have not taken the time out of their busy lives to go to the schools and help, offer tuition help to students who need that little bit extra, or anything else for that matter. Before you tell me how busy you are Mr./Ms./Mrs. Offended person, where did you read about this? At work? Wow, who pays you to sit and read the paper at work cause I want to work there. Me I work for myself early in the morning late into the nights sometimes but I always take time out for the kids, one of which has been taught by this teacher. What about you Mr./Ms./Mrs. Apathetic, why are you posting here instead of going to the schools and seeing what they need to get the job done. Disgusting. Finally (for now), you people that smugly and high browed, say “well we moved away from Jackson County and we are so much better off for it. We didn’t lose anything there” Why are you here? What is it you are looking back for? Quit reading and posting here. Get on with your better lives where you are. What you people need to realize is this is just the result of problems in our society because of the lack of discipline and moral character at home. A cancer that can never be cured but something you could handle in your own little circle. Do your part. Discipline your children and grandchildren teach them respect and right and wrong. After all of that, and this is the activator, the key ingredient, the secret sauce, come closer to the screen so you dont miss this… a little closer…hug them, love them praise them for doing right, pray with them, play with them, encourage them past the place of discipline. Then as Sid Riley would say “you’d be getting it right” ***Sid if that is copywrited let me know and I’ll pay ya.
Elektra I stand corrected and feel really frightened for the K-5 grade students who may be too frightened to tell what form of punishment or degradation may be handed down to them while under her supervision. BUT, lest we forget where is administration in all of this? I thought in the infinite wisdom of our former super, Beth was the answer to the problems at Grand Ridge, it appears they have multiplied. Will Mr. Miller please stand up and take charge?
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