TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
No Charge In Pupil Mouth-Tape Allegation; District May Act
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Published: April 30, 2008
Updated: 04/30/2008 01:15 pm
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WESLEY CHAPEL - No criminal charges will be filed against a Seven Oaks Elementary School employee who reportedly taped children's mouths to discipline them, but the employee's job could be in jeopardy.
The Pasco County School District is investigating the actions of a paraprofessional last week, and a recommendation is expected to be made to the school board for action at its meeting Tuesday, Assistant Superintendent Renalia DuBose said.
"Sometimes poor judgment doesn't rise to the level of being illegal," DuBose said.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office announced early today that its investigation of the case turned up no evidence of child abuse, and it closed the case as unfounded, declining to release additional information.
The sheriff's office's conclusion, though, doesn't necessarily mean an employee would be allowed back in a classroom with elementary school children, DuBose said.
"We have a different standard," she said.
District officials were hoping to meet with the paraprofessional and the paraprofessional's attorney today, DuBose said. Once the district completes its investigation, Superintendent Heather Fiorentino is expected to make a recommendation to the school board, she said.
The board meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The allegations came to light last week after a mother alerted the media and school officials about the incident.
Tiffany Spurling said another mother told her April 22 that a substitute teacher taped the mouths of her daughter, MacKenzie, and a few classmates to keep them from talking when they were supposed to be reading.
Spurling said she asked her daughter about it and was told it was true. Spurling said MacKenzie also reported being strapped to a chair with a belt.
Although Spurling originally thought a substitute teacher was responsible, DuBose said no substitute was involved.
The paraprofessional and a teacher were removed from the classroom Friday and questioned as school district officials turned the case over to the sheriff's office.
DuBose said Wednesday that the teacher was a bystander and wasn't involved in what happened.
Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com. Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Uh, gee, my bad. I called the media over a 1st grader's make-believe story... Dang it, she's more persuasive that I gave her credit for.....
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Posted by ( cherrylynn18 ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well if that child's mouth wasn't taped it should be now, along with the attention seeking parent.
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Posted by ( kimbo ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Tape mouth shut, wash mouth out with soap, it's all good. It's better to teach respect when they are small. When they get big you got to shoot them.
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Posted by ( Hugh_Jazz ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Tape should be added to all teachers supply list.
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Posted by ( gina1108 ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"Apparently, parents called the media first."
And there is your problem.
If this turns out to be false, these parents need to be prosecuted. Disgusting.
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Posted by ( RangerDave ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Maybe your little princess isn't such a princess after all.
Hey TBO...way to go on the great investigative reporting of false accusations! How about doing a little research or investigating next time.
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Posted by ( 1WithCommonSense ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If parents taught their children common courtesy and respect and to sit quietly when asked, this wouldn't have been an issue.
Instead, let's teach our children to be attention-seeking media whores! Yay parenting!
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Did you, or did you not order a code red?
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Posted by ( Ryan_Levi_Lesswick ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I would let Stephanie Ragusa tape my mouth shut, and do naughty things with me.
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Posted by ( Old_FL_Crab ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
@kimbo, when I stopped laughing I thought; Wait a minute, he's RIGHT!
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Posted by ( phil ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
o.k. folks...you cannot thave it all, "my kid is a good kid"...yeah right...HOW ABOUT SOME REAL discipline in our school....maybe just maybe...our jails wouldn't be so crowded with a bunch of LOSERS in them!!
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Posted by ( shawn110975 ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
someone told me they saw a dog pee on my lawn,,, i think im gonna replace the whole lawn,, wait a minute there are no dogs on this deserted island i live on,, what was i thinking,, oh well i got a new lawn,,, stupid a_s parents
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Posted by ( boilercolts ) on April 30, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
code red. that's funny. lactic acidosis.........
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Posted by ( Longball ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Thank you Tiffany Spurling for confirming the fact that today's children snow job the parents. Why not just talk to the school first? Oh, I bet you thought if you called the media first you would turn this into some cash in your pocket through a lawsuit. Well, if I am the teachers in question I would sue your doughnut eatin, Kelly and Regis watchin, nothing better to do, fat behind
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Posted by ( boilercolts ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
KIDS THESE DAYS WHAT THEY NEEDS TO BE GETTIN IS THEMSELVES A LIL BIT OF JESES IN THEM.
