Dad punches teacher for innapropriate behavior!!

[C.Ann]

And conversely, people have to think long and hard before they dismiss the accusations as "falsehoods". Sadly, violations by trusted adults happen all to often these days.

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I worked both sides of these issues many years ago - and my DD's line of work for the past 10+ years has been with these sorts of issues (and worse).. It's a very fine line between fact and fiction and jumping to conclusions (either way) can cause long term ramifications that you couldn't even begin to imagine if you have never dealt with it in the capacity of a professional who has been trained in this field..

 

[Shutterbug]

She made it up to get back at the aide.......

http://www.tampabay10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=24397

Knew my gut feeling on this was right.

 

[Feralpeg]

Regardless of whether she made it up or not, violence isn't the answer. Is that what we want our children to learn? I certainly don't think so.

 

[C.Ann]

Regardless of whether she made it up or not, violence isn't the answer. Is that what we want our children to learn? I certainly don't think so.

---------------------------------

My thoughts as well.. Brings back awful memories of that hockey dad incident - remember that?

 

[goofygirl]

She should apologize! Did she really think she could get away with that? Not too bright, is she?
Her father is a jerk for being violent and believing that his lying brat of a kid can do no wrong. Not too bright, is he?

Looks like the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

She should be suspended along with the girl who backed her story up. Atleast this story didn't drag out too long before the truth came out. I feel really bad for that teacher's aide. This is horrible but sadly not surprising - there are many teens that would do this exact thing to get back at a teacher.

 

[N.Bailey]

I think both of these girls should face expulsion. IMO, the schools need to have a zero tolerance policy for dealing with these types of situations.

I wasn't one to side with either party. I certainly wasn't ready to jump on board and call this girl a liar, but at the same time, I wasn't willing to execute the aide without knowing more either.

I feel given the circumstances, the school made all the right decisions and should be commended for their actions.

I guess the last bit to cover is the dad. I'll not play judge, juror, and executioner where he's concerned either, but I hope he pays his dues. His actions were out of line IMO no matter which way this story unfolded.

 

[Planogirl]

This is why I think it's so important to quit automatically assuming that everyone accused of something is guilty. I hate to see the verbal lynch mobs that immediately form every time something like this happens.

Also, girls like these just might make people wonder about the next girls that accuse somebody of something improper. These kids should be punished quite severely for this.

 

[georgina]

Thank you for saying what I was thinking! While I don't condone violence, I find it disturbing how many people are basically saying "well she probably made it up". Flame away, if you must, but that's how it seems to me.

I am always skeptical about these types of allegations. My first thought when a woman is murdered is that the husband probably did it. When a child disappears, I wonder about the parents.

Remember the day care and preschool scandals of the 80's, where ideas were being put in children's heads that all these dreadful things happened to them, and then we were told "4 year-olds wouldn't make this stuff up?" Most of those were proven to be untrue years later. The media tends to take these types of charges and broadcast them as if they were the truth instead of allegations, and I don't believe much of what I hear any more.

 

[minkydog]

And what was it the Dad said

"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."

Oops, I guess she does. Sorry dad

I hope that teacher's aide sue's him for everything he's worth

 

[tiggersmom2]

I am always skeptical about these types of allegations. My first thought when a woman is murdered is that the husband probably did it. When a child disappears, I wonder about the parents.

Remember the day care and preschool scandals of the 80's, where ideas were being put in children's heads that all these dreadful things happened to them, and then we were told "4 year-olds wouldn't make this stuff up?" Most of those were proven to be untrue years later. The media tends to take these types of charges and broadcast them as if they were the truth instead of allegations, and I don't believe much of what I hear any more.

Yes, I remember that....the children were "coached" to say they had been put on a plane and satanic rituals had been performed. That was beyond horrible...ick...I hate to even think of it.

 

[mickman1962]

guess what? the kid was lying.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=24397

 

[MariettaC]

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!

I agree - the father has every right to protect his child, but he handled this in the wrong way. What lesson did he teach the students in the classroom?

 

[taximomfor4]

Thank you for saying what I was thinking! While I don't condone violence, I find it disturbing how many people are basically saying "well she probably made it up". Flame away, if you must, but that's how it seems to me.

I think it's tough to get intonation off of a message board. When I read the posts, I didn't think people were saying "well she probably made it up." I got, from the posts, that most were saying "Lying about this stuff happens, one cannot automatically assume the aide is a pervert child molester." More like people, including myself, were saying we do not know whether she was telling the truth or not...she MIGHT be lying...NOT that she was probably lying. But it is, after all, written posts we're reading...without nonverbal cues, we will read differently.

I am glad that the truth did come out quickly...the longer these things drag on, the more damage is done I think.

 

[greenyskp]

Off topic, just want to clarify -

There's always a line to be crossed....

I am much younger than most of my colleagues here at work. But it doesnt stop them from mild flirtation. And the ones I think are good looking, I flirt a little back.

Now we're not talking about touching people or anything. Just harmless innuendos.

This kind of thing went on at my schools Marching band practices ALL THE TIME. And i never felt violated. I was too doubled over in laughter to feel violated.

As for the case.... The girl was lieing. IE trying to get attention. Be careful what you wish for eh?

 

[Hercules10]

More Proof.

BRADENTON, Fla. - A teenager who accused a teacher's aide of molesting her — prompting the girl's father to march into school and punch the man in the face — made up the story, officials said.

School surveillance cameras show the aide was not even in the room when the 15-year-old said she was touched inappropriately, said Lakewood Ranch High School Superintendent Roger Dearing.

"We have found that (the aide) is not guilty of what this young lady has accused him of doing, that her accusations are false," Dearing said.

The sheriff's department also found no evidence of wrongdoing, and the school board said the girl might have lied to get back at the man for disciplining her.

The teen's father, Dave F. Swafford, was charged with battery on a school employee after he hit the 35-year-old aide Tuesday in front of a class. A Tampa radio station named him "Father of the Year" and offered the family Daytona 500 race tickets.

Swafford, 42, is standing by his foster daughter.

He said the girl's friends told him they had similar experiences with the aide. Swafford also said he questioned his daughter before reporting the allegations.

"I told her that I wasn't doubting her, but if she had any second thoughts on this, or thinks it might have happened differently and she interrupted me and said, `Dad, come on, if I was lying I would have told you before we went to his classroom because I saw how mad you were,'" Swafford said Thursday.

Dearing said the district has statements from students and the security camera footage that show the aide could not have been in the classroom at the time.

The aide, who had been on paid leave, will return to work Monday, Dearing said

I hope the aide sues the step-dad for all he's worth.

link

 

[N.Bailey]

I could be wrong consider it's been posted that this is a richer area (that's been contradicted too though), but I doubt the father is worth much. IMO, trying to sue him would probably cost more money than you'd walk away with.

I do hope the father is punished via the justice system though. I'll defer to the judge in charge for that sentence though. I'm sure he'll be more than fair all the way around.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I haven't read through the this whole thread. But, did the story not say that it is the girl's 'Foster' parent?

Now, I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, because I know this does not apply to every case... however,

Unfortunately, many foster kids come from troubled and abusive homes, and through their past experiences have learned to conjure up allegations like this. They know how to use this as a way to get action, attention, or whatever it is that they want... ie. 'payback for a teacher they may not like', etc.

Most Foster parenting training programs warn the prospective Foster parents themselves to be very aware of this, to be VERY vigilent and to avoid even the slightest hint of impropriety, because they are at risk of being falsely accused of some kind of abuse or molestation by their foster kids.

Some foster kids have become foster kids because they were indeed abused. They grow up in that respect WAY to fast. And, they know the drill all to well. They often are known to actually instigate inappropriate sexual activity.

It sounds to me like he girl may have actually been motivated by the idea of PROVOKING her foster Dad with this allegation, to see how he reacted, and if he would actually believe her and defend her. Warped, I know, but very very possible in this kind of situation. And, very possible in the reasoning of a troubled teen mind.

 

[Wishing on a star]

PS: I wonder if the assault charges against the Dad are upheld, if this will immediately make him subject to removal from the foster care system???

What an irony if the girl did this to see if he would step forward and believe her and defend her as his daughter, but it ends up that she is immediately removed from this family, and placed in another family or a group home.

SAD story all the way around.

 

[minkydog]

I haven't read through the this whole thread. But, did the story not say that it is the girl's 'Foster' parent?

Now, I hope nobody takes this the wrong way, because I know this does not apply to every case... however,

Unfortunately, many foster kids come from troubled and abusive homes, and through their past experiences have learned to conjure up allegations like this. They know how to use this as a way to get action, attention, or whatever it is that they want... ie. 'payback for a teacher they may not like', etc.

Most Foster parenting training programs warn the prospective Foster parents themselves to be very aware of this, to be VERY vigilent and to avoid even the slightest hint of impropriety, because they are at risk of being falsely accused of some kind of abuse or molestation by their foster kids.

Some foster kids have become foster kids because they were indeed abused. They grow up in that respect WAY to fast. And, they know the drill all to well. They often are known to actually instigate inappropriate sexual activity.

It sounds to me like he girl may have actually been motivated by the idea of PROVOKING her foster Dad with this allegation, to see how he reacted, and if he would actually believe her and defend her. Warped, I know, but very very possible in this kind of situation. And, very possible in the reasoning of a troubled teen mind.

That was my thought too. And in the end, the girl got what she wanted--the teacher's aide got smacked. She showed him! Her dad is in jail, but she obviously doesn't care as much about that or she would have come clean to begin with. She showed them all! Look how much power she has! And very likely, with this assault charge on his record, the girl will be removed from her foster home and sent to a new home where she will continue to cry out for attention and make other false allegations against the people in her life who are trying to help her.

The sad circle of life