MERIDIAN -- Parents and students are standing behind a Meridian elementary teacher put on paid administrative leave last month.
A rally was held at Chief Joseph Elementary School today.
The Meridian School District has not given us a clear understanding of what happened and they won't until everyone involved has been interviewed.
But while the school district isn't talking -- parents are.
They say teacher Rob O’Neal was placed on leave after an incident on April 22.
Parents tell us O’Neal was out on the field with his fifth-graders when a second-grade student wandered on the field and O’Neal asked him to leave.
They claim the second-grader swore at O’Neal and told him to "shut up!"
O’Neal then grabbed the student by the arm and walked him off the field where he scolded him holding both arms.
The next day O’Neal was put on administrative leave.
More than 40 parents and students came to school today in T-shirts that read: "Bring Back Mr. O to Chief Jo."
This is Keaton and Gage's school. This is the teacher that kid wants - Keaton has wanted to be in his class since 1st grade, next year was his turn. After having two of the worst teachers I have ever met in over 25 years, I was excited for him.
I am not defending what the teacher may or may not have done. This happened a few weeks ago - lost of the kids were interviewed for information. What I will say is that kids are different now. Some have rotten home lives and potty mouths. I am blown away and my heart goes out to some of these kids - their uphill climb in life, will not be easy. We know the 2nd grader - enough said.
The other thing I know is that you can't touch anyone these days without putting yourself in legal jeopardy. Teacher or not, the rules are pretty cut and dry. DD said the protesters were still there when she went to pick up her kindergartner at noon. I imagine there will be more discussions tonite with the boys.
This isn't a moral issue, it is strictly a legal one. I would trade Keaton's current teacher for this one, in a heartbeat.I can't imagine how challenging it is to be a teacher in 2009. Definitely not for the faint of heart. There are treacherous days we live in, in an dout of school. Whatever happens, the teacher and the student will go on with their lives. I imagine their paths crossing 20 years from now and I also imagine them exchangine words, then shaking hands. Even in a treacherous world, there are miracles to be dreamed of...