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Posted by ( clustermonkey ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Dear Mrs Tiffany,
My mother once told me when I was in school, that there are three sides to every story, your child's side, the teacher's side, and the truth. Now grown up, I do the same at work as well as with my children. Maybe if you did you wouldnt look like an dillweed now and have egg on your face. I think Ill go hug my mom now for teaching me right.
Sincerely, A laughing parent
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Posted by ( altedbaseball ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
i wonder how the parent will discipline the child for lying..........
any guesses?
here is one...........
PARENT: honey, why did you lie?
CHILD: mommy, i did not lie.
PARENT: than what do you call what you
did?
CHILD: i did not say the truth.
PARENT: isn't that the same thing?
CHILD: daddy told me is wasn't the same
thing.
PARENT: well, what did daddy tell you?
CHILD: daddy told me that lying and
not telling the truth are not the
same thing.
it is learned at home...............
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Don't believe everything you read.
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Posted by ( mailman ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Three seconds left in the game, behind by two points, Longball fades back, launches the ball, hits the tre' at the buzzer. WINNER! You have no idea how close to the bullseye your comments are. This goes on waaaaay to much in our schools. As a spouse of an educator, I am incensed at the lack of respect shown to the teachers that really care about their job. But there are too many parents that believe that everything a child needs to know is taught in school. Well, here is a news flash, GOOD BEHAVIOR HABITS START AT HOME! Nuff' said.
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Posted by ( DoNotGiveUp ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Learned behavior... we need to get parents more involved.
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Posted by ( capemh ) on April 30, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
A first grader is what? Six or seven years old?
Why would she invent this? Do any of you know a six or seven year old?
Sheriffs "didn't find any evidence of child abuse".
Perhaps the Sheriffs don't consider taping mouths shut to be "child abuse". After all, they still kept paying one of their own (Kevin Doll) after he was charged with domestic abuse.
Everyone here seems to doubt the child's word.
Until I see a statement that the child admitted to a lie, I'm going to keep my mind open on the subject.
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on April 30, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
DoNotGiveUp, I think we need to teach parents how to be parents first. This woman mistakenly thought she was a parent because she figured out how to breed. Too bad her daughter got stuck with her. My condolences.
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Posted by ( Concerned1963 ) on April 30, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
TBO does it again........... proving that a fancy website does not prove journalistic integrity. When are they going to start firing some of these idiots anyway??
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on April 30, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think that parents whom do care about their children and want them to be raised with morals should get together and try to bring corporal punishment back into the school's. These unruly kids ruin the education for the children whom's parent put alot of effort into their parenting.
But what comes around goes around and one day that little girl is gonna lie and say "Daddy did the naughty to me" and we'll see what Mommy says.
I hope that kid's parents learned and whipped that kid's azz. For the kid's sake
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Posted by ( Longball ) on April 30, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
capemh- Read the first paragraph. Allegations prove unfounded, translation is all the children's stories didn't add up. This women jumped to conclusions when told by another person her daughter's mouth was taped shut. So you are saying she did the right thing by going to the media before talking it over with the school? Are you her neighbor? This case is closed. I think Miss Tiffany's mouth should be taped shut, right after she apologizes to the teachers she accused.
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Posted by ( Jasmine501 ) on April 30, 2008 at 2 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Geez! What is it with these parents today who think their little darlings can do no wrong? They are 'raising' (if you want to call it that) little monsters with an entitlement mentality. No wonder there are so many teen, and younger, criminals in the system, costing taxpayers more and more and we have parents like Tiffany Spurling to thank for that.
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Posted by ( irishtea72 ) on April 30, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Our 2nd grade teacher use to tape student's mouths shut, but this was when spanking one's child wasn't considered "child abuse". Children today probably know more bad words and act more disrespectful than when I was school. It is all in the upbringing. If the parent(s) act this way, more than likely the child will act the same.
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Posted by ( MamaMagic ) on April 30, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Maybe Tiffany should tape her knees . . .
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