Dad punches teacher for innapropriate behavior!!

[Cindyluwho]

This guy is my hero!!!!

Fla. Dad Punches Accused Teacher's Aide
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer
2 hours ago


Dave F. Swafford, 42, shown in this Manatee County, ...
TAMPA, Fla. - A father marched into a classroom and punched a teacher's assistant in the face after his teenage daughter accused the man of inappropriately touching her.

"I'm not real proud of what I did," Dave F. Swafford, 42, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "You have to protect your children, and my daughter does not lie to me."

Swafford was charged with felony battery on a school employee after he hit the 35-year-old aide in front of a full class at Lakewood Ranch High near Bradenton on Tuesday, authorities said.

A Tampa radio station named him "Father of the Year," offering Swafford and his family Daytona 500 race tickets.

The school placed the aide on paid leave Tuesday because of the allegation, district spokeswoman Margi Nanney said. The sheriff's office is investigating.

Swafford said he came to school to meet with officials about his 15-year-old daughter's allegations. When he saw that the aide was not at the meeting, Swafford asked his daughter to take him to the man.

They argued and "I lost control," Swafford said. Swafford spent about 10 hours in jail before getting out on bail.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Can't say I blame him...

 

[KristaTX]

The accused man might be a true pervert. But I've also known of quite a few situations where students flat out lied about school employees. Most people believe their kids don't lie to them, but it is not always true. The dad was understandably very emotional and let it get to him. But he did something illegal on school property, so I wouldn't call him a hero.

I'd feel differently if the guy had admitted to the accusation, if he claimed the girl led him on, if there had been several witnesses, or if he was eventually found guilty. But since I don't know what the conversation between the guy and the dad consisted of, I don't know if the dad's actions were justified. It all depends on what the guy said to him.

Like I said the guy may very well be found guilty. But what if he's found innocent ?


ETA: I hope for everyone involved that he IS innocent.

 

[Sleepy]

Swafford said he came to school to meet with officials about his 15-year-old daughter's allegations. When he saw that the aide was not at the meeting, Swafford asked his daughter to take him to the man.

I wonder if he asked the officials to have the aide brought to the meeting?

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

Our aides are not allowed to attend meetings so maybe that's why he wasn't there.

 

[Sleepy]

Our aides are not allowed to attend meetings so maybe that's why he wasn't there.

Well, what I was wondering is obviously he wanted to confront the guy and I am sure he made that very clear during the meeting. If in fact, the aide was not allowed in the meeting, why did they not ensure the parent stay away from the aide? How was the parent allowed to leave the meeting and walk to the halls to confront the aide? I would think they would want to monitor the whereabouts of both parties.

 

[Blondy876]

While I commend this father for taking a stand I hope that the teacher's assistant actually did it.

I have had students go home and tell their parents all kids of lies about me. Parents (understandably) come in screaming at me and saying they are calling to police, I'm going to jail, their going to kill me etc. And every time it has come to the surface that the child is angry at me because I wouldn't let them do what they wanted. In fact the last time this happened (a few years ago) I was off the day when it happened. The next day when I came into my classroom I was verbally attacked by the parent. I was shoved and screamed at and the parent threatened me and my dd who was in the class across the hall. When we finally got the story from the parent he said the child went home and said that I had grabbed them by the arms, screamed in the child's face and thrown them on their cot. This happened the day that I was out.

We finally found out that the child had a note sent home about his behavior and when the parent asked the child why he was misbehaving he told the story about me injurying him.

I think I may have wanted to do the same thing as the father in the news report did, but I think I would have made sure he was guilty first.

 

[Michie]

Well, what I was wondering is obviously he wanted to confront the guy and I am sure he made that very clear during the meeting. If in fact, the aide was not allowed in the meeting, why did they not ensure the parent stay away from the aide? How was the parent allowed to leave the meeting and walk to the halls to confront the aide? I would think they would want to monitor the whereabouts of both parties.

I agree! He had no right right to be roaming the halls looking for this teacher! Students lie all the time about this kind of thing. If this man is found innocent of this, I hope he sues the pants off this family!

 

[macraven]

makes you wonder, who was the adult in this situation.

violence never solves anything.


what happened to the "innocent until proven guilty" we live by?

 

[Cindyluwho]

Oh my gosh!! I must be living in a fantasy world because I never in a million years knew that students lie all the time. I certainly don't think they're all little angels but my first reaction to this story was NOT that the girl was lying or that ALL kids lie about this kind of thing. Wow!! I really don't know what else to say.

 

[Lil_Tink]

 

[Michie]

Oh my gosh!! I must be living in a fantasy world because I never in a million years knew that students lie all the time. I certainly don't think they're all little angels but my first reaction to this story was NOT that the girl was lying or that ALL kids lie about this kind of thing. Wow!! I really don't know what else to say.

sorry, should have been more specific. Not ALL students lie ALL the time, but false alegations against teachers, sadly does happen. I served on a school board for 2 terms, and it happened more than it should have. And for some reason students and parents do not realize how serious it is to repeat gossip about teachers.It can hurt or destroy their careers.

Not saying all students, but it does happen though. And school districts should not tolerate it. We need to stand behind our teachers when this happens.

 

[Kimickey]

This is classic, I love a take charge type of man...He took actions first and asked questions later

 

[Shutterbug]

You know because of way our society is today...all a girl has to do is say," this man touched me" and boom the man is guilty even if there is no proof.
Everyone instantly believes...oh my lil angel wouldnt lie! Believe me girls know this and will use this to their advantage big time!

I have dated several girls that their parents were thought perfect lil angels. The type that attened church regularly, sang in the church chior. Got good grades....but the minute the parents backs were turned the the lil angel turned into quite the devil...drinking, swearing that would make a sailor blush and other things that I cant post here.

Right now I hope the aide presses assault charges against this man.

 

[teacherforhi]

Oh my gosh!! I must be living in a fantasy world because I never in a million years knew that students lie all the time. I certainly don't think they're all little angels but my first reaction to this story was NOT that the girl was lying or that ALL kids lie about this kind of thing. Wow!! I really don't know what else to say.

Unfortunately, it happens quite a bit. A few years ago, we had girls accuse a male teacher of inappropriately touching them. There was a huge reaction...someone even shot the windows of his car out. It almost made it to trial when the girls finally admitted that they had made the story up because he had made them stay after school to finish a test. The man's life was ruined. Even though he wasn't fired, he didn't feel he could stay either.

I also had a student last year who regularly accused his teachers of 'coming onto him'. I was warned to never, ever be alone with him so that it would be his word against mine.

 

[N.Bailey]

sorry, should have been more specific. Not ALL students lie ALL the time, but false alegations against teachers, sadly does happen. I served on a school board for 2 terms, and it happened more than it should have. And for some reason students and parents do not realize how serious it is to repeat gossip about teachers.It can hurt or destroy their careers.

Not saying all students, but it does happen though. And school districts should not tolerate it. We need to stand behind our teachers when this happens.

I think it should be investigated to find the truth. If a school were to stand by a teacher accused of doing this to my daughter, I would be outraged. In this instance, the school made the right choice, IMO.

IF the investigation shows that the girl lied, I think serious consequences should then occur for the girl. Facing expulsion would be a good place to start, IMO.

Either way, the father assaulted the teacher and no matter if you agree that he did the right thing, that's still a criminal offense.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Isn't it amazing how we approached this from different views? I immediately thought the teacher was guilty and most of the posters thought the girl had lied. I'm not sure what that says about any of us but it is odd...
I suppose I took the girls side because I had one of those icky stepdads ('nuff said) so I tend to take the side of the kids in these matters. I noticed one or more of the posters worked for the school district and had seen the other side of the coin. I'm hoping that the father had some information that made him believe beyond a doubt that this guy was guilty. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Thanks for the differing points of view!

 

[declansdad]

What the father did was wrong and can not be condoned even if the aide was guilty. Two wrongs don't make it right. The father is sending the wrong message to his daughter and her fellow students.


I also agree that if it is not true, the girl should be severely punished. If it is true then prosecute the aide to the full extent of the law.

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

Well, what I was wondering is obviously he wanted to confront the guy and I am sure he made that very clear during the meeting. If in fact, the aide was not allowed in the meeting, why did they not ensure the parent stay away from the aide? How was the parent allowed to leave the meeting and walk to the halls to confront the aide? I would think they would want to monitor the whereabouts of both parties.

I knew what you meant, I was in a hurry and hit send too soon, then didn't have time right then to add to my post.

Our aides aren't allowed to attend meetings and (what I was going to say) was that I'm sure they kept this guy away from the meeting purposely. They probably knew it would be extremely emotionally charged.

I don't know exactly what I would do in this situation, but I think the dad should've waited. However, if my DD came home and told me that, I'd probably be on the warpath. This is a tough one.

 

[Planogirl]

Remember that we believe in the old "innocent until proven guilty" philosophy. Even though I see more and more people believing just the opposite nowadays.

Plus I would be VERY angry if some guy came running in and punched a teacher's aide in front of my son. What kind of thing is that for kids to witness?