since when is it ok for a teacher to put their hands on a student. i wouldnt stand for that

I'm glad she was found innocent

I'm elated that this teacher was aquitted. I attended CCHS in the 80's and I deserved a few slaps...my parents should have sent me to catholic school. Teachers need more freedom, they are under microscopes today, what a shame!

It doesn't sound like this teacher put "their hands" on this student. Last I knew, a slap was one-handed. She should have sent him to the principal's office for a good swat with a paddle...oh, that's the "old days"!

Maybe if parents disciplined their children, teachers would not have to. Unfortunately, even though it is not what they signed up for, these teachers are charged with teaching these kids how to behave. It is very sad....

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SH**ING ME !!. This is an open letter to ALL teachers who think it is their right to strike a student (unless in self-defence from a physical altercation). today the court has set a very saddning pressident and i want every teacher to think before they hit a student. some of us parents will take offence to you striking a family member and you may get such treatment in return. so before you take this ruling as a green light to take out your frustrations on a wisealec instead of the high road as an ADULT should. be forewarned of the consequences.

Perhaps if the previous writer returned to school to learn how to write he wouldn't be so angry. I do hope he teaches his children to respect those who would educate them. Apparently the Strickland folks didn't do so for their child.

Too often recently, we excuse our children's bad behavior because we are under the misconception that they are always right. Or is it because they spew the same venom that they've been taught at home? Maybe if we took the time to learn to respect one another life would go a little bit easier for us all. Somehow I don't think Mr. Strickland has yet learned that lesson.

Oh My Goodness- JoeArmy40 and good ol'boy 77 are sorely mistaken. "Touching" an irrate student to get his or her attention vs. "striking" a student or "putting their hands on" in an inappropriate manner (as indicated) are very, very different.

The pendulum is swinging toward the side of the children in our country. Not without any just cause, but too far to either side is never a good idea. Adults are now terrified of the kids. The kids know it. Too often we completely believe them when they accuse an adult- whether it is true or not it can ruin the adult's reputation, career or life.

An investigation was conducted, witnesses were questioned and a ruling was made. That is what we hope for- for the justice system and checks and balances to play out. The school did what the pendulum of justice requires at this time. They removed a potential threat immediately. If they had not, if she were found guilty, we would have been outraged. But, she was found "not guilty." Fair and square. By the rules.

May the pendulum settle into the middle- and soon.

The Penal Law still permits school teachers to administer corporal punishment. The education law does not. All I can say is that for my upbringing, thank
God teachers ocassionally laid a loving touch to my personhood growing up. It's funny that the student replied "you're not my mother" which speaks to the point that the school has the place of parents with all welfare responsibilities. So I say to the young man, yes, Mrs.Jones is your mother (surogate) at the time. Good verdict Judge Navara.

Kudos to Judge Navara and to Ms Jones. good ol' boy77. Where are your manners? You must have been a Mr Strickland in your school days. "Parents teach your children better manners and to respect their elders. If they misbehave in school just imagine what they will be like when they hit the real world of working with the public.

I don't get it. There is no way that a teacher (or anyone else for that matter) should touch a child in any way! All of you giving kudos to the judge and teacher -- if it were your child, I would bet anything that you would have a different opion.

Why is it that the writers with such strong views about physical contact between students and teachers can't spell and make threats? dp thinks no teacher should touch a child in any way. I would hope that a teacher would begin CPR on a child with no heart beat while someone called COVAC and someone else ran for the AED. Never and always should always be used in a cautionary manner. At least oldboy77 would allow a teacher to protect his-or herself in a physical altercation. I knew a disabled teacher. Her disability--she got between two girls who were fighting in a classroom and they threw her against a bookcase which came down on her and caused debilitating injury. How sad that her teaching career was lost because of hooliganism. By the way, the real colloquial word is 'wiseacre.' Even with spellcheck, dictionaries are a wonderful source. Be seeing you.

Hurray for you Mrs. Jones!! Wish there were more teachers like you in our schools!

Typos are not the issue here, crnwlocaltor! Of course, I would want someone to help my child in the time of a medical emergency. Your comments are just plain stupid. If I felt that someone was "disrupting" me at the office, I couldn't hit them - I would be arrested. And that's between two adults. Why should an adult be able to hit a child. It's just wrong. (even if I can't type or use "big" words like you) While you have your "wonderful" dictionary out, look up the word reasonable and then come back here and tell me its reasonable to strike a student for snapping their gum. Everything in the NY State Penal Law is based upon what a reasonable person would do or believe including corporal punishment

Do you have kids booboo84? If you do, would you have wanted your child to be in this class with Mr. Strickland? I think you are blowing way out of proportion what happened in that classroom. I think educators have the right to keep control of their classrooms for the sake and safety of the other respectful children who are there to learn.

Ms. Stricklnad, you have some parenting to do.

Hello ladies & gentleman.I would like to welcome you all tonite and give a BIG round of applause for all of the liberals who showed up tonite, you know, the ones that let thier children run amock at home and expect, ney, give full permision for a public school representative to lay their hands on their child. well i'd like to introduce myself. i'm the guy you see reaming my child a new one at the store because they are acting innapropriatly. i'm the parent who would send my child to bed w/out dinner if they dont like what i have worked hard to provide for them. I am the proud parent that teaches my family to care for each other and protect each other right or wrong. and what kind of father would i be to let someone, outside of OUR family harm one of my children who I and my WIFE are molding into what WE feel is a proper, honest, respectful, hard working, compassionate adult. WE as parents do the butt cracking NOT a public school teacher/official. what the court di the other night for this case is give public school employees the right to get physical with a student....and i'm the moron? and yes i was a bit of a smart ass in school but with my parents toughness and a few life lessens along the way i have grown into a responsible adult...who will protect my family. and anyone who doesnt protect their family isnt worth the load that dribbled down their mommies leg !

yep, smartass is as smartass does. But maybe, just maybe, we should be protecting our children from the jerkmeats that show up to disrupt, disrespect, and deny the hard working, well-brought up children the RIGHT TO THE EXPENSIVE EDUCATION THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR. Are the Stricklands going to reimburse the district for the subs that taught NOTHING 3 weeks before the midterm exam, are the Stricklands going to pay for the tutors to help the forsaken students (you know, the ones who showed up for school, not 'the joe show') to pass their exams and actually get something out of the class? I bet not. (They are probably looking for someone else to blame to avoid taking responsibility for this mess.) I have said it before and I believe it with every fiber of my body - your right to an education ceases when you become a hindrance to the other students in the class. If you are not here to learn, if you are not here to improve your mind or your character in some significant way, get out. It is expected that parents will teach their children how to behave before they send them to the public school teachers.
My solution - get sports the heck out of school and let's focus on education for once. If you want to play on a team join a local club. Jeez, think how much MONEY we'd save on our annual school budget. oh , wait, that's another soapbox...

My, my, this case has raised some passions. I wonder just what aspects of it, besides the fine points of whether or how a teacher might properly touch a student, have gotten us so worked up. Perhaps we should all be considering that question.

Hey good ol'boy - scary, isn't it!

I was wondering why the racist epithet issue was not raised during the trial. I think both lawyers may have wanted to avoid the issue but that is only my guess. As far as running for the courts every time something happens, I believe it was the Stricklands who first pressed these ridiculous charges AND sought an Order of Protection against Ms. Jones. How idiotic is that?
Mediation should have been the very first step. The parent should have demanded that instead of demanding the teacher's job. The school should have required it. So why was Ms. Jones chased from the building without a second thought? Poor management, poor direction.

It's too bad Strickland didn't have better parents that could teach him to respect a teacher. My prediction - this punk will see some jail time before he wises up.

The kid is obviously a "punk" but that doesn't give a teacher the right to touch him - he should have been sent to the principal or perhaps the police should have been involved if the teacher couldn't handle it.