September 24, 2009, 8:59PM
Do you think the fourth-grader's rights were violated?
UPDATE:
The Yankees are sending a gift package to a Baldwinsville fourth-grader who was told by a teacher he had to wear his Yankee’s shirt inside out.
Central New York Yankee fans sent a Post-Standard article about the fourth-grader to the Yankees Friday, said Robert Bernstein, manager of special events, alumni services and fan services for the Yankees. Other fans called the Yankees to see what the team could do, he said.
The team plans to send Nate a gift package. Bernstein declined to say what they would send, adding they would like it to be a surprise.
The Baldwinsville School District is looking into the complaint the family made about what they said happened in the classroom on Wednesday.
“We are investigating,” said Superintendent Jeanne Dangle Friday. “This is a personnel issue, and we will be following up and doing what’s appropriate after we get all the information.”
Dangle said the district will get back to the parents on the issue in a few days. James and Patricia Garrett, parents of 9-year-old Nathan Johns, have also met with principal Terry Bick .
Dangle said the investigation includes asking other children who were present in the class for their observations. “From a district perspective, we would never support something like that,” Dangle said. “But we don’t have all the facts yet.”
Dangle said she didn’t respond to the report on Thursday because she was tied up in meetings.
Nate’s parents said they were shocked when their son got home from school on Wednesday and told them what happened. Nate said his teacher, Peter Addabbo, made him wear his Yankees shirt inside out until dismissal. Addabbo is a Boston Red Sox fan, the family and students said.
The Garretts said their sons’ First Amendments right have been violated. Also, the school teaches in its character education program about respect, and James Garrett said the teacher’s behavior seems to contradict that.
Nathan Garrett, a 9-year-old Yankees fan, poses for a photo Thursday outside his home in Baldwinsville. Nathan is wearing the T-shirt that his teacher, a Red Sox fan, made him wear inside out. Other students teased him, and his parents believe Nathan's rights were violated.
Van Buren, NY -- Van Buren Elementary fourth-grader Nathan Johns thought his teacher was kidding Wednesday when he instructed him to go to the bathroom and turn his Yankees T-shirt inside out.
The blue shirt read “New York No. 52” on the front and “Sabathia” for the New York Yankees’ pitcher CC Sabathia, on the back.
“ I thought to myself ‘Is he serious or is he kidding,’” said Nate, 9, a student in Peter Addabbo’s fourth-grade class. “But he had this look like he wasn’t kidding at all.”
Nate complied, and said he was later told to wear it that way until dismissal. At lunch, Nate said the fifth-graders made fun of him because he wearing his shirt inside out. “It was such a horrible day.” Nate said. “I don’t ever want anything like to happen again.”
Nate said he felt he was treated unfairly. “Just because my teacher doesn’t like the Yankees, I should still have the right to wear a Yankees shirt,” Nate said Thursday after school. The teacher has Boston Red Sox paraphernalia displayed all over the classroom, he said.
Principal Terry Bick did not return several phone calls to the Post-Standard on Thursday. At least five phone calls to Baldwinsville Superintendent Jeanne Dangle’s office also were not returned on Thursday.
Nate’s parent said they were shocked when their son got home from school and told them what happened. “I was stunned — absolutely flabbergasted,” said James Garrett, Nate’s dad. “I couldn’t believe it. He was distraught. The school preaches all about not allowing bullying, and this really felt like he was being bullied.”
The Garretts contacted Bick on Wednesday and met with her Thursday. “She was very professional about this, and she seemed to take it as seriously as we did,” James Garrett said.
Garrett said he believes the school handled the incident appropriately, but strongly believes his son’s First Amendment rights were violated.
http://z4mp1.blogspot.com/
+(2).jpg)