Is this punishment appropriate? (school related)

[luvmarypoppins]

The ds go to a private christian school. Senior ds has been doing some fund raising for their senior trip to disney and the latest one was selling entertainment books. He did pretty good and sold about 5. All the money was in one teachers desk. Well they said someone stole it and it amounted to like $1,100. The school does have security cameras. The principal made an announcement in chapel and said they think its 1 of 2 people, I guess seeing from the tapes. He asked them to come forward by friday or he will call the police unfortunately because of the amount of money around here its a felony and not a misdemeanor. Youngest ds said well mom, its sad but whoever it is is just going to have to go (permanently expellled). I said I am afraid you are right about that. I just dont know about the legal stuff. My ds dont seem to know who it could be. Its just such a sad situation. They also said the teacher herself might have to reimburse the school for the funds since she was the one who left them in her room or they are trying to seek a donation from someone who goes to the church that is associated with the school.

 

[OhMari]

I don't think the principal has anyone on tape.
It is sad and if the students come forward, they shouldn't be expelled. Doesn't the school have a conduct code that needs to be followed. It is sad when students are blamed right away. It could be anyone-you never know who has money troubles.

 

[kellyg403]

I hope that there ends up being concrete proof against whoever did it. Since there are no video cameras and no actual witnesses I would be hardpressed to blame someone unless they said "I did it".

As for the punishment, if there is a blanket policy for this behavior and the parents and child are aware then there really is no way around it. The softer side of me says that the child (I am not sure what age we are talking about here) will suffer greatly with a felony on his record and probably will not even want to come back to this school. Depending on the kids who is going to trust him or want to be around him? Kids can be pretty cruel at various ages.

I feel for the teacher, she made a mistake and I am sure regretting it a great deal. But, she probably could never have guessed in a million years it would happen. Are they sure it couldn't have been another adult or a custodian? $1100 is alot of money, and if a child took it shouldn't a parent have discovered it by now? I am assuming that it is smaller bills, that is a large wad of cash to have.

Kelly

 

[rainy~daze]

the school does have video cameras according to OP, that is how they know who did it. They are giving them a chance to turn themselves in and not face criminal charges, but sound slike they may be expelled instead. An expulsion even though it will go on school record won't go to future employers, but a think a felony will if they are over a certain age.
I don't think the teacher should have to pay unless they were in on stealing it. If the school didn't want the teacher to hold the money they should have put it somewhere else, but they cannot blame them.

 

[Arielle22]

Op mentioned security cameras and the principal thinking it was 1 or 2 students. That makes me think that a camera caught someone near the room where the money was kept. Since security cameras don't usually have the best pictures, the identity was determined by what physical characteristics can be seen.

I do think that explusion is the correct decision. $1,100 is alot of money and the student would have know what it was for. To me that is a deliberate decision to steal which I am sure is against the rules for students.

 

[rgf207]

the school does have video cameras according to OP, that is how they know who did it. They are giving them a chance to turn themselves in and not face criminal charges, but sound slike they may be expelled instead. An expulsion even though it will go on school record won't go to future employers, but a think a felony will if they are over a certain age.
I don't think the teacher should have to pay unless they were in on stealing it. If the school didn't want the teacher to hold the money they should have put it somewhere else, but they cannot blame them.

The teacher won't have to pay. They can't make them do that. It's not legal unless something was signed by her.

I hope that the person comes forward. I also think charges should be filed.

 

[mickeyboat]

I think the principal is being fair. Come forward and face expulsion. Don't come forward, we find out who you are, and face both a felony and expulsion.

I don't think the teacher should have to reimburse the fundraiser for that money, though. The fundraising group or school should have provided a secure location / method for her to keep the funds.

Denae

 

[Cool-Beans]

The kid is given the opportunity to turn themselves in with the warning that if they don't, the police will be called. I think it is fair to call the cops if they don't come forward.

But I don't think they have any idea WHO took the money and are trying to bluff the thief into turning themselves in.

You'd think they'd keep a better watch on the dough in a place full of people. Although I don't feel that they deserve to have the $ stolen, when you leave money laying around you are practically begging to have it taken. A fool and his money are soon parted!

 

[MAKmom]

The teacher could have taken the money. Could she really be so stupid she would leave it in a desk? Who does that.

 

[Hannathy]

I think the teacher should be responsible for the money. Unless her desk was broken into-ie she had it locked and they broke into the lock. It was her responsibility to keep it safe and if her desk didn't lock it should have been on her person or in the office, period. I have read people on here rip into kids that loose an ipod or phone from their back packs that they should have known better and been more responsible, well so should she and she is supposed to be a professional. she should pay it back, definitely.

 

[momof2inPA]

The teacher could have taken the money. Could she really be so stupid she would leave it in a desk? Who does that.

Sadly, that was my first thought. And I bet they don't have anyone on tape, either. My kids go to a small private school, and there's not more than one or two kids in the whole school that would be capable of doing that, so I'm sure the principal just has a guess who the thief is.

 

[mickeyboat]

This thread just reminded me of the part in 'Grease' where the principal announces to the people who had mooned at the dance, that she had sent the surveillance tape to the FBI, where they have sophisticated methods to identify the culprits.

 

[darlak]

I think that if the principal really knew who took the money, he would have already handled it with those students privately.

If the decision were mine if/when the thief is caught, punishment would depend on past criminal history, if any. I might call the police or I might just expel them.

 

[talulabelle]

Principal has no clue who it is, that is just a tactic to make guilty party feel like they are close to being caught and make them come forward, If he knew it was one of 2 people , he would have them both in his office non-stop for a week.

What kind of teacher leaves over $1000 on herdesk! Could the teacher just be saying it was stolen? Maybe teacher hs some bills and ws desparate? Worse has happened before.

If caught the kid should be expelled and reported to authorities. That's how the world works, we have laws. There are concequences.

 

[DebbieB]

Does the school have theft insurance?

 

[disneymom3]

I definitely think if they really know who did it they should be expelled. I guess I am confused about the sadness of it. This kid STOLE a lot of money! I don't feel sorry for them, that is just straight forward wrong to do!

 

[talulabelle]

I definitely think if they really know who did it they should be expelled. I guess I am confused about the sadness of it. This kid STOLE a lot of money! I don't feel sorry for them, that is just straight forward wrong to do!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking...what is sad? Why would you question what the principal said as being fair? The only thing that would be SAD would be if the school continued to allow a theif in the school to corrupt the other kids.

 

[storzo]

I assume this is a high school. The students (and staff) are old enough to know right from wrong and that stealing, especially that amount of money, is going to cause serious consequences. If the guilty party does not come forward to accept responsibilty then no leniancy should be granted to them.

He/She should apologize for stealing and make reimbursement not wait until he/she are caught, then you're left wondering if they are sorry for doing it or for getting caught.

 

[daisax]

I feel for the teacher, she made a mistake and I am sure regretting it a great deal. But, she probably could never have guessed in a million years it would happen.

Because leaving $1000 in an unlocked desk in a room accessible by dozens/hundreds of people is perfectly natural.

I'd hold the teacher responsible. And if I were the teacher, I'd hold myself responsible -- you accept the "job" of collecting the money in any organization, public or private, and you accept the responsibility to secure it.

I volunteered at an event a couple of weeks ago. The part of the event I was helping out with was in a separate area from the main event. At one point I realized I was the only person there and there were valuable trophy items left out on display. They were worth hundreds of dollars and nobody was watching them and there was an exit nearby. So I picked them up and moved them to the main room and gave them to the people actually in charge of the event who hadn't bothered to secure them in the first place. Was it my job? No -- but I sure as heck wasn't going to be caught in the middle of a "somebody stole them and YOU were the last person seen there!" situation.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am also in the camp of holding the teacher responsible.

As a person who has done MANY fundraising things...she is in the wrong.

Leaving 1,000 bucks in a drawer, in a school, is just irresponsible fundraising. That was pure foolishness.