Teacher Slaps East County Student?
- East County Guardian
- Sep 10, 2023
- 3 min read
It wasn't the slap heard around the world, because the school has done a fair job keeping this story out of the public's view. The incident occurred at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon. We are told that a teacher is accused of slapping a student. The teacher went home early that day and has not returned to teaching....yet. Our sources tell us that there is a possibility that the teacher will be reinstated before Thanksgiving Break. The details were explained as "delicate" because the teacher is from a "protected class" and the student is a faith based individual. I understand that we do not have all the details that led up to the slap, or even clear details on the student or the teacher. I want our readers to think about their individual lines in the sand. Ask yourself these questions:
What could the student have said or done to justify being slapped by their teacher?
Is there any reason you can think of that would warrant, excuse, even celebrate, physical abuse from a teacher toward a student?
Does it matter that the student comes from any particular faith?
Does it matter that the teacher belongs to a "protected class"?
When is it acceptable for a teacher to abuse a child, and return to work?
When can a student cross the line with a teacher/staff and be in danger of a physical response?
The next Grossmont Union High School District Board Meeting is September 12th, at 4pm (for closed session). The reason I say 4pm, is because there are closed session items that include reprimands for staff. We can't be sure that this involves the same teacher, however letting them know before they potentially discuss reprimands would be beneficial. You can find the full agenda here:
If you wish to speak on this topic as a comment you would need to be at the meeting early to pull a speaker card and speak during public comment. Some questions for the board to ponder:
Can you provide an update to the investigation? At least letting the public know if abuse took place and the decision that was made after the investigation?
If they can say if abuse took place at any point, should they ask if other students have been abused by this teacher?
What steps are they taking to direct the superintendent to make sure abuse is not happening to our students on campus?
What are the protocols and procedures that take place when abuse is reported? Do they call the police and make a report? Does the report go beyond the campus police officer that has prior relationships with staff? Has a report or an outside investigation with law enforcement taken place?
School employees are mandated reporters. How many people reported what they heard or saw? Did the principal follow up with the reports?
Can you ensure the public that protocol was followed and describe what that looks like?
Can you make sure that children are a more protected class than any staff member's protected class status?
Let them know how you feel about the potential of this teacher returning to campus if they slapped the student.
Let them know where you draw the line on teacher's abusing students. Is there a time when it is appropriate? Or should it be zero tolerance?
I hope this situation is handled appropriately. I hear that it is a delicate situation. I wonder if the student felt that their teacher was delicate when they were slapped? Is "delicate" what we need to handle this situation? I hope this isn't a "slap on the wrist" discipline for the teacher, if they did in fact slap a student.
In Unity,
The East County Guardians